Garden shared access and dogs.

meames_2

This might not be the right place.

I live in and own a terrace with a shared access terrace between me and next door. There is a gate at the end of the alley. When I moved in the fence between us was too far on my side. After a massive row with the neighbour it was removed and when the new neighbours moved in as an act of good will on my part because I wanted the fence I paid for it even though it should have been them. Unfortunately I could only really afford a waist height fence, but I added an extra gate at the top so my dog woulddn't get in their garden. This gate is at a 45 degree angle to the other gate, access into their garden is open. This means when I use the alley to get to the back of the house we can easily just use the space by their house. The houses have a a paved area and the 2 steps down to the grass. At this point the 3 foot panel is really low and could be stepped over.

This has never been a problem, however, the house has been empty for a while. Last night I heard a funny noise and there was someone in their kitchen. I assumed someone knew had moved in. This morning as I brought the dog back from his walk and as usual used the alley to go through the garden (so i don't carry smelly dog mess through the house!). I heard a noise and thought someone was at the window. I saw the biggest bull dog / boxer type dog ever! Its head is bigger than mine and its paws seem to be as big as my hands! Beautiful dog but really powerful. You can see the muscle and veins like a body builder!

My worry was, if they let their dog in the garden this effectively cuts off my use of the garden, I won't be able use the alley as their is no protection for my dog and this dog could get over this fence very easily. My dog is old and certainly no match for this one (although he would give it a go but lack of teeth wouldn't help!). I want to prevent a bloodbath which will happen. this dog might be lovely and want to play, but mine won't and any attempted play would be nasty business. My poor dog is stuck indoors because i am too scared if they just let their dogs out. He loves to sit on his shelf in the garden and stare out the cat on the shed in the houses behind ours.

I came home today and took the dog out, came home, the bulldog / boxer was at the back window. It has been joined by a staffy. Someone has been in and opened the window. The blinds are closed but the dog is moving the blind. Whoever is there has rigged up a light at the back of the dining room door, like those lights that builders use - a bulb in a cage instead of using the mainlight or an ordinary lamp. They have also moved a cabinet and empty draw up in front of the door so If you were accessing the house from the front door you couldn't get into the room. The room sounds empty - you know how it sounds when there is no furniture in. The dog is currently eyeballing me from their dining room window as I'm in the kitchen. Something isn't sitting right. even though the dogs look well cared for. If they never go in the garden....

My question was originally how can I get them to secure the garden or to get the land lord to do so quickly. I can'taafford to make modifications. But I may be able to make a small contribution. Second question, do you thnk the dogs welfare is in question?

skivenov

Try knocking on the door, introducing yourself and slipping the dogs into conversation? Rottys and Staffs have a bad reputation, but it's not always justified, there's no bad dogs, just bad owners.

I'm guessing by the sound of the light and the bare room, the new owners of the house are in the process of doing it up, so now might be a good time to see what their plans are for the garden, and find a way of sorting it between yourselves? They might be wary about letting their dogs out because they don't think the garden is secure enough, and don't know how to broach the subject with you of improving the fence.

Communication is the key!

meames_2

I have tried knocking several times, I am sure the house is rented. From the layout of the house, if they have shoved the cabinet up against the door in the dining room you can't get to the front door. There is no hallway. They have effectively sealed off the room. They are not in the dining room which I can see into when the dogs at the window or the kitchen which is opposite mine. The houses are L shaped.

I'll try knocking again. I just think something is off.

Thanks though, different perspectives and all that. I think the panic about my dog has skewed my perspective.

krlyr

If they're blocking access to the front door I would wonder who they're blocking out. A word with your local police station/PCSO might be worthwhile to check they are legitimate tennants.
Could you extend the height of your fence with some screening? I've got bamboo screening in our garden alongside the neighbour's fence as it drops to 4' high at the back and with two large breed dogs it wasn't fully secure. The screening was a lot cheaper than any solid structure (though we will eventually replace it with trellis or similar) and the dogs are deterred by the visual height and haven't tried jumping it (so don't realise how flimsy the top is)

Fire_Fox

Sorry but I can't follow most of your post. Are you sure these are not squatters? When you come back from a walk can't you dump the dog mess outside, take your dog into the house via the front door, then return and take the dog mess to the dustbin via the shared alley? Maybe put a note through your neighbours door asking them to knock for you to discuss keeping both your dogs safe?

gettingready

I would post the note throught their door asking them to knock on your door. - when they are free.

But squatters springs to mind...

Do you know who the owner of the house is?

If it was for let - was there an agency board with agency number outside - id so, call the agency and find out it it was let.

Why are you mentioning the next door's dog's welfare? You said they look well looked after so? Got me a bit lost there...

NewKittenHelp

Is the house being renovated and the dogs are there for protection/to prevent squatters?

meames_2

Sorry, sometimes these things make sense when you write them, but not to others because they don't know everything.

I moved in 6 years ago, a couple bought next door and move in a few months later, but they split up about a year ago, she stayed awhile and the left and rented the whole house last November to another couple, that couple moved out in March, its been empty since. The house was in the paper to let till April. I only know this because I saw the last couple who rented asked me who had moved in because it was no longer in the paper. There wasn't ever a board outside.

There are a couple of other things that when i think about them don't seem right. the blinds never open, the bins have never been emptied, or even had any more rubbish in them, In July a man went in with nothing more than a divan bed and has never been seen since. I have never heard a noise from the house until yesterday. Usually you can hear a conversation in their the living room if you are upstairs. The taps have never been run. You can hear the water in the drain when they run.

It seems they are trying to make it seem if someone is there so from the front of the house you can see a light is on when it is dark.

I will pop a note through, Fire Fox, your suggestion of leaving the mess at the front will mean changing the dogs routine, it won't go down well :-) Also I am not comfortable letting the dog out in the garden unless I stand guard, normally he has free access to the garden and wanders in and out as he pleases when i'm home.

Krlyr, I thought about screening but there are 13 fence panels so even that works out expensive.

New KittenHelp, I am sure the house isn't being renovated.

Getting Ready. I think the dogs have been left all night and all day. I don't think they have been outside at all yet, that's what bothers me. Although I am bothered about when they do.

Fire_Fox

Another possibility is that the house has been let but is being used for something dodgy like growing cannabis with the dogs on guard. Obviously that is not hugely likely but it is a possibility.

Do you remember which estate agency it was to let with? If so ring them and speak to the letting agent - they won't be able to tell you much under the Data Protection Act, but you can say you are worried because it doesn't seem like a 'normal' let or sale. Dogs but no furniture, no human noise, blinds closed, door blocked, no rubbish etc. The letting agent should deal with squatters, illegal drug growing or dogs not permitted under the tenancy agreement by requesting an inspection.

As regards the fence, AFAIK all the other side has a legal responsibility to do is put up a boundary and keep their dog under control at all times. If your dog could be aggressive or need special protection it's down to you to upgrade the fence.

~Chameleon~

Is there a funny smell of "grass" emanating from the house?

zaksmum

meames wrote: »

Sorry, sometimes these things make sense when you write them, but not to others because they don't know everything.

I moved in 6 years ago, a couple bought next door and move in a few months later, but they split up about a year ago, she stayed awhile and the left and rented the whole house last November to another couple, that couple moved out in March, its been empty since. The house was in the paper to let till April. I only know this because I saw the last couple who rented asked me who had moved in because it was no longer in the paper. There wasn't ever a board outside.

There are a couple of other things that when i think about them don't seem right. the blinds never open, the bins have never been emptied, or even had any more rubbish in them, In July a man went in with nothing more than a divan bed and has never been seen since. I have never heard a noise from the house until yesterday. Usually you can hear a conversation in their the living room if you are upstairs. The taps have never been run. You can hear the water in the drain when they run.

It seems they are trying to make it seem if someone is there so from the front of the house you can see a light is on when it is dark.

I will pop a note through, Fire Fox, your suggestion of leaving the mess at the front will mean changing the dogs routine, it won't go down well :-) Also I am not comfortable letting the dog out in the garden unless I stand guard, normally he has free access to the garden and wanders in and out as he pleases when i'm home.

Krlyr, I thought about screening but there are 13 fence panels so even that works out expensive.

New KittenHelp, I am sure the house isn't being renovated.

Getting Ready. I think the dogs have been left all night and all day. I don't think they have been outside at all yet, that's what bothers me. Although I am bothered about when they do.

I see what you mean meames. Something definitely isn't right.

I wouldn't want my dogs out there either and if yours is too old to defend himself it could be a nightmare.

The dogs you describe are not what you'd expect, say, a family man to have.

What about speaking to your local councillor, ask him if he can find out if any occupation is legal? Or say you think you can smell gas, get the house checked? Or the RSPCA, saying the dogs never go out?