This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

Obnoxious inconsiderable neighbor, what can I do? — Brooklynian

Obnoxious inconsiderable neighbor, what can I do?

wolfy258
wolfy258
edited November -1 in BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)
I moved to my new house 1.5 years ago and I really can’t stand my next door neighbor. They have 4 kids (6-13), so they have a huge pool in their back yard with a basketball hoop. Their kids hang out in the yard a lot. I truly believe you can do whatever you want in your back yard b/c it’s private property and you can have parties or loud noises as long as you stop before 12 mid night. The kids play balls and freesbies and almost every 2-3 days, the balls & freesbies end up in my back yard and the kids will call over the fence to ask me to give their balls back. It’s really bothering me b/c I have plants in my back yard and I have to keep them in a safe place so they don’t get damaged or if the balls hit my patio furnitures while I’m at work and I didn’t even know about it. There was this once I was in my back yard and their freesbie almost hit me!! I tried talking to the parents but they are just inconsiderate people (they are the one who blocked my drive way and yelled at me when I complained). Also, when they play at the pool (above ground pool), their pool water always splashes into my back yard. A couple of weeks ago, they were in their pool & I was having a BBQ party at my backyard and their parents were in the pool splashing the water too!! It wet my grill and my husband has to tell them that they wet our gill and we couldn’t start the fire. Is there anything I can do about it? I really hate these inconsiderable people!! Help!!

Comments

  • MOD
    MOD
    If it makes you feel better, this is not a Brooklyn or NYC only issue. People are inconsiderate all over the USA. I still hate my neighbors back home, very rude people.
  • independent mind
    independent mind
    if you don't have a dog, then borrow a friends. Leave it in backyard for a few hours, make sure it likes to slobber and gnaw on balls and frisbees. Then cheerfully give said balls and frisbees back? I suspect they'll amend their behavior pretty fast.

    Re. pool splashing, tell them to move the pool. You don't want chlorinated water in your garden.
  • stacey
    stacey
    I don't know what to tell you about the pool issue. How close is this pool to the dividing wall? I only ask because I didn't think you could have a pool so close to property lines in Brooklyn.

    As for balls and frisbees - you can have them put up one of those goalie-type net above the dividing wall (which I assume is at least 5 feet).
  • hitokiri
    hitokiri
    here is a great way to start things up.

    If it lands in your yard, it's yours :)

    start a collection. Then instead of YOU going to THEM, they will without a doubt come to you to pick up their childrens toys, in which case, you sit them down and have a talking to.

    See, whenever something happens to me and a job isnt getting done, or people dont call back, one thing i do is not pay them or stop payments and wait for THEM to call me. Which they always do. I let them call at least 4 times before I answer them. It kind of puts you in the power position.

    "oh yeah, your childrens toys, I have them. Please, come in, sit down, lets talk." lol take it from there and lay down the law.
  • wolfy258
    wolfy258
    We wanted to talk to the parents but they always ask the kids to get the balls (either over the fence or when they see us outside of the house, they never ring our bell). And since we had a big fight over them blocking our driveway 2 weeks ago, I'm not talking to them. For the pool, it's one of those huge above the ground pool that it's built/attached (you can't move it). It's at least 25x25 and we have a 6' fence and the pool is basically "touching" the fence. They already put up a 2 feet net but it was useless. And their kids were so rude that they always look over the fence to watch me while I'm in my own back yard!! (I really don't want to yell at them since they are only kids...) Is it true that they can't have the pool so close to the property line in Brooklyn? If so, can someone please provide any site/place where I can get file a complain and have them move the pool?
  • magicube
    magicube
    nyc.gov is an excellent resource for these questions, as is calling 311. I searched "swimming pool regulations" and came up with this:
    http://home2.nyc.gov/apps/311/allServices.htm?requestType=service&levelOneId=3B3E9720-05BC-11DE-AC9C-EF5AFBC474DE&levelTwoId=3B3E9720-05BC-11DE-AC9C-EF5AFBC474DE-0&levelThreeId=3B3E9720-05BC-11DE-AC9C-EF5AFBC474DE-0-0&serviceName=Swimming+Pool+Building+Regulation+Information+or+Complaint&finalSubLevel=3&intentId=E9E66310-8137-11DE-8E9F-96DAE110FEB8

    (excerpt)
    The City regulates swimming pools and enforces regulations about pools.

    You may need a permit to install a pool at a one or two family residential building. All pools must meet the following requirements:

    * A 4-foot high fence must be installed completely around the pool with a closed, childproof, self-closing gate.
    * The pool must be at least 5 feet from any lot line, unless the lot is less than 25 feet wide. In that case, it must be at least 3 feet from any side yard line.
    * No overhead electrical conductors should be installed within 15 feet of the pool.

    The City accepts complaints about pools that do not meet these requirements.
  • stacey
    stacey
    Here is what I was talking about

    http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/swimpools.pdf
  • independent mind
    independent mind
    Kids should know better--even the youngest one. They are probably being this way because their parents talk about you in a disrespectful manner, and so it is sort of a joke to them.

    Grow poison ivy on your side of fence? Coat the fence tips with bike grease or something so they stop leaning over it. If they are going to behave like animals, treat them accordingly. What a shame to have a back yard and not be able to enjoy it.
  • jeffrey
    jeffrey
    Put up a taller fence inside the existing one. As in...12 feet.

    As the old saying goes, good fences make good neighbors.

    That will put an end to peeping toms, splashing overboard and most balls and frisbees littering your yard.

    Anything comes over at that point, you nail it to your side of your new fence as a trophy.
  • novanglus
    novanglus
    Nothing a 10 foot high fence with razor wire wouldn't solve.

    Just don't return the kids' crap. If they can afford a house with a pool in that neighborhood, they can afford to buy new frisbees.
  • robnyc
    robnyc
    This may be a more practical solution, but you could plant tall shrubs along the fence that would create a bigger wall. My parents used some arborvitae trees along the border of their yard to add privacy for when they put in a pool. I'm not sure how big your lot is or where the sun comes in from but that might be your best bet. It would solve two of the three issues, the stuff coming over the fence and giving you the privacy you want.

    You could also call 311 if you think the pool is way too close to your property line. I'm pretty sure the city would have to go out there and investigate it. That might be pretty drastic though and could create more problems than you already have so I wouldn't recommend doing that just yet.
  • wolfy258
    wolfy258
    Thank you, all. The info is extremely useful. I checked the Dept of Building and they didn't have a permit for the pool when it was installed. According to the standards from the web, even if they had a permit, their pool is not within the standard. At least I know I can file a complain and they will get a ticket and have to uninstall the pool and if they still want a pool, it's gotta be at least 3 feet away from the property line. But now the question is rather I really want to do that... I'm sure they'll know we reported them and who knows what they'll do...
  • salix
    salix
    Hmmm, I guess your lot is bigger than the average B'lyn lot and their is too. I guess if you yell at the kids all the time, rant about getting your driveway (driveway - wow that's really luxurious) blocked, & assume that the parents intentionally splash water on your BBQ, you would have problems getting along. Maybe we could switch houses; I have none of those problems. Of course there is the pit-type dog across the back who thinks the fence is her personal tug toy, the nut case who slams doors when my dogs bark at the pit on the fence, and then the gargantuan Chinese squash vine from next door that is threatening my peace-loving cherry tomatoes. Life is tough all over. :)
  • MOD
    MOD
    ^^ Salix, snark is uncalled for. Do you actually live in Carrol Gardens?
  • linus
    linus
    Are you kidding me? Be happy you have kids living next to you who bring life into your air. Your lucky to have those people next door who probably paid a fortune for there house which brought up your property value.
    It sounds like it's time for you to move to God's waiting area Florida.
  • jeffrey
    jeffrey
    Linus, you appear to have things completely backwards in terms of who lived there first vs. who probably paid a fortune recently and brought up the other's property values.
  • robnyc
    robnyc
    jeffrey wrote: Linus, you appear to have things completely backwards in terms of who lived there first vs. who probably paid a fortune recently and brought up the other's property values.
    Exactly!

    Also, having loud obnoxious kids next door doesn't bring life, if anything it lowers property values.
  • wolfy258
    wolfy258
    Too bay my property value dropped due to the current market condition, otherwise, I'll just sell it and move to the suburbs with a big lot. That way, I don't have to be stressed out b/c of the driveway, neighbors, etc. Life is too short to be bothered by these things. By the way, I'm new to this site and I'm REALLY sorry that I don't live in BoCoCa. I didn't realize I posted here... Sorry! But I really appreciate all the helpful comments.
  • sweettalk
    sweettalk
    My goodness, were you not ever a kid? I suppose you were perfect. This Brooklyn where kids need to be kids. Its not the suburbs. Dont expect perfection here. Stop complaining and why dont you stop the hating and try being nice and reasonably come up with solutions that will work for you. This IS Brooklyn and do expect a lot more problems with the oversized fence and calls to 311.
    You just dont get it. So sad...........
  • wolfy258
    wolfy258
    Sweettalk, I guess you're the one who doesn't get it. If you are in your OWN backyard and the kids were looking over the 6 ft fence staring at you while you want some privacy, will you feel comfortable? And if you have all kinds of balls, basket balls, soccer balls, inflated balls & hard freesbies throwing over your fence (or hitting the shared fence most of the times), and hitting your patio furniture and damaging your plants, will you be happy (especially if the balls hit you!!)? If the pool water is splashing all over your back yard so you can't keep anything you don't want wet outside, what's the purpose of having a backyard? I've been trying to be nice for almost 2 years now and the lesson that I learned is that people will take advantage of you if you are nice. I've tried everything I could. And let me correct you, this is NOT HATING. I'm sure any reasonable person would feel the same way as me.
  • sweettalk
    sweettalk
    see, Im really from bklyn and when the kids hang over the fence one of two things happen:
    1) ask if they want some food, or
    2) if its just a pain in AXX situation, then tell them to get the F down and that you are keeping their balls.
    if you go by # 2, you will be a real Brooklynite,you will need to have real back bone to do this. I think its easier just to be nice. ...........
    Here's More advice:
    As for the water, throw pails of water in their yard each time it happens, there wet anyhow and you will just be returning the favor.......or hang your dead plants over the fence. They will get the message. Im really not being funny here.
    I really do sense your fustration and YOU HAVE the Right to be, but you need to go Brooklyn style to solve this one b/c they are taking advantage of you and you seem like a nice person. Just remember the things making you mad are things that are really normal here so do expect they will look at you being the strange one!
  • bcodsnpkslope
    bcodsnpkslope
    before i get called out on this i live up in the slope but i have had similar issues with neighbors... first off if you park in my driveway you get ticketed and towed.. period i dont care if you park there for a minute.. unless you ask me first youre gone... secondly id make the complaint to the ciity and keep on them to enforce the codes.. if youre downhill when all the water comes in your yard mention to the city they flood you
    thirdly keep all the toys that wind up in your yard and lastly I would file harassment charges if you are threatened in any way.. you cannot build a fence over a certain height due to other city laws
  • spinner
    spinner

    Subject: Rights to Privacy

    Linus - are you kidding me - you think we should feel blessed by your little angels invading our privacy? Oh my gosh - I think you must be the person beside me at every movie theater and restaraunt letting her kids run amuck! We are not all in the same life stage. I've raised my kids. I've bought my home, I paid for a privacy fence because I wanted to enjoy my backyard and garden in a little peace. What did my neighbors do? Build a two story tall play structure that overlooks my backyard. There goes my privacy - and there goes the thousands of dollars I paid for the privacy fence. People are suggesting we pay even more put in even higher fences? We have to plant TALLER shrubs? We have no rights because 'kids will be kids' . I just want peace. Please respect your neighbors.
  • spinner
    spinner
    Wolfy, please report them and have them move the pool. Put yourself and your sanity first. Water coming on your grill is not ok. Moving a pool is a pain in the butt but they will only have to do it once. You'll have to live with the nuisance every day. Don't trade your sanity for their inconvenience.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories