Trouble with my neighbours

Simona_Fire

Hi, I’m hoping someone can suggest what to do.

We’ve lived in our property for 5 years - we own our home with a mortgage. My neighbours have been fine but over the past few months I’m starting to get annoyed with the things they are doing. I live with my boyfriend and they are a family of 5 so they produce far more rubbish than we do. In recent months they have started putting their rubbish in our bins. Last week they put 2 huge bin bags in so that there wasn’t enough room for our own rubbish and the council put a sticker on our bin for it being over full. They also sometimes put non-recyclable stuff in the recycle bin so I have to fish it out and put it in the right place.

The other issue is parking. Groan. I know. Where we live, we have parking bays that are not allocated to anyone. Normally I park wherever with no problem. However last week my neighbour asked me if I could stop parking in the space in front of her house. I was a bit aghast because anyone can park anywhere and I would like to be able to park in front of my house but if someone gets there first then tough. Her reason is that her children like to nap in the car and so if the car is parked right outside she can easily keep an eye on them.

So I haven’t parked there since but it really annoys me that she would even ask, plus she’s using my bin! (Gosh this does sound ridiculous but it’s annoying). They also have outbuilding which they didn’t seek planning permission for. I haven’t shopped them to the council but if they keep annoying me then I’d be tempted!

Should I say something about the bins/parking or not?

Doozergirl

Her asking you about the parking was the perfect opportunity for you to do a deal over the bins. You're not obliged tondo as she says, but at least she has a plausible reason for asking.

Outbuildings usually fall under Permitted Development and don't need PP. Are you sure it needs planning?

PasturesNew

I'd not put my bin out. If you live alone and separate your regular bin stuff into "sticky" and "clean", then you can walk your bagged up "sticky" stuff to a local public bin every 2-3 days while you're out and about - and save the rest up for 2-3 months.... then, I'd try to put it out at the very last minute if possible, so they don't get a chance to be cheeky.

For recycling, just bag it up and keep it in your car until you pass an appropriate recycling place and/or take a run out to the council tip every 3-4 months.... which, for a single person, is probably enough.

Let her p155 somebody else off when she uses their bins

Re parking... yeah, she's cheeky - and shouldn't be leaving children in cars unsupervised to sleep....all sorts can happen.

You're not in the wrong... she is, entirely.... and it's bl00dy annoying isn't it.

Norman_Castle

You may have agreed not to park there for her convenience but if its convenient for you then park there explaining you need to park your car and that is the nearest space.


You will need to tell her not to use your bins and explain why. Her rubbish is her problem. Accept no excuses from her to allow it to happen again.

They also sometimes put non-recyclable stuff in the recycle bin so I have to fish it out and put it in the right place.

Hopefully their front garden.

Simona_Fire

Re the planning permission. I could be completely wrong about that (sounds like I am). So no, I!!!8217;m not sure it needs planning permission.

I think I was too shocked to talk about the bins when she asked about the parking!

Thanks for confirming that I!!!8217;m not being completely unreasonable. I won!!!8217;t park there deliberately but if that!!!8217;s the closest spot to my house then I don!!!8217;t see why I should leave it vacant for her.

Simona_Fire

Does anyone know how to get rid of the exclamation marks and 8217? It seems to be only when I use apostrophes.

Simona_Fire

On PasturesNew!!!8217;s point about not putting bins out. I live in a terrace and the only place to keep the bins is out the front so they!!!8217;re always there and available for fly tipping.

PasturesNew

Simona_Fire wrote: »

On PasturesNew!!!8217;s point about not putting bins out. I live in a terrace and the only place to keep the bins is out the front so they!!!8217;re always there and available for fly tipping.

Always there, or just left there as nobody CBA to drag it all the way through the house? I'd get rid.... just out of "spite" (although it's not spite is it if they're taking the mick)... I'd simply remove the opportunity for them to be cheeky... even if it "put me out a little bit" ... and, don't forget.... you can always quickly put your rubbish in hers if you've no bin .. Just learn the "signs" so you know where she is and do it when she's not looking.

Chrisv

Simona_Fire wrote: »

Does anyone know how to get rid of the exclamation marks and 8217? It seems to be only when I use apostrophes.

Go into settings - general - keyboard and turn off your Smart Punctuation. HTH

zagubov

I'd withdraw your agreement to park elsewhere. She's asking for a favour from people whose neighbourliness she's already abusing.
Don't get into dispute with them.

Just tell them that in future you'll rightfully return their rubbish to their property where it legally and rightfully belongs, clearly explaining how the system works, and park where you're legally allowed to.

No reason for conflict or dispute. If they'd like to ask to use your bin space, and avoid their parking space on specific occasions, they can politely ask and you can on the right occasions, agree. And that's all.

Simona_Fire

PasturesNew wrote: »

Always there, or just left there as nobody CBA to drag it all the way through the house? I'd get rid.... just out of "spite" (although it's not spite is it if they're taking the mick)... I'd simply remove the opportunity for them to be cheeky... even if it "put me out a little bit" ... and, don't forget.... you can always quickly put your rubbish in hers if you've no bin .. Just learn the "signs" so you know where she is and do it when she's not looking.

In each of our front yards/gardens we have a space to keep the bins. They are obscured from view by some wooden fencing. I always keep them away from the road in the proper place. However it happens to be right next to where they keep their bins so it’s easy for them to just toss things into my bins from their side of the fence. I dont have side access and so would have to wheel them through the house. As I dont want to do that I think all I can do is either put up with it or talk to her/them.

Thanks all.