Stupid neighbours

**DonnaL** · 09-01-2008 22:43

Hi all

I need some advice on a rental matter - I'm having a crisis with the neighbours. Kind of a long story... The guy next door came over last night and asked us if we would mind trimming the edges of our lawn that border their fence... so I said okay, fine.

Next day, dad and I went out and had a look and edges look absolutely fine. The guy was out the backyard so Dad went over and asked him if he'd point out the problem. So he tells Dad that he's already been in our yard a couple of times and has done it. Reasonably civil conversation thus far... Although I don't know what the hell he is doing coming into my backyard without our permission.

So Dad's back in my yard later hanging out some washing and a woman from next door comes barging over to the fence and calls Dad over, and demands that he come to the front with her and have a look at something...demanding to know his name and "who are you" blah blah. She points at the front garden and says "What do you see"? This then escalates into a *heated* discussion about the condition of our garden. Dad asked her what it had to do with her - according to her "everything to do with her", starts crapping on about our tenancy obligations etc.

Now I know that the garden is a bit of a mess at the moment, we had every intention of clearing it up this weekend actually. But the yard is mowed, just not whipper-snipped and there's some weeds in the garden. I have a 13 week old baby for god's sake, gardening is not top of my list.

But then she starts with personal attacks on me, referring to the fact that she has never seen a wedding ring on my finger (I am married, not that it matters) and that "we've just had a $4200 baby bonus, they should have bought a whipper-snipper with that". Tells Dad to go back where he came from, and that he should "get back to Boggo Road". Nice.

I will mention that Dad gave as good as he got... he also has a tendency to get a little... heated...

Anyhoo, she's said that she's planning to call the Real Estate tomorrow and complain. So we're going to clean up the garden in the morning before she has a chance to do so. But I'm just p*d off that she might damage our good record as tenants when we've never had a problem here. Fair enough that they asked us to fix up the fence line, but I don't really see that our garden is any of their concern. And it's just grass for christ's sake.

Sorry about the long spiel... but I'm really worried about this now.

**Tam-I-Am** · 09-01-2008 22:49

As far as I can tell, you haven't done anything wrong - but THEY have....they've trespassed onto your property. In your contract you have the right to 'quiet enjoyment' of the property whilst you're renting it - they're disturbing that, and it has nothing to do with them.

I simply wouldn't get into anything with them in the future. I'm sure your dad felt provoked, but arguing with somebody who's clearly not rational is probably not the wisest thing to do - I would just have a couple of one-liners up my sleeve if they try to argue with him or you again (Ie "I'm not going to discuss this with you - if you have a problem with the way I maintain my property, take it up with the real estate agent" etc).

What's the real estate agent really going to do?! Worst is they'll come out to your house and say "fix that up". You pay your rent on time, the house is in otherwise good order (from the sound of things) - they're truly not going to be bothered by a bit of long grass, especially given its at the back of the property. And besides that - I'm sure that being as 'lovely' as they are - the real estate agents are probably well aware that your neighbours are pains in the rear...

Try not to stress - just go on and live your life

**WorkingClassMum** · 09-01-2008 22:52

Contact the Local Council and ask for an immediate mediation - what she did is unacceptable abuse and borders on assault

Get in touch with the Real Estate Agent (REA) first - before she does and ask them to intervene. You're the REA's customer (just as much as the landlord) - they are nothing to the REA - and you have rights (and responsibilities too). Tell the REA you know the garden's a bit of a mess and you ave been working on it but that you have a new baby (sob it up a little if you can - tears work wonders). Also point out their tresspass.

I'd also make notes about the whole conversation - because if it gets really nasty (or nastier), you may need this data

**DonnaL** · 09-01-2008 22:52

Thanks...

Not to mention it's Brisbane, raining, sunny and humid all at the same time and grass takes all of about 3 days to grow again after it's mowed at the moment.

**sockstealingpoltergeist** · 09-01-2008 23:01

This sounds just like my neighbour are you sure you don't live near me lol. We are in brisbane as well. Seriously people like this have no life. Our neighbour abused my lovely kind husband before christmas because their children kept throwing toys into our yard (everyday) and sometimes our 2 dogs would get them before us. Our lawn also hadn't been mowed for about 2 weeks due to my husbands long hours and shift work and the rain, had helped it grow Fast. It was a little long - However this women told my husband he was ugly and lazy and then went on to have a go at me. We have allways been nice neighbours to them and have helped them on numerous occasions-
Now I'm going on - sorry not my thread- I know what it is like though and how uncomfy people like this can make you feel. I would do what has allready been suggested and try to ignore them from now on.

**DonnaL** · 09-01-2008 23:12

I'll definitely be ignoring them from now on. I kinda wish Dad hadn't taken the bait and argued back with her but he's very protective of his little girl LOL. And I care too much about what people think of me, and can't stand the thought of my neighbour thinking I'm some sort of second-class bogan because we're renters and the garden is a little messy. Just her tone was enough to get Dad riled up - he said she approached him like she was a policewoman or schoolteacher or something...

I'm just worried about her complaining about us to our RE. Lucky the owner of the agency is a friend of mine so I don't think I have to be too worried. But I'm hoping to move soon and don't want anything screwing up my good tenancy record, we all know how important that is in these days of competing for rental properties.

**subaruforestermum** · 10-01-2008 15:44

They are right, you do have the obligation to keep your gardens in a reasonable state, yes that is true, it is in the guidelines that it is your obligation as a tenant! But as others have said the weather plays a part in what can be done during certain periods of time.

Just keep an eye on things, have your camera ready, and maybe ask the realestate to get a lock for the back fence, to stop the moronic nosey neighbours from accessing your yard.

You can use this to break your lease early, and appeal to the real estate to help you find somewhere else!

**DonnaL** · 10-01-2008 21:23

So an update...

We fixed the gardens first thing this AM, they were standing out the front of their house giving us smug looks

. My friend from the RE agency rang me and told me that they've actually been ringing the agency quite frequently about us, and not to worry at all, the rental manager is well aware that they are psychotic

. The RE has just been telling them that they have done their 3 monthly inspections regularly and that they are happy with us. I think the neighbours could do alot worse than have us as tenants - we don't make any noise, we don't have parties, we don't bother them at all.

I know I have to keep the gardens in order, I also acknowledge that they were messy. But I believe that that is a matter for myself, my RE agents, and my landlords. Not stupid nosy neighbours. I'm quite freaked that they've been watching me closely enough to notice that I haven't been wearing a wedding ring (fingers are still a little too chunky, post baby LOL).

Thanks all for your help.

**veve** · 10-01-2008 21:28

sheesh .. you are a better woman than me .. you should see OUR yard atm .. every time that DH goes to mow .. it rains (I swear he is praying for the rain .. just so he doesn't have to slog it out on the mower ..

) ..

do your best to ignore the freaky neighbours - any idiot who says "you got the baby bonus and should have bought a whipper-snipper" clearly has issues ..

I do agree with the other posters though - make sure that you document the interesting things they DO say to you .. sigh .. might be tempting to move when the lease is up - I hate dodgy neighbours ..

xx
Jen