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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Suspicious of neighbours behaviour towards my DH

350 replies

Stace88 · 22/06/2025 16:27

The couple who lived next door to us when we moved in broke up a few months ago and the man has since moved out.

The woman who lives there rarely spoke with us before but since breaking up is always chatting to my DH when she sees him. I can be stood next to him and she doesn’t look at me and aims any conversation towards him. She also refers to him by his name but doesn’t ever say mine.

That alone isn’t what my post is for. In the last couple of weeks she has made comments to DH - she saw him get back from the gym and asked him if he’d be her personal trainer (note - DH isn’t in bad shape but is a once a week gym goer and certainly isn’t a PT!). DH politely replied and she said she hasn’t had any workouts since becoming single and added ‘if you know what I mean’ with a laugh - fairly obvious what she was insinuating.

Yesterday, I was out all afternoon for a friends’ baby shower so my car wasn’t on the drive. DH told me he was pottering in the garden when our neighbour called his name over the fence and asked if he could help her with moving something in her garden which was too heavy for her, DH said yes and she told him to go down the side gate.

When DH went round she was wearing a bikini and in his words had clearly not been doing any gardening. He moved a pot at her request and then she asked where I (“your missus”) was. DH said I was out for the afternoon and she then asked if he fancied having a drink with her in her garden. DH politely made his excuses and came home.

I trust DH completely but feel like our neighbour is starting to stray into CF territory and I worry what her intentions are. DH thinks I’m being silly. Do you see where I’m coming from?

OP posts:
EvilNextDoor · 22/06/2025 18:45

See now my DH is completely oblivious to other women and wouldn’t know if one was flirting with him or not..but that’s my husband (we’ve been out together and some woman did flirt with him and he had no clue) and if something like this was happening at home and I spoke to him, his response wouldn’t be that I’m being silly! He’d be mortified then go out of his way to avoid interactions with that person (he'd be polite but not engage in chit chat and not move plant pots)

I would be a bit wary if I were you

Goditsmemargaret · 22/06/2025 18:53

Hi Neighbour, (a smile so big your face nearly spilt a in two)

I'm Joanne. I presume you don't know my name as you never speak to me. I wanted to introduce myself. How are you since your husband moved out? I guess it's hard but of course I don't know the details - you could be delighted. I'm here for a particular reason. Is it true you invited my husband into your garden while you were wearing a bikini and claimed you'd been gardening? Can you explain why you're behaving like this?"

Then not another word to fill the gap even if she never speaks again.

DeSoleil · 22/06/2025 18:58

He needs to agree that every time Lilo Lil wants to invite him round to put up a shelf, get rid of a big spider, etc that he will tell her he has a bad back/migraine but he’ll ask you if you can help her.

No way does she want you coming round!

My eyes were opened years ago when I did work experience in my last year at school at an estate agents and for a few days I accompanied on of the men sent to measure up (tape measures in those days) and give a valuation.

We encountered quite a few of own in their lingerie or seductive wear who were annoyed I was tagging along as they expected the chap to be alone!

One woman opened the door for her appointment wearing a black lace and bra and a sheer babydoll over the top. She must have been at least 50 and was openly hostile towards me.

When we got back to the car, he told me he was so relieved I was with him! He was only around 30!

BlondeCircus · 22/06/2025 19:02

Well I would be spitting feathers over this but there is no way I’d be going round to see her, your husband is an adult who could easily put her in her place surely it’s aimed at him she started with her pathetic little desperate games he needs to put a stop to it. If he doesn’t then it gives her the green light

Burntlemon · 22/06/2025 19:07

Stop tolerating her behaviour.

Suusue · 22/06/2025 19:09

Ignore the disrespectful bitch and make sure your husband refuses all pleas for help from her and doesn't stand there talking to her.

CurlewKate · 22/06/2025 19:14

She’s being an idiot. Sad that you don’t trust your husband. Also sad that he made the horrible comment about gardening.

pizzaHeart · 22/06/2025 19:16

I guess “ stop being silly” means in his book that you should do nothing, don’t mention it to him and pretend that there is no problem. Unfortunately it won’t work like this so he has to stop being polite, friendly and helpful.

godmum56 · 22/06/2025 19:17

EvilNextDoor · 22/06/2025 18:45

See now my DH is completely oblivious to other women and wouldn’t know if one was flirting with him or not..but that’s my husband (we’ve been out together and some woman did flirt with him and he had no clue) and if something like this was happening at home and I spoke to him, his response wouldn’t be that I’m being silly! He’d be mortified then go out of his way to avoid interactions with that person (he'd be polite but not engage in chit chat and not move plant pots)

I would be a bit wary if I were you

my late husband was the same. Not going into details but he did get a shock once when I warned him about a woman and he didn't believe me!

Figcherry · 22/06/2025 19:24

Years ago when DHSS as it was did home visits my dh had to visit a woman about NI contributions. She sat swinging in one of those basket chairs that hang from the ceiling, she was wearing very little and he felt extremely uncomfortable and couldn’t get out quick enough.

Olika · 22/06/2025 19:26

If my DH wasn’t putting a stop to her behaviour I would be having some serious chat with him and then shut her down when both DH and I are out and she is there.

BusyMum47 · 22/06/2025 19:27

Oh, she very much needs putting back in her box! Cheeky bitch! I'd be having words.

CautiousLurker01 · 22/06/2025 19:30

My DH is on a golf weekend with his mates. One of his mates, is - well - uber gorgeous as well as being a millionaire. He gets this type of attention most nights in the bar. But he’s fairly happily married too. So, when the girls start flirting he is clear that he is out with his mates and there will be no free drinks from the lads’ kitty. Politely first time. If it goes unheeded he resorts to ‘fuck off will ya, I’m not interested’ and gets a round in for the boys. DH has winced at times, but it works.

Your DH needs to be clear he’s not interested and if that means telling her to ‘fuck off with the innuendo, it just looks sad and desperate’… then he should do it.

ThejoyofNC · 22/06/2025 19:34

I'd tell her you find her behaviour inappropriate and she needs to back off.

657904I · 22/06/2025 19:58

Sorry OP, but she wouldn’t be doing this if she didn’t think he was interested.

She gets the impression he fancies her.

ClaredeBear · 22/06/2025 20:16

My fear would be that if he doesn’t make his position abundantly clear right now, she may make accusations in the future. You’re not dealing with a reasonable person here, so it must be nipped in the bud for his own sake.

Charlize43 · 22/06/2025 20:18

Outside of a steel works, is the word slag used these days? I remember it when I was growing up in the 1970s...

2025ismybestyear · 22/06/2025 20:20

Whatsthestorymorningglory95 · 22/06/2025 18:13

Go to her door and tell her she’s wasting her time as your husband is impotent.

This is a stupid suggestion.

Your husband knows what's going on @Stace88 and as she's sounding him out, he's sounding out someone else and it isn't her..

Slatterndisgrace · 22/06/2025 20:23

2025ismybestyear · 22/06/2025 20:20

This is a stupid suggestion.

Your husband knows what's going on @Stace88 and as she's sounding him out, he's sounding out someone else and it isn't her..

Ooh, this gets complicated!

ConstantIllness · 22/06/2025 20:24

She sounds like something out of a Carry On film. Before you know it, she'll be doing exercises in the garden and her bikini top will "accidentally" ping off 🤭
P.s. of course your husband knows what she's up to.

Slatterndisgrace · 22/06/2025 20:24

Charlize43 · 22/06/2025 20:18

Outside of a steel works, is the word slag used these days? I remember it when I was growing up in the 1970s...

Tart. Slut. I’m not sure any of these words are used anymore, are they?!

BettyBobble · 22/06/2025 20:42

McHot · 22/06/2025 18:25

You don't say a word to her. You tell him "you triangulate me with a randomer next door and you'll be moving in with her" and you refuse to elaborate because he isn't that naive. She's flattering and he's flattered. He gets one warning to pack it in.

This with bells on. He's loving it

MuckFusk · 22/06/2025 20:44

ConstantIllness · 22/06/2025 20:24

She sounds like something out of a Carry On film. Before you know it, she'll be doing exercises in the garden and her bikini top will "accidentally" ping off 🤭
P.s. of course your husband knows what she's up to.

Yes! That's what the story reminded me of. It rang a bell and I couldn't place it.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 22/06/2025 20:44

Shes probably just trying to make her ex jealous. Pathetic.

Charlize43 · 22/06/2025 20:51

Slatterndisgrace · 22/06/2025 20:24

Tart. Slut. I’m not sure any of these words are used anymore, are they?!

Trollop! That was a good one. I had a convent education and we also used Jezebel a lot...