Complaining Neighbors - What’s the Deal?
Tags: complaining neigbors, complaints, neighbor complaints, neighbor issues, neighborhood complaints, nosy neighbors
Recently I have witnessed a number of situations where neighbors, simply put, seem to have nothing else to do but involve themselves in other people’s business. The most recent example, a friend of mine in a new subdivision, just had a landscaping company come out and put a retaining wall up in her backyard. This retaining wall was needed due to the slope of her yard and conserving the proper flow of water.
Not even a week after having the wall up, she receives a notification from the city stating that someone filed a complaint about the wall. In the letter, the city simply alerts them of the requirements of a retaining wall, which her wall 100% meets those guidelines, and that anything outside of those guidelines requires a permit. Mind you as I said, her wall, is completely within those guidelines - afterall that is part of the landscaping company’s job to understand what requires a permit and what does not. According to the city, no further action is really needed, but if she has questions she can call them.
So you are left wondering, who would call and file a complaint and why? The lot next to her hasn’t even been sold yet so it had to be someone who the wall doesn’t even have any kind of impact on whatsoever. Why is it that people feel the need to complain about things like this, ESPECIALLY when the item in question has no effect on their property.
A few years ago, we began building a deck in our backyard. Now, when I say deck it is really a one step platform deck but I digress. In addition, we purchased a hot tub and gazeebo with a walk up bar adjacent to the deck. We were all set, all materials purchased, hot tub and gazeebo installed and the base of the deck was all built out. All we had left to do was to lay the deck boards on top of the frame. Can you guess what happened to us?
We received a letter stating someone filed a complaint about our backyard construction and that we were required to obtain permits for our deck and hot tub. We talk to our neighbors on either side and those behind us, they were all completely ok with the construction and were actually excited to see what came of it. Who complained? Our nosy neighbor across the street who cannot even see our backyard from her house. This is the same lady who leaves us notes to rake our leaves, cut our grass, not park here or there, all of that stuff.
We are not lazy homeowners, we both work insane hours and have a landscaping company come out and cut our grass, leaves, etc. and yet she still feels the need to complain. One day it finally came to a head where she apparently called the cops because she swore up and down that my brother drove on her lawn with his truck when he was backing out of our driveway. Well, he did not but she said that the cops came out and matched the tread of his tires with the apparent tread on the edge of her lawn. What a joke.
My brother confronted her, told her he didn’t drive on her lawn and told her to stop all communication with us. That meant saying nothing to anyone who came in and out of our house, refrain from tacking any notes on our door, and essentially just be neighbors, that is it.
Anyways, I may still be slightly bitter, but it is just ridiculous. Why is it that there are some people who just feel compelled to insert themselves into your business. Did someone ask them to be the subdivision police and harp on things that are non-existent problems? Is it because there is a lack of things to occupy their time other than griping about how others choose to take care of their property?
I realize that there are situations where complaints are completely valid but where is the line when it goes from valid to unecessary?
Benjamin Ambacher said:
Apr 22, 09 at 7:02 amI have the same situation going on as we speak. I live with 2 other roommates what used to be the old post housing on Fort Polk. Well, the houses are kind of like duplexes. Well, the first thing they dod was complain about our dog. Supposedly, we let the dog out front to go to the bathroom. Never have we done that. Another dog, I do not know who’s, mind you went to the bathroom by their car. I told them I would clean it up even though it was not our dog. They complained to the landlord anyway, and got us a 300 dollar fine. 2nd thing- We don’t have a trash service in the apartments so everyone places their trash bags outside. Well, this morning at 0630 AM, the neighbors wife came banging on the door. I’m not talking lightly knocking, banging about 4 to 6 times constantly. Finally opening the door, she said that we let our dog chew her trash bag. We found our trashbags with holes in them 2 days before. We explained to her that it was raccoons, and she didn’t want to hear it. She said she was going to talk to the landlord anyway. How do you deal with a neighbor like that?
Andrea said:
Nov 16, 09 at 1:05 pmI have a request rather than a comment. I need help. I have lived in my home with the same neighbor to the right of me for 20 years. Seven years ago I adopted/recued a 1 year old boarder collie. I think he actually picked me…rather than me picking him. I was going threw a hard time in my life (divorce, single mom of three and my mother passed away). This dog was sent to me by God. I’m not kidding. I soon discovered my dog was deaf. However, SOMEONE had trained him well because he is soooo smart and VERY SWEET. He walks with me very well on a leash (yet I don’t really need one), and I use hand signals to make him sit and stay etc… I even have him visiting the elderly folks in a elderly home care and they LOVE him. He is such a amazing sweet and friendly dog. Problem, he Barks REALLY loud. He doesn’t bark very much ( just a little if a plane fly’s over the house or he sees a cat) when I am gone away from the house during the DAY…….but he DOES bark ALOT if he is outside at night. I’ve tested this to make sure. No one has ever complained until two years ago my neighbor of 20 years says my dog barks at night if I’m gone and it bothers him. SO, as a good neighbor I make sure my dog is inside the house if I’m gone at night……..plus when I’m home (which is often). I let the dog out to go potty and if I’m in the shower or something he will bark a little but if he does, I let him in right away or my kids do. We basically work very hard to make sure he doesn’t bark. I went around to other neighbors and asked them if my dog bothers them. They all said…they hear him sometimes but its not a problem. I gave them my numbers and told them to call me if it is ever a problem. I said this again at my neighborhood watch meeting. Soooo …I’ve been doing good for about a year at keeping this dog quiet. However once when I went on vacation and then another time about a month ago……I made arrangements for someone to let him in the house by 7:00 pm and then let him out by 5:30 am. This person forgot to let my dog in……..so my dog barked basically all night on those nights. My 20 year nieghbor was VERY mad. I called him and appologized like crazy and told him I would not let that happen again and I felt terrible. SOoooo Over the years this neighbor has complained about my kids playing basket ball so I moved my hoop to a location that worked better for my nighbor, he complained about my sister and her baby sitting on a blanket on his front yard (which is really on my property line but we share the grass), and he sleeps in his living room and asked that I keep my bathroom light off at night, and various other things. Sooo…..over the years..I’ve been working to keep the peace and thought it was a good relationship because anything he complained about ……..I immediately fixed and tried to work with him. In addition, I don’t have loud parties,or play my music loud, my kids are teen agers now and are VERY respectful of adults etc…. So NOW I got a letter from the Animal Shelter that my dog is barking all day and all night (which is totally NOT true). He does bark a bit ……..he’s a good deaf guard dog (hahah). But other than that just those few times where my friend forgot to let him in the house for me. I can’t do anything more than I am doing and am sure that I am doing a good job except for those two nights. The neighbor just nags me and complains about everything and I usually just smile and say No problem and take care of it.
I’m so tire of this guy. Now I’m getting mad but there is NOTHING I can do………right?? Help.