Problem Neighbours - is it time to hold them accountable?

Greenthing11

There needs to be a change in the law I think most people would agree that have ever experienced challenging neighbours.  

Details of my experience:
Since buying my property, I have gone out of my way to accommodate my neighbour when he had some building work done.  His builders came onto my land, put a huge amount of scaffold on my lean-to, parked on my drive - and they even used my water for their cement, as they called me up to ask if they could use my outdoor tap!

The neighbour's building work  even flooded my lean-to for a while as he did his own drain piping, and leaving gushing water bouncing against my wall.  This was  fixed after I said I said I will need to get my insurance involved if it's not sorted.  

We live in long thin terrace cottage gardens and as the wind has knocked out some of the fences, I asked his opinion on what he would be happy with and started to plant trees as the fence comes away.  

Last year I asked if I could come round onto his property to maintain mine, and he refused, even saying I'd need a court order!  Obviously, I was flabbergasted!  

He then made a series of demands that would be the 'deal' for me to come round and paint my shed.  This includes coming into my home for a cup of tea.  

I of course did not agree, and we did not speak for quite a while.  

His communication by email is often disrespectful, and I never respond to any demand.  

The end of last year he wanted to get involved in a neighbourly project which involved him clearing and cutting down all my trees in the lower garden.  I suspect the real reason is he wanted more light in his lower garden to grow.  May I point out, the trees aren't excessive, and most of them are small not on his side.  He has successfully grown things down there this year, and he gets good light.  

I needed a large tree trimming, and the men needed access to his land as there was cables involved. I wanted and asked all the surgeons to thin out the smaller trees after the big tree, and I explained this to the neighbour.  He also heard me ask the surgeons, and that I'd even give them more money to trim the small ones too, but it turned out the big tree was a big job, and there was no time for it.  They didn't trim the small trees , and he sent some unpleasant emails demanded I get them back to trim them!


I tried to be civil with him in the run up to the tree, and we had a few chats about plants and he gave me some seedlings, but although I offered, he didn't take any from me.  

It is possible he has been filming from his window.

The Turning Point:

Like most people we are busy, and as a lone parent, I'm super busy all of the time.   Just getting by is hard these days.  

The neighbour doesn't work, and has caused issues and misery for various neighbours. 

He tried to ask me out earlier in the year which I politely declined.  

Then odd things started to happen around the garden.  Small things going missing - and then my bucket went missing, my butt emptied near the shed.  I felt violated.  Suddenly it occurred to me... one of the reasons I gave regarding not clearing the area was that I felt security with the trees, and was this trying to prove I wasn't secure? 

I realised there is a law that allows me to go and maintain my property so I went round to paint it and start to repair some punctures in the shed that had come through the lining.  He has made if very difficult to access my shed, and put everything he could infromt of it.  I did my best - it's a large shed.  But I couldn't get to a large part of it.

(May I point out, I have film of him walking on my property to maintain his!)

I have learned there is a police file on him with various complaints.

But I went out on Friday, looked over the fence and he has started to destroy the repairs I've made and he's rammed a great big heavy crate against the shed, scraping it.  

The shed wall is pretty much on the boundary line and has been there for about 15 years  - a previous owner must have built it.  

So, I really don't want to be spending my time like this, but these people cause so much unnecessary misery.  

How do you think I should handle this from this point?  

I have started to explore cameras _ are there any steps you recommend?  

If I go onto his property to move the crate and try and repair the damage, he has proof of my trespassing.  But I have no proof of him doing that damage.  

I would like to see people like this held accountable for the potential loss of money someone may suffer in a house sale, having to declare such behaviour as this.  People are pretty much held to ransom  - and this has to change.  

Thank you for your time and thoughts

elsien

Getting your garden properly fenced in and shifting the shed within your boundary seems like the best way to go. More expense in the short term but it means he can’t access your garden and you don’t need to access his. 

I was confused though by your reference to trees? Does that mean you’ve planted something there instead of replacing the fence. If so, that does seem to be a boundary dispute in the making and something that you might want to reconsider given the circumstances. 

Gavin83

Greenthing11 said:

I would like to see people like this held accountable for the potential loss of money someone may suffer in a house sale, having to declare such behaviour as this.  People are pretty much held to ransom  - and this has to change.  

The problem with this suggestion is it's very rarely so black and white. Both neighbours often believe they're blameless and the other party is entirely at fault when the majority of the time it's at least partially the fault of both sets of neighbours. It would be near impossible for the courts to apportion blame in such cases.

theartfullodger

Agreed, would love to hear this story from the other side 

Move after sorting what you can.  But Obvs declaring disputes 

Woolsery

There's a reason why the saying, "Good fences make good neighbours" has come about.

The physical fence is a good investment because it limits what a neighbour may do casually and without effort to encroach on your personal space.

There is also a metaphorical fence that exists in people's minds which says "Thus far and no further." Sometimes experience teaches individuals where that fence is, but at other times its existence must be made explicit. Involving oneself with a neighbour on joint projects and favours sometmes makes it hard to police this line and keep it crystal clear.

Take whatever action is required to physically keep this guy in his garden and don't ask to be in his unless absolutely necessary in some sort of emergency. If you use contractors, warn them not to become any sort of go-between. The neighbour will eventually get the message.

newsgroupmonkey_

Something to consider....

Trespass is a civil offence and the Police would have no interest. He would have to prove to a court that by doing so, you'd caused detriment, be that physical or mental anguish.

On the flip side, criminal damage is exactly that and the Police are interested.

Cameras are easy to install.

I have a Yi Home one (currently with 20% off at Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0794TN8J5/). Costs about £3 a month as I've bought the cloud storage option (you don't have to though - you can put a storage card in).

I'd definitely recommend it - sounds like you have a nasty specimen next door.

macman

You need to cut out the personal stuff and stick to the facts. 'he doesn't work': how is that relevant? 'he has a police file': how can you know that? If he has a criminal record, then how is that relevant to a civil trespass? 'Filming from his window': he's entitled to  do so.
If you can't resolve this between you, then the only way is through a civil claim, which will be long and expensive. 

Greenthing11

Thank you so much for the comments so far - all have been very helpful indeed.  

As it's a long boundary and he grows food, I asked him what what fruit trees/plants he thought would work as an edible hedge, and one of those recommendations was Cherry Plumb.  I started a hedge off with a couple of years back, and after the wind earlier this year, I bought a few and planted them with a mesh fence.  He then complained saying they may grow too big and I'd be responsible for the roots going into his garden.  This was after I'd planted them.  I then removed the one closest to his tunnel, and only planted a few of them.  

I have mentioned putting up a fence if the edible boundary/fence doesn't work, and said that he wouldn't allow any access on his land to build it if I did!  

No, I won't be moving anytime soon.  And this can happen to anyone at any time.  It is something we all have to learn, unfortunately.  

anselld

It sounds like a proper fence is the way to go.  It could easily be build from your side without access to his land.

Greenthing11

I agree.  I'll be aiming for a 6ft part block wall and part fence up the entire garden.  It will be worth every blinking penny.  

Titus_Wadd

Only communicate via email or snail mail.  If you send him notice to enter his land to repaint you shed, and if you feel brave enough, take a friend filming via their mobile phone, and for moral support.  Report any name calling or other harassment via 101 or 999 if there's an immediate threat.  Friend continues to film and calls the police via another mobile.

Have very low expectations of police and council interest in your situation.  Stay safe.