Neighbours becoming a nightmare

mangadarkogirl

I could really use some advice regarding my immediate neighbour.

She's a single mum with a 4yr old who rents the house attached to ours. All the other properties including ours are owned. Our gardens at the front are close together, and the paths join in the middle to the doors (they are ex-council).

The main problem is her son wrecking my garden. He seems to have behavioral issues, so I thought he was doing it on his own. But yesterday as I was going in after my mum did some weeding for me, she whispered to him and told him to throw one of his toys so that my dog would run after it and not come in. I've noticed her giggling a few times when he's walking all over my boarders and pulling up my flowers. He also walked on our driveway, picked up some stones and threw them everywhere, while she sat there smoking and laughing.

Were first time buyers and I spend a lot of time and money trying to make the garden nice. I haven't approached her outright as she's very over protective of her son. And as I've said above, she seems to actually tell him to be naughty on occasion. She's the same age as me and I can't figure out why she does this. We've been nothing but nice to her since we moved in. Whenever I bake I always give her son something and at xmas I gave her some home-made jam. I put up a little fence around the boarder but it hasn't worked. I don't know what else to do apart from put up a 4-5ft fence in the middle of the paths totally blocking off my garden.

I don't want to end up falling out with her, but I'm getting really upset/annoyed that all my hard work gets trashed.

hartcjhart

speak directly to her saying that it is not on that her boy (although) lovelly is damaging your garden

mangadarkogirl

Cheers, I think she would just come back with 'Keep your cats/dog off my lawn'. The dog I can do but I can't control the cats. Tbh she does intimidate me a little. I guess I'll just have to try and speak to her about it.

hartcjhart

if she does say about the dog/cat, then 'suggest' to her that you put a 3/4 ft high wire fence to solve the doggy prob

globetraveller

is it possible to find out the landlord? You can make a complaint to him/her

mangadarkogirl

We spoke to the landlady about another problem, concerning a drain, but she never got back to us. So I think she would be a deadend tbh.

globetraveller

mangadarkogirl wrote: »

We spoke to the landlady about another problem, concerning a drain, but she never got back to us. So I think she would be a deadend tbh.

still worth a go. If you keep complaining she may get fed up and have a word with her tenant. Sounds like a nightmare of a neighbour

rygon

Personally I'd tell her, if she falls out with you then its her problem not yours. Youve put the time and effort into making your garden look nice, why let someone like her and her son ruin it. You dont need to make any threats, just ask her nicely. If she doesnt comply I would stop being nice to her by giving her kids treats and also take it further with the landlord. Maybe a fence a couple of feet high would help set the boundary better

KittyCat1

why dont you do reverse tactics - apologise to her about your dog going in her garden all the time and tell her how sorry/embarrased you feel so your going to put up a small boundary fence to stop him from being a nuisance to her and her child.That way,you'll get your garden fenced off stopping her child from wrecking yours without having to confront her.Personally i think confronting her would make matters a whole lot worse for yourself..

mangadarkogirl

Thanks, I think that's really good advice. I agree, I think she would just get angry and then it would make to'ing and fro'ing awkward.

Dave101t

trespass, vandalism, theft. you do know that in defense of your property you are legally allowed to give the runt a good kicking. i checked with the police over something similar last year, and i quote from the sergent "its your property, you are free to defend it but id advise against laying a hand on them' so not illegal tho.