How do I safely and legally deal with a rude and inconsiderate neighbor? See details.?

Question

The only time that I talked to them was about illegal fireworks being done at the house. When they cut grass (which they still think is ours) their teenage son throws the grass into our yard, onto our sidewalk and it sticks in the chain link fence. Please help. Thanks

Answer 1

I see two options for you.  The first is to deal with it quietly on your own.  Sweep or use a blower on the sidewalk and fence.  The second is to have a chat with the homeowner next door.  "I just thought I'd let you know..." or "I don't know if you were aware..." are good ways to start.  Always give them the benefit of doubt for the first notice.  Whatever you decide to do, you should always remember:  since you're going to have to live next door to these people for the forseeable future then *choose your battles wisely*.

Answer 2

Try to keep talking friendly.  When you see the boy out mowing ask him if he'd turn the blower the other way, he probably doesn't know that it upsets you he just wants to get his chores done.

I have a neighbor who is a real "jerk" but I try not to have a confrontation with him.  I live on 5 acres and have boys who ride their 4 wheeler quad's, if my neighbor sees them on the side street he calls the cops, just me and the neighbor share the side street.  My husband was nailing with his nail gun and the neighbor thought we were shooting guns so called the cops.  The jerk never comes and talks to us about what upsets him he just calls the cops. Once my mother Lab and two pups got out of their kennel, he called animal control instead of calling me and I had to pay $70.00 per dog to get them out of doggie jail.  I asked who called and they told me.

The neighbors wife is a sweetie but she's married to a "jerk". I'm tempted to file a harassment charge against him but I know that will only make him worse. He's claimed to be dying for the last ten years, so I felt sorry for him but anymore I wish he'd put us all out of our misery.

Reading your complaint against your neighbor made we want to respond that talking is respecting someone, getting the cops involved is aggravating the issue more.  Cops should be out catching criminals not policing neighbors.

Love Thy Neighbor is a real challenge.

Answer 3

i am sorry you are having a rude neighbor!  what i'd do is sweep the clippings and throw it back to their side.  No, i am just kidding.  you really don't want to start a war, respond to a war, make enemies with your neighbor, or lower yourself to their level.  try reasoning with them first.  maybe they are not aware of what the son is doing.  if that's not the case, then politely ask them to not mow the grass that they think is yours (they shouldn't be touching them in the first place IF the grass is really yours!). no need to be hostile (yet).  it's better to have a friendly neighbor than an enemy cuz inconsiderate ppl obviously don't care about you and take a kick out of making other people's life miserable.  hopefully the parents are civilized and reasonable and the problem can be solved.  otherwise, try talking to the police and see what they suggest. hope this helps and good luck!

P.S. my neighbor started a "war" with me just yesterday by killing squirrels and chipmunks with rat traps because she is unhappy about me putting  a feeder up for birds and squirrels (perfectly legal in my city). she is doing this out spite because she put the trap outside of my window on her property line. what kind of sick person would do that? i tried talking to her and she is not backing down - what can i do? it's her property and i can't tell her what to do when she is not breaking any laws.  it's miserable to be feuding with ur neighbor so hopefully your neighbors are not as crazy as mine!

Answer 4

See if your local radio station has a consumer programme. Mine does and they sort out all kinds of peoples problems, from nuisance neighbours to legal matters.

Answer 5

Maybe you should open the lines of communication. Seems to me a simple conversation could put an end to the inconsiderate son.

Answer 6

Next time call the cops or fire department(non emergency number) for the illegal fireworks. The night of July 4th there was a huge fire at a local apartment complex due to somebody shooting fireworks off near one of the buildings. It just takes one firework to land at the wrong place to ruin peoples lives. As for the grass throw it back into their yard. To prove once and for all where the property line is call your local munincipality about coming out to mark you property lines. Most munincipalities do it for free or charge a very small fee.

Answer 7

i know exactly how you feel.

annoying nieghbors,

heres a story-and what you do!

ok- so me and my older sister slept out in a tent.

our neighbors who are a 4 year old-a two year old-and the parents. they are the hill-billys from h**l.

so anyway-me and my sister slept out in a tent.

6:30 in the morning, were woken up to- "justin!!! Get out there, and stay outt!!!!!!" that was his mom. they have a fence around their yard. (we call it the playpin.) its strewn with toys and other childrens items that are either broken or just odd hill billy toys. lol jk. but we were like- SHUT UP!!!

of course they didnt.

so my little sisters name is hannah,

she used to go over there to play.

but then one day that little boy decided he was going to but a ffrog in a paper bag, shake it, throw it on the ground and against the wall. then he took the poor thing out (of course it was dead by then) and threw it on my sister!!

its impossible to sit out on the patio and enjoy a good book,

eat a family meal on out picnic table,

or just sit out there and wath the birds and talk.

so heres wat you do.

either, call the police and put a stop to it,

or write a very strong note to the people as ananymous.

that should take care of it.

Answer 8

okay, so i've never owned a house or really lived in a neighborhood.. but i've seen this on TV, so bear with me.. XP

make them some kind of food -- like cookies, or a souffle.. nothing too ritzy, just some kind of peace offering i guess..

sit them down [or if they don't invite you in, just stand there] and say, very politely and tactfully, what's on your mind..

something like, "i hope that i'm not intruding, but i have some concerns about the disposal methods that your darling son is using when he cuts the grass.. you see, instead of throwing the grass clipping into the garbage," [or whatever place you're supposed to put them] "he's letting them come into our yard.." then, let them know an easier/correct/more efficient way of disposing of the clippings..

if that doesn't work, or they laugh, or they don't seem concerned at all, throw the home-made food on their porch and tell them that you're going to call the head of the neighborhood and get it sorted out.. XD

well, at least do the latter..

hope this helps!