NWR - Neighbor Issues - UPDATE 8/13

Thanks, everyone! I'll let you know how it goes!

Why can't we all have neighbors like Mr, Rogers =)

Go to your towns planning/zoning office. They may be able to help you out!

Haha. I'm petty too. I'd keep parking there.

We had an issue with our neighbors last Halloween ( I LOVE Halloween so I decorate everything!) the neighbor came over and said "I don't like skulls and we don't celebrate Halloween can you remove your decorations" of course I said nope sorry, my house, I'll decorate if I want. He then called me a devil worshiper. So this year I bought a HUGE grim reaper to hang on the side of my house pointing towards their house. Lol. I know it's immature but it makes me happy lol.

Do you have a community association? Try them first. If not be careful ppl can be mean. You may have to put a sign up warning ppl about trespassing and possible danger. Because if they get hurt on your property they could sue (I don't want to scare you). Since your neighbor seem a little emotional over this I would put a camera on your house or car. Hopefully there's a community association that can help you. Good luck.

Some people just think they own the empty lots on their street! We had a similar issue when my family moved into our house way back when. Our land had been an empty lot for a few years and after we built the neighbors kids and dog kept coming into our yard and playing with our toys and playground without asking, the issue with this was what if they got hurt on our property? We asked the parents not to let this happen, yelling ensued, and so we began building a fence. Well she didn't like that and called the cops to complain...the cops of course looked at her like the nut she was since we were at liberty to put a fence on our property

Please keep us updated. I'd like to see what the City has to say about your situation.

No, @Nancy, inquiring about your coverage will not make your rates go up. SAK2SAH is wrong. If you actually file a claim, it could however! I am an insurance agent and talk to customers all the time about what/if situations. There is no harm in asking. But yes, in total agreement with PP's this is a HUGE liability risk!

@theHamWhites WOW. I can't believe she asked you to remove your decorations. That's horrible. The nerve of some people. Pretty soon she will be telling you what color to paint your house.

@colleend Why do people need to yell and get so emotional? They don't seem to understand it is no longer an empty lot. I'm sorry, but a house is there now...they had their fun on an empty lot for years. I get the sense that they feel they have rights to the lot because in their minds they did for years.

I would get the city envolved plus need to have a fence put up so children won't go on your property and get hurt falling down the deep embankment

In our area you're not even allowed to have basketball hoops on the sidewalk or street, on a permanent basis.

Before you can put up a fence, a few inexpensive "No Trespassing" signs on the side of your house near the embankment would be a good start!

@TheHamWhites, I love your pettiness. I would have done the same since I pretty much live for Halloween

Do you live in an HOA neighborhood? I would first bring up your concerns there. If you do not have one or they are not willing to do anything, I would talk to the city about your concerns for other's safety.

Its your property and god forbid her 16 yr old accidentally falls no matter how many times he has done it and it goes on you. I love kids, I'm a teacher, my parents neighbors have kids that just come right into the yard. When I stay with my parents since I live out of town it bothers me because I bring my dog. The kids have hit my dog and I wouldn't put it passed my dog to bite them. Its all liability and that is where you have your biggest advantage

Depending on where exactly the hoop is you may be able to get a survey done showing they need to move it. I would also post no trespassing signs on the property so that if something comes out of it you have visible proof that you do not want them on your property.

UPDATE:

We do not live in an HOA neighborhood.

Spoke with the zoning officer who was really nice. He said there is no ordinance against putting a basketball hoop on the sidewalk unless it is a hazard. However if it is blocking the sidewalk and accessibility he can do something. I checked the picture and it is blocking 50%. If a person cannot go around the hoop without coming into our yard, then he can make them move it. Also, it goes further with handicapped accessibility. No one would be able to get a wheelchair easily around it. He advised me to try and talk to them again first before he gets involved. He agreed that they are being extremely rude and just don't want it in front of their house for the obvious reasons.

He said I have every right to tell the police that the children have been coming on our property and they could possibly also tell the family to move the hoop.

I went over today (we are not fully moved in yet). The mom purposely parked her car by the hoop so we can't park there. She ALWAYS parks in her garage. So I'm assuming she is going to be combative when we try and talk to her tonight. However, the zoning official said I can continue to park there and there is nothing they can do about it. My luck the hoop will fall on my car and somehow I'll be liable. He also said when a family in the foreclosed house moves in...they will likely want it removed as well. It's been empty for over a year so I'm not sure about when it will be bought.

It's hard to believe with all the things in this world, people are so rude about a stupid basketball hoop.

Thanks for the ideas about the no trespassing signs! I'll be buying those soon!

I'll be back with an update tonight, and hopefully not a black eye. lol

Do you own a truck? Midnight dump run... what hoop??

Thanks for the update! It sounds like everything is likely to work out in the end and that hoop will be gone!

Thanks for the update. Interested to hear how tonight goes

@lkg72 that's hilarious! i'd be worried they have cameras out there at this point.

tonight's update: They weren't home... womp womp

To be fair...when we went over tonight, I realized that it wasn't her car parked there today. It was a neighbors that is the same make and model. What are the chances?! haha so maybe she will be nice.

Stay Tuned =)