Problem neighbours
forget-me-not
Posts: 52
Hi. Sorry but not sure if this is the right place for this but it is/could be a problem. And sorry if this is a bit long. Just setting the scene, so to speak.
A few years ago, I paid to have a fence put up between my garden and next door's. I paid it all as my neighbour didn't want to share the cost. About 4 years ago, I got new neighbours. A couple of weeks after they moved in, they told me they were removing the fence and putting up 'a much better one'. I told them they weren't as it wasn't what I wanted so they put up a second fence. We haven't really spoken since apart from hello on passing.
Anyway, a couple of months ago, I noticed 2 shrubs next to the fence had died and there was white powder all over the ground behind them. I thought maybe they had put weed killer down but have no proof. Their garden has been paved over, not a plant in sight. Today, they were in their hot tub (another story) when I heard them complaining that the filter was full of flies. The man said he would spray everywhere tomorrow. Now I'm not sure exactly what he is going to use or where he will be spraying. I'm worried that whatever it is is going to kill off more of my plants or maybe all the bees and insects I now have coming in to my garden.
I wondered if anyone knows my legal rights if he does kill off my plants. is he allowed to put weed killer down on his side even if it kills on my side? Doubt there's anything I can do if he kills the bees. Just want to be prepared in case it does happen.
Thanks for any replies.
Posts
Oh for shame, sorry I can't hep but I soooo sympathise. Will make enquiries but sure one of our friends on here may know. Utter swines ......
Definitely find out what he is using excessively, you don't want to be breathing that in and neither do your relatives. If the filter is full of flies why doesn't he just clean the filter? They will be bathing in a hot tub with weed killer in, yuck!
I agree with Gardenmaiden that it makes sense to ask what they are spraying and if it is weedkiller or insecticide point out how dangerous it will be for them to have it in their hot tub. I've no idea what you can do if they choose to ignore your warnings though
Perhaps you could 'care' for him when he is about to spray that its dangerous to get on skin and proper protective clothing should be worn and makes sure he is downwind and doesn't breathe it in. Obviously I'm overstating but it is what it is says on those packets, it might enable you to at least find out what he's using.
Spraying ordinary household flyspray around the filter should also work to ward flys away from those surfaces
Don't know anything about legal rights sorry but I think when I get extra nice people generally find it harder to be rude
@ forget-me-not, there are several points in your post, not strictly related.
You do not say whether the original fence that you had built and you paid for was erected on the common boundary line between the 2 properties OR on your side of that line. If it was indeed erected on that line, then it belongs to both parties, even if you paid for it yourself.
Hi all. Thank you for your replies. I am hoping to catch him spraying so I can say something although he's not the sort to be bothered if it is affecting anyone else. His wife told me, just after they moved in, that their dog had bitten a young boy's face for looking through a gap in the fence and had attacked and badly injured a couple of small dogs but, apparently, that's just what dogs do, isn't it? He once went with a couple of friends to beat up a young lad because he said the wrong thing so, as you can imagine, I'm not really keen on approaching him. That's why I'm trying to find out my legal rights to back me up.
His wife did clean the filter and told him it was full of flies. That's when he said it was disgusting and he'd spray everywhere. My garden is chock-a-block with plants. I can't help thinking he feels the flies are coming from here because they don't have any plants at all. I don't know at the moment if he meant he'd spray the hot tub or round the garden in general.
I made sure the fence I had put up was on my side as I didn't want any problems either with the people who lived there at the time or in the future.
I really don't think my neighbour could care less if he damaged my plants and, believe me, I have been trying to think of a way to sabotage the hot tub. People have told me they can't sleep at night because it buzzes 24/7 and they have friends round most nights till midnight bubbling and drinking and shouting. Fortunately, I sleep at the other side of the house.
Urm... he's a bit thick isn't he? Spraying everywhere to get rid of the flies, when the biggest source of attraction for flies is him himself.. well, they do like poop don't they? And sounds like he's the biggest pile...
Uh-um. Sorry, probably uncalled for but I am getting fed up with folk these days always doing what they please, without considering other people. My neighbour is the same.
He does sound nasty, so may be worth recording your conversation on your phone or something when you first talk to him. It's always worth it when you're not sure of the person you're approaching. Then if he loves his killer fido, perhaps you could mention that it's bad to spray when you've got pets? Does seem pointless tbh, spraying at all. A filter fill of flies is just doing it's job.
Best of luck...
Forget me not , Blighty has beat me to it ,I too was going to suggest recording any and every conversation you have with him / his wife .I'd act a bit dumb so that he has to explain it in detail also if you can get a friend round as a witness while your asking him then you will have more proof on your recordings.
You say other neighbour s. Have commented on the noise would they side with you? , could you complain to the council. Maybe without adding your name. I'm sure some others on here will know your legal rights.
I'm not just been nosey here
but what's the story regards the hot tub ,? I don't suppose he had to get permission to put one in his garden did he ? I'd have thought the neighbours on either side would have been asked if they objected.
Hmmmm. It's just a thought this........... but you don't think his wife was making that stuff up do you ? Scaremongering?
So you wouldn't complain about them?
Surely if there dog had bitten a child the child's parents would have done something about it and the owners of the dogs they allowed there dog to bite ? I would have .