Fly-tipping in our garden by neighbour - advice needed

MrsMoosie

Hi everyone

Some advice needed on a situation with a neighbour.

Our back garden backs onto the parking lot of a block of flats. Over the years we've had issues with one of the residents there (not just me, but all my neighbours whose gardens back onto the parking lot). The woman who lives there is a really nasty piece of work and has had run-ins with several of us over the years. She has two young sons, the youngest of which is probably about 18 months old. A few months back, I had an argument with her when her oldest son was squirting a water pistol at me while I was sitting in my back garden and he was running around the parking lot. I politely asked her to please tell her son to stop shooting water at people in their gardens, and she ignored me at first, and then pretended to tell her son to stop spraying water whilst filming him on her phone while he was spraying me!

For the last few months, we've noticed rubbish in our garden, the majority of which have been used nappies (really disgusting!). My husband and I have always suspected it was this woman but we had no proof as we could never catch her in the act. We know it wasn't any of our neighbours either side of us, as we're good friends with both of them.

Last night, we went out into the garden and noticed a speaker box, a used nappy, and a bag of rubbish, with other pieces of paper littered around the garden. We took the bag of rubbish inside and opened it up and found a torn up Jobcentreplus letter with this woman's name and address on it, amongst other correspondence.

I rather stupidly didn't take photos of the rubbish while it was in the garden, but I do have photos from months back where I took pictures of the nappy lying in our back garden.

My questions are:

1. Should I report her for fly-tipping, now that I know for sure it's her?
2. Should I also notify the council, as she is in a house paid for by the council?

I am concerned about repercussions on this, as we're in the final stages of selling our house (exchanging this week hopefully), and don't want any action we take to affect our sale.

Any words of advice gratefully received.

Thanks,
Carmen.

princeofpounds

If you are selling or intend to sell soon, you should just leave it. Disputes are declarable on the standard SPIF.

Personally I would also be keen to help deal with her, but for now the potential risks for you are much bigger than this issue.

Piggywiggy

Keep pictures for evidence but keep quiet for now til you've moved then report her.

lxpeanut

I would definitely report her anti social behavior although like others I'd leave it until after you've moved. Its doubtful you will get much response on the flytipping unfortunately as many councils just dont have the staff to do much about it anymore. But it might at least help you neighbors get her moved.

m0bov

Speak with Enviro Health, sounds like you really need to nip this in the bud. You have good evidence, what about CCTV, can you put that up?

princeofpounds

The problem with reporting afterwards is that it might look like there was an undeclared dispute, should the buyers get unhappy about the mess you have landed them in.

Best to move on.

MrsMoosie

princeofpounds wrote: »

The problem with reporting afterwards is that it might look like there was an undeclared dispute, should the buyers get unhappy about the mess you have landed them in.

Best to move on.

Thanks princeofpounds - that does seem the most sensible, and while it does grate me that she will be allowed to get away with such horrible behaviour, I am more concerned about my sale going through and just getting out of here. I do worry about the buyers who are buying our house, as they are a really lovely couple and I just hope that she doesn't try the same stuff with them once they move in.

DaftyDuck

Surely, on moving out, you are going to generate an awful lot of rubbish yourself......

More seriously, put your own interests first, just move. Yes, the World might be a better place if you report her and she mends her ways but .... a) she never will, in all likelihood and, b) it may rebound on your sale and moving on.

samba

"2.2 Is the seller aware of anything which might lead to a dispute about the property or a property nearby? If Yes, please
give details:"

I'm not sure how the seller could honestly answer "no" here, given the information they have provided in this thread.

Pixie5740

I'd be tempted to return her dirty nappies to her, through her letter box, the clatty midden. What possesses her to put rubbish in your garden, does that require less effort than putting her rubbish in a wheelie bin?

In all seriousness though, you're moving soon so just put up with it a while longer though as samba points out this should probably be declared on the SPIF.

stator

I think you already have to declare it to your buyer, so go ahead and report her to the council or police or anyone you can.