Bizarre behaviour from neighbours, at wits end!

ruthhardy

My neighbours have done a lot of stuff over the past year of my tenancy but yesterday was the final straw. I returned home from a business trip where I was away for a whole week. I ironically was sellotaping a notice to my front window stating for post not to be left with them if I’m not in and I noticed the trees missing from my front garden. They’ve only gone and cut down my two trees to the stump, taken all of the wood and left me with the leafy branches! They have a thing for wood I’m not sure if they have a log fire or something. They’re constantly getting deliveries of it.

I’m just in awe. I would be less annoyed if they had tried to speak to me about an issue they may have I.e it was blocking their sunlight. It was nowhere near their front garden, I always make sure they’re not overhanging and keep my gardens immaculate incase anyone is wanting to sell. They clearly waited until I was away to do it because they know I would I gone mad if I saw them in my garden! I hate it now it just looks bare and dead. They’ve killed off a lot of my gorgeous green grass that I’ve spent money on keeping it nice and I know I might be thinking too much but I think they’ve also sprayed weed killer over my grass as there are quite a lot of dead patches now. Plus they’ve trampled all over it and it’s not meant to be walked on. There’s paths around it.

Their garden is completely paved, no room for nice grass or planted flowers so I think they might have been slightly jealous of it. Or they’re just incredibly petty and passive aggressive. Or both. Now the weird thing is that they’re an elderly couple and it’s a lot of effort to go to cutting trees down. They’ve done countless weird and intrusive things such as text my parents when I had friends over on St Patrick’s Day telling them that I was having an ‘out of control house party’ and they were ready to call the police. It was 7pm and there were 4 people in my house. There was no music being played. It was the first time I had friends in my house since I split with my partner (DV which is why they had my parents number so they could tell them if they saw him near my house). They abused having their number and also messaged them a week later telling them my windows were dirty! I’ve never known anything so ridiculous. They’re not dirty there’s just condensation trapped between the glazing. Crazily enough I’ve never actually spoken to them. They always stare me down and give me dirty looks when I walk past them. What kind of people look up from what they’re doing, stare down a person and essentially watch what they’re doing until they’ve left their eyesight! They always stare and watch me when we’re both outside. I know I might be a little paranoid but when I’m talking in my bedroom sometimes the stairs are quite creeky in their house I can hear them hovering on the stairs for a long time so I think they try and listen in to what I’m saying.

I’m moving but still have to put up with them for 2 months. I don’t think speaking to them face to face is a good idea right now so am going to post a letter through. How should I word it and what should I say?

tacpot12

The trees belong to your landlord (unless you planted them). Have you checked whether the neighbours agreed that they could remove the trees with your landlord?

If not, it is really up to him whether he reports their theft.

marliepanda

How do you know your neighbour removed the tree? Ive looked through a few times and can't see where you say that...

ruthhardy

I’m not sure who else would? I rent through an estate agents who don’t even get repairs carried out when requested multiple times I doubt they would do a bit of my garden and they would have charged me. There also would have been some form of communication about it. I know it was them because they mowed my grass at the back of my house when I literally had a gardener coming an hour later. I watched them do it, yes they walked straight into my back garden. There were children I my house so didn’t want a scene to be made so I left it. It is of their form and they’ve already intruded in multiple ways.

ruthhardy

I!!!8217;m not bothered about the !!!8216;theft!!!8217; or !!!8216;criminal damage!!!8217; as the house is not owned by me. I!!!8217;m more bothered about the trespass and just downright disrespectful behaviour. Ironically the woman was one of my dinner ladies at school and she was always rude to me as a teen which has carried on into adulthood.

Oakdene

ruthhardy wrote: »

I’m not sure who else would? I rent through an estate agents who don’t even get repairs carried out when requested multiple times I doubt they would do a bit of my garden and they would have charged me. There also would have been some form of communication about it. I know it was them because they mowed my grass at the back of my house when I literally had a gardener coming an hour later. I watched them do it, yes they walked straight into my back garden. There were children I my house so didn’t want a scene to be made so I left it. It is of their form and they’ve already intruded in multiple ways.

Wish my neighbour would do that :rotfl::rotfl:

ruthhardy

Yes it might be funny and deemed ‘helpful’ but not when 1) you’re a victim of DV and they know this, people being on your gated property when they’re not meant to be isn’t a nice feeling and 2) they’ve just quickly done it as a way to say ‘do your garden’ and messed it up. It’s still trespass at the end of the day, I’m not really sure what’s acceptable about unlocking someone’s gate and going into their garden without permission? I have a right to privacy and they have trespassed twice. They have also trespassed and stolen before. They took my (full, so weird) blue bin from inside my gated back garden when I had paid for it at the start of my tenancy because strangely enough all the bins had been stolen! I had to get it replaced which costs more money. I was cleaning my bathroom one day and noticed they had 2 of every colour bin in their back garden. Funnily enough my house number was on 3 of the bins! I would have listed all the strange stuff they’ve done in first post but would have made it too long.

There’s countless stuff honestly. I’ve had enough and they need confronting. I’ve given them a break because their age but they’re only about 60 so very capable of being aware of what they’re doing. I just don’t even know where to begin on the letter.

hazyjo

ruthhardy wrote: »

I’m moving but still have to put up with them for 2 months. I don’t think speaking to them face to face is a good idea right now so am going to post a letter through. How should I word it and what should I say?

Ignore it. You have no proof. Re the patches, my OH is in our garden watering it constantly, but even we have patches on it this week due to the hot weather and no rain.


You don't want your LL finding out and having to declare a neighbour dispute. Just leave it and grit your teeth for two months. It's only your property for another two months...

ruthhardy

Well they owe me money from the bins at least? I!!!8217;ve paid over £100 for them now as I!!!8217;ve had to get one replaced

Ozzuk

You are moving in two months...keep that thought in your head. The time to confront was when you saw your numbers on the boxes, or when they entered your garden, or any of the other times. Too late now, don't let it wind you up - they will soon be a distant memory.

I would however notify your landlord in case he wants to involve police - you don't want him holding you responibly for the damage as mature trees cost hundreds, if not thousands to replace.

ruthhardy

So as I!!!8217;ve stated I!!!8217;ve literally never spoken to them, I!!!8217;ve give them muilptle chances to be normal. I!!!8217;m meant to just lie down and take the behaviour for another 2 months when I pay over a grand on the rent. Jeez alright then. They ruined my time here and they are the reason I!!!8217;m moving! My agents are already aware of them as funnily enough all of his past tenants have moved out within the first year because of them. He struggled to sell it before he rented it out because every time he had viewers the neighbours would say stuff like !!!8216;oh not a good area this we!!!8217;re going to move soon!!!!8217; Or !!!8216;the neighbours on the other side have loud parties all the time so I wouldn!!!8217;t come here if you want quiet!!!8217;. She would watch through the windows as they viewed and hover like a hawk in her front garden until they!!!8217;d left.