Neighbour Dispute

aliby21

An electric fence can be very helpful in situations like yours, where you have a neighbour who thinks 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine too'.  Worked well for me.  And will give you time to grow a good intruder proof hedge, I'd recommend firethorn.

m0bov

Time for court action I think. You really need to back up all the letters.

ThisIsWeird

maruuchan said:

1. I'm prepared to go to the court if I need to but from what I've read I'd really need lots of evidence and mediation beforehand. I've got pictures, diary, recording from Ring camera though.
2. I guess my worry is cause we haven't done the boundary, however the old fence (paid by previous owners) was erected in agreement with the neighbours so I think they wouldn't allow that time to be on their property. So it is either within our boundary or on the boundary - with the second one, if we owned the fence - I think it still means we could replace it? 
3.They opened the gate and just came in. We haven't got a key (just a latch that can be done from inside) and we didn't have it closed.
4.The person who lived there died. Our solicitor however wasn't great and missed a few other things. I think as it was sold by daughter in law we probably wouldn't be able to prove anything. Although, I spoke to the company that erected the old fence and was advised that the neighbours were horrible and bullied the old lady.
5.As mentioned, we didn't, this is what potentially worries me. Would they have to prove it's in a wrong place?
7.We got ring camera, catching just below the fence. They queried that as well. We got it on camera that they came into our back garden (fenced off with a gate)
8.
We have evidence starting on 22.07.23 with all dates, pictures etc. 10 incidents in total (2 damages to old fence, once coming to our garden and cutting our hedge, once coming to our garden through gate and saying they'll take the fence down).  We got pictures on various dates that they park on the drive (when they only have right to access) and have half of the drive blocked by pots and plants that we asked them to remove. 

That's a good start - well done.

Do as Richard 1212 says. And the key is 'evidence'. These folk have already crossed into criminal behaviour, and the best thing now is to feed them more rope, and nail down that evidence.

1) If necessary, add another 'Ring'. You want to catch all their behaviour, back and front.

2) Buy a small discrete video recorder on eBay - they cost around £20 and clip to a pocket. Use it whenever you speak to them.

3) This is tricky to begin with, but will become easier - do not be intimidated by them, or fear them. They are extremely unlikely to become 'physical' towards you, and if they do, then you have won the jackpot :-)

Remind yourself how utterly ridiculous this situation and their behaviour is, and tell yourself you are going to stop it. They are entirely in the wrong, and you are going to evidence this. You, of course, behave entirely reasonably at all times, speak calmly and matter-of-factly, and do not hold back from challenging what they are doing - you want them to react.  

Print out a copy of your deeds map showing the boundary, and ditto for theirs. Hand that over with a, "These maps are clear, and you are not to come on to my property ever again." (Recorded, of course.) They cannot then claim ignorance.

'Provoke' them in passive ways - eg remove any plants they've put on your land, (leave them on their drive), and then plant something of your own choice. Then catch them if they remove or destroy your legitimate plants; you will not have committed a crime, but they will have done.

Once you have enough info, call the local police. 'Apologise' for 'having to call them for such crazy behaviour, but it's making life very unpleasant and needs to stop'. Show them your log of events, and tell them you have recordings.

Richard1212

It's all been said maruuchun. You can't keep raising more and more reasons why you can't take action on the more and more reasons you list that DO need action. You just need to do as ThisIsWeird and I have suggested or carry on and be walked all over by nasty neighbours. You have been sensible in keeping records, pics, etc. You seem to have enough to get your solicitor to proceed to court in the way suggested in my post----you should not be worried about such court action ---it is trivial; and I bet you get your legal costs paid for. Time for action now or just carry on as you are forever. I know what I'd do !

PS---how could you possibly put a gate in the fence ??????????? Do you need to get into each other's gardens -----nobody I know has a gate in their boundary fence between a normal semi, detached or terraced house. And, as you have already amazed me by putting in a gate at all, you then go on to say that it is only shut by a latch----instead of being locked !!!!!  To be perfectly frank, I think you are causing as much trouble for yourself as your neighbours are causing for you. Good luck ----my advice is complete and I have nothing more to add to this thread, except to wish you all the best.

BobT36

^ My current house (semi) has a gate in the fence, as it's the only way to get into the back garden without going through the house. One has to walk down a path that runs between both houses (actually on next door's side). 

It does have a bolt though, but that wouldn't stop anyone determined from getting in. 

Richard1212

BobT36 said:

^ My current house (semi) has a gate in the fence, as it's the only way to get into the back garden without going through the house. One has to walk down a path that runs between both houses (actually on next door's side). 

It does have a bolt though, but that wouldn't stop anyone determined from getting in. 

Totally understandable, but that's not the norm, Bob----it is next to a path. And at least you have a bolt which is a bit better than fixing a latch for the neighbour from hell to casually use as he wishes.

sevenhills

maruuchan said:

I've got a bit odd one I think but we recently purchased a property that had a fence already in the back garden (erected and paid by previous owners of our property)
We decided to replace it for privacy reasons (it was about 1m tall), however our neighbours disputed it as they don't want a fence.

They also keep trespassing our front garden and using about a meter of it for their own plants. I removed them but they put it back - what could I legally do about this?
Council seems not to care and police says that trespassing is civil dispute. I don't want to pay for another solicitor letter since they just ignore them. 

So they are being a nuisance at the front and the back? How can they possibly have rights to both?

The police are fobbing you off, they seem happing to be involved in minor issues because it may lead to other issues. If you have an email for the police, keep informing them of what your neighbours are doing, then you have a record.

If the council or police choose to, they can record this as anti-social behaviour.

NameUnavailable

Get a dog! or 2 dogs!