How do you deal with a neighbor who is a chronic complainer?

Question

The gal behind us calls the police or city engineer on her neighbors at the drop of a hat. We've never been sited for anything, in fact the engineer tells her we're improving our property to her benefit. (He told us he planned to file a harrassment claim against her.) With each complaint, we'd try to change something, but that was futile. 2+ yrs ago we installed a top, energy efficient fireplace to heat our home. Even though our chimmney is over 30 feet tall, (her house sits lower), we burn seasoned oak, and the wind mainly blows from W to E (she's W of us), they complain our smoke 'pours' into their home. Note, no other neighbors smell our smoke. This year we logged our burns & wind direction as they've complained when we weren't burning. We stop burnng during EPA alerts. They still complain. All of a sudden, one of our city council members starts up a smoke task force because of her complaints. I am on the TF, but I need to know how to fight this as I fear the worst. Any ideas?

Answer 1

If the complaints are that bad, have the city come down when your fireplace is fired up and measure the output of smoke from your chimney. If you pass, get a copy of the result's and post it in your front window for all to see.

Answer 2

It seems that the only cronic complaint is the

SMOKE issue.  Beeing that it is a Polluter in

this day and age it would benefit you and everyone

to go get some other kind of HEAT !  I think i am

right in also saying that some people are cronic

Asthmatics and when smoke is driven directly at

their home BREATHING IS difficult .   So i would

say that she may have a genuine concern.

I' m sorry it is an issue between neighbours , but

try seeing it from both sides and for gods sake

if that is her only complaint bake a cake and go

over there.

Answer 3

They sound crazy and are looking for trouble. These kind of people are difficult to deal with because they are irrational and paranoid. And unfortunately, 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease'. People will give in to them just to shut them up!

Above is correct, let a lawyer handle them from now on. These people aren't above lying to get what they want.

Answer 4

I have never heard of this.  I am wondering if your neighbor does not have a life.  I probably would ignore her if you are not doing anything wrong.

Answer 5

treat him with contempt. put youtr nose in the air and pretend he doesn't exist. he will eventuall get the message. completely ignore him

Answer 6

As long as you have permits for the work you're doing and you're not breaking the law by burning wood, document everytime she complains and calls the police.  Better yet, you should be able to go to the police department and see how many complaints she's filed against you needlessly.  Then talk to the officers there and explain the situation to them if they don't already know.  As previously said, you might want to secure legal counsel as this may turn ugly.

Answer 7

I wish I had that answer. I had a neighbor last year who was that way. We both had dogs.. He had a pit bull and I have a chihuahua but they were always complaining about something.. My chi barked too much, he "went" in the wrong place,  'he's gonna bite somebody", etc then it was "my cars parked in the wrong spot, he can't get his work truck out (he was not legally allowed to even park it there).. there were 30 free parking spots but he had to park where I was parked.  Then it was "I should not wear should skimpy clothes around the house".. (the door was shut..they were looking thru the blinds). It was always something.  You will always have someone complaining about something..

I was ask the engineer if he can get you a copy of the harrassement claim he filed.. and then talk to a lawyer or file your own harrassment claim.. Keep record somehow of every complain, date and time, (camcorder was a good idea) and sue her for harassment. She cannot tell you when to burn your chimney.. it is your house.. if no other neighbors are complaining and since the engineer agrees with you, you will have a case in court..  I would ask the city council for something in writing about what you are doing wrong.. take that to court/attorney.., and let him handle it.. Your neighbor sounds like she has a mental illness and I would put nothing past her.. not meaning to scare you..but if you didn't have the chimney she would c/o of something else.. people like her do that.. I would definately file harrassment charges. If you do, she may back off.. she may think you won't do anything and keep on bothering you.. show her you will file legal suit and it may work.. GL

Answer 8

Get a lawyer first and try to settle this through the legal system. You can definitely stop the city. Now if that doesn't work, well making her an offer she can't refuse would be my next step, and I ain't talking money.

Answer 9

For starters you need to hire an attorney, have a camcorder handy and in a spot that your neighbor will not notice that it is sitting.  When she comes to "complain" then you have means of documentation.  Any means of communication you make to someone else, do it my mail, keep a copy of any letter, and certify mail it.  This is to not only protect you, but to prove that your neighbor is the chronic complainer that she is.