Annoying Neighbors

02grad

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2012
Messages
3
Hello,

This is sort of military related, because my neighbor is an ex Air Force MP. We have some very bullying neighbors who are very difficult to deal with. I am sure there are worse neighbors, but it seems they like to intimidate and bully to the point where I had to call the police. When they first moved in, he argued about the property lines when trying to build a fence. He wanted to take a few inches of our property and the person that put up our fence said he was on our side with his. He came in my front door when we had guests over without knocking and demanded we fix the drainage problem that he created with his raised flower beds. Someone stole one of our flowers recently (the same looking flowers showed up around the neighbors tree). My mom asked the neighbor and said, "this was the work of the devil." I think she did it too, but I do not trust them one bit. His driveway is next to my air conditioner and flower bed, so we used to walk on his drive to maintain our side. Now, we have a no tresspass and he actually took pictures of me maintaining my side (I did not step on his property, but I had to walk in my flower bed to dig some weeds and flowers). Basically, he is mad that my mom would confront his wife about the missing flowers and now is threatening us about every little petty thing. They are real annoying and it is obvious. In the past we have cooked them meals, let them borrow things and I have even done things for them just trying to be a nice person. Now, my mom cannot go outside without being scared he is going to try and sue us for something. I would really feel bad if they did not steal the flower, but its just they showed no compassion for us what so ever. At least they could have cared and said I hope you found who cut the flower in half. We put up security cameras on their side pointing to our yard and they demanded we take them down. It seems anything we do will agitate them such as opening up the windows or looking out the window to see what is going on. I understand they want privacy too, but can we not open out windows to see outside? He is a former Air Force MP and always throws up the covenants and calling the HOA. We do not have loud parties or drink, but we like to work outside and make the yard look good. I just hope they move soon, so we can maintain that side our yard again. I just do not feel we should have to put up with this kind of intimidation in our own home. We are quiet people, but they had the nerve to ask us to borrow the truck so they could get a load of mulch when they first moved in. They are the type of people who are takers. We are just getting taken avantage of and I just tell mom to avoid them at all costs. We live so close to them, it is inevitable that another confrontation is likely. How do we handle this? My mom is 61 and works full time. I do not want him screaming at my mom about his drainage problems. What can I do to keep them from harassing myself and my mom? We are not troublemakers, but he is the type to sue and annoy us and try to make us move for his own personal gain. Any help would be appreciated. We are both military families, but they do not hold the same values that many military people I have met or served with. Thank You,
concerned neighbor
 
As a realtor it is all going to come down to 2 things IMPO.

1. HOA covenants
2. Easement law in your city/county

Typically most homes have easements on all of their boundary lines. It is not for any other reason that if utilities need to be repaired this allows them by law to come on your property and pull up anything they want. Typically people will ignore the easements and place fences up, but reality is that land is still legally not yours.

RE attorneys are very expensive, what I would do is pull out the plot your Mom received when she purchased the home. If she doesn't have it she can go to the county courthouse and get a certified copy of the plat.

It will be marked down to and eighth of an inch. It will show the home and from there you will be able to see where the property line by law truly lies. You'd be amazed how many times home owners "creep" over their line because that is where it was from the previous owners.

If there is an easement it will be legally marked, typically hash lines. I would politely take it to that SP (he is a police office who would have to abide by it) and show to him, OBTW, as long as I don't cross this line I am not on your property.

If you feel uncomfortable about approaching him, don't worry because if he contacts the HOA just pull out that plat and prove to them this is your property. The HOA will side with you because it is your property.

In our area of VA, a detached home must have at least 8 feet around the perimeter of the home that is their property. This is also because as you stated you have AC units on the side, which need to be maintained. I can't see a flower bed being 8 feet wide because than you would have to walk in them to maintain weeds.
 
thanks for the information everyone. We did find a broken beer bottle in the backyard in the flowerbed, but mom just tossed it. Anyway, Ill make sure to get the plat so we can be on the safe side. It seems that just lowering the blinds is working, but he still likes to rev up his car and annoy us. The woman stared my mom down in the driveway this morning, but things are starting to quiet back down now. I can't really afford the lawyers right now, but I'll keep this in mind if it escalates. The houses are just really close together and everyone wants their privacy. My nieghbors are also installing security cameras, so at least the neighbors are taking note that someone is vandalizing the neighborhood. I can't understand why other people want to cause trouble sometimes, but I guess every neighborhood has those type of people. Thanks for the advice and maybe we can enjoy the outdoors for the rest of spring and the summer.
 
Former MP or SP explains it all. Try New Orleans during Mardi Gras with all those morons strutting around and giving enlisted a hard time on Bourbon Street :shake:.
 
Former MP or SP explains it all. Try New Orleans during Mardi Gras with all those morons strutting around and giving enlisted a hard time on Bourbon Street :shake:.

Ha! Reminds me of my time at the Navy base in Mayport, Fla. I was pulled over after taking a left.

"Do you know what you did wrong?"

"No, what?"

"You didn't stop at the stop sign."

"Well, yes I did, because I saw you there, waiting for me."
 
The base cops up at Whiting Field still punish people by scraping their decals...which are no longer required to drive on base...
 
O2grad,

Call me an optimist, but I'm going to disagree with the legal advice dispensed thus far... at least for now. Instead, have you considered a completely different approach? Diplomacy.

Consider asking them out for pizza (neutral ground) to discuss how you can become better neighbors. Give them an opportunity to share THEIR concerns (not your's). Keep it positive. Keep it light. Don't defend, just hear them out. And give them an opportunity to "win" on a point or two that is not really that big a deal to you...

"Yeah, I can see how that's annoying. I wouldn't want someone walking on my driveway whenever they needed to fix their AC. If we were to give you a heads-up and let you know beforehand, would that be a step in the right direction?"

Life is short... too short to be stressing over stuff like this and restraining orders. Consider being the bigger person and making yourself vulnerable to focus on them.... you might be surprised what happens.


Final thought.... If this guy is a former MP/SP, you might want to think about his motivations. Most of those guys I know are all about "protecting" and see it as a noble cause (which it is). Maybe a heartfelt ego stroke would go a long way...

"My mom is 61 years old so naturally I worry about her being alone. I have to tell you I'm really glad a former MP lives next door... makes us feel safe. I just wish we had less tension between us so she could feel even better".

Wouldn't shock me if his attitude changes instantly. :smile:

Good luck!
 
Last edited:
You beat me to it, I was just going to say, the OP has not posted here for 1 1/2 years.
 
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