AITA Neighbour Dispute about Garden Waste

Esky85 on 16/06/2022 - 15:39
Last edited 16/06/2022 - 16:03

Hey all, thought I would do one of reddit's AITA (am i the a*hole?) type posts/polls.

TLDR: neighbour left a pile of bush/hedge trimmings on my side of the fence so I threw them back over their side. AITA?

Long version: I live next to a very weird couple of… hmm the best way to describe them is probably a couple of middle aged chavs. I've had them bash on my door at midnight and threaten violence before but thankfully we were able to de-escalate. That dispute was about someone complaining about noise at a party they were having, but it wasn't even us who complained. We were able to prove it wasn't us by showing them our call histories and we hugged it out on our porch once they realised they were wrong, but not before being called every expletive under the sun.

We don't often hear or see them but on the occasion we do, it's always been a negative experience. Very first conversation we ever had was words to the effect of "watch out, we are friends with the landlord"… I think they are mostly just blowing wind than anything so I've tried to keep the peace for a couple of years and be polite. But they are now clearly starting to make our lives uncomfortable and I can't wait to move out. We have a really good relationship with our landlord so these threats are always seen as pretty empty.

So what does this have to do with gardening, I hear you ask? When old mate didn't get an answer from knocking on my door, he must have invited himself onto my side of the fence to trim up his trees/bushes. But he has operated his hedge trimmer in very close proximity to my car and left all the clippings on my driveway. By the time I came home, we had a bit of weather come through and the stuff was spread all over the place. So I figured, if he expects me to pick up after him in the rain, then I would throw it all back over their side of the fence. I'm having second thoughts about this now. I don't want any drama and it was well within my abilities to ignore this next inconvenience but I also am getting pretty sick and tired of being disrespected. AITA?

Esky

Poll Options expired

  • 13
    Not The A*hole
  • 6
    You're The A*hole
  • 1
    No A*holes Here
  • 43
    Everyone's The A*hole
Home & Garden

Comments

  • Quantumcat on 16/06/2022 - 15:43
    +7

    They are the A but the smart thing to do would be to not do that. When you have A neighbours you need to do whatever you can to not have them target you with their A-ness. Just for your own overall happiness and safety.

    Like in motorcycle training, where they say it doesn't matter who is right if you're dead, here, it doesn't matter who is doing the right thing if they start keying your car or throwing rocks through your window or peeing on your roses.

  • Keplaffintech on 16/06/2022 - 15:43
    +2

    If it's his tree, the droppings are his responsibility to dispose of. You're within your rights to collect them and leave them on his property, but it's an a-hole move. Try talking to them first.

  • Muzeeb on 16/06/2022 - 15:47
    +11

    Given the relationship history with the neighbours I would have just collected the clippings and put them in my own greens recycle bin.

    If you were going to the effort to collect the clippings and dump them on the neighbours side then you might as well have just out them in your bin.

    Sometimes you just have to pick your battles.

    • Esky85 on 16/06/2022 - 15:53

      Yeah I see what you mean. This is why I ask the question. The green bin was full of our own stuff though and located out the back of the house.

      • RebelOrlan on 16/06/2022 - 16:00
        -1

        Pics or didn't happen. Your bins are full right?

      • ihbh on 16/06/2022 - 18:04
        +1

        Just get a spade and push the contents down, and fill it with the new clippings.

        That's a better alternative to causing double handing (you picking it up and then the neighbor picking it up), in the best case. The worse case could be much worse, which you want to avoid.

      • foxmulder on 16/06/2022 - 21:26
        +1

        If you haven't stand inside the green bin, then it's not full :)

  • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2022 - 15:47

    So, your neighbours trespassed on your property whilst you weren't home and left evidence strewn across your driveway and front yard?

    • Quantumcat on 16/06/2022 - 15:48
      -1

      More likely just chucked them over the fence

    • Esky85 on 16/06/2022 - 15:55

      Yes, that's pretty much how it must have gone down. I can't see how they have been able to operate the hedge trimmer holding at arms length from their side of the fence.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/06/2022 - 16:23
        +2

        WOW ……your neighbours are the capital As.

        Going by their previous behaviour, it probably wouldn't be worth throwing over the hedge trimmings onto their property although it would feel great to do so. However, I would mention it when you next see them and that you've let your landlord know too & suggested facial recognition cameras around the house maybe required to assist police with any future trespassing transgressions 😉

  • AndyC1 on 16/06/2022 - 15:49
    +1

    Had one of these type on neighbors and printed out the council regulations for cutting trees over neighbor fences as he cut the trees that were on my side of the fence about 60cm from the fence and threw everything over the fence onto my property.

    He never did it again as I said I would get the council and police involved next time if he illegally cut the trees. He said he knew the rules and I said okay then next time if you do the same then you will see the rules applied as per the printouts.

  • iNeed2Pee on 16/06/2022 - 15:50
    +1

    I have tried to cut my big ass hedge screen but i can only reach 3/4 of it because its too tall even with a pole and ladder to get from my side.

    I asked my neighbours if i could come over and cut there side for them and they said not to worry about it….
    Now it looks weird because its half tall/ half short.

    Drives my OCD crazy.

  • RebelOrlan on 16/06/2022 - 15:54
    -1

    Sorry to break the bad news, but you own those clippings if they came from your side of the fence. This is the legal position.

    BTW, It is pretty shitty of you to not trim your own tree. To let it get to the point where it is a lot that is being dumped back over your fence is stupid. It should never get to that point.

    Get a ladder and trim the bloody thing. It's a freaking hedge, it's a straight line, unless it is the round ones; and before anyone argues, it's a tree by definition.

    • Esky85 on 16/06/2022 - 15:59

      It's his tree and it was only just growing over to our side of the fence.

      • RebelOrlan on 16/06/2022 - 16:02
        +1

        Your post doesn't state this at all.

        When old mate didn't get an answer from knocking on my door, he must have invited himself onto my side of the fence to clean up his trees/bushes.

        That's trespass mate.

        • Esky85 on 16/06/2022 - 16:06

          Yeah, not the first time they've been caught on my side of the fence without permission either

        • pegaxs on 16/06/2022 - 16:11

          EDIT: (just noticed that OP was in WA, so laws may be different in WA. Legislation for Trespass laws for WA can be found here under section 70A)

          In NSW, trespass is usually a civil dispute, not a criminal one. It only becomes criminal if or when they refuse to leave or willfully cause damage to the property or if it's into a "prescribed premises" or the grounds used by a "prescribed premises".

          The only time "trespass" is a criminal act is when it is done on "inclosed lands". So, it really depends on how your yard is fenced off and what part of the yard the neighbor accessed and if you were there to ask them to leave and if they left or not.

          And even if it is deemed to be a criminal offence, it's nothing more than a small fine at worst. (5 penalty units @ $110~ish per penalty unit. or about $550 at worst.)

    • lordsnipe on 16/06/2022 - 16:00
      +2

      The owner of the tree owns the clippings, irrespective of where they land. In this case, its the neighbour's tree, therefore their clippings.

      • RebelOrlan on 16/06/2022 - 16:03
        +1

        The problem is it has dropped outside of the area and you cannot trespass.

        It's a dead end, because of the situation the OP has created.

        Alternatively the best situation would have been for the neighbour (you to actually trim his tree and dump it back)

        If the facts are even what he states they are….

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 16/06/2022 - 16:23

      Found the neighbour.

  • pegaxs on 16/06/2022 - 16:02
    +3

    Both acting like petulant children.

    • RebelOrlan on 16/06/2022 - 16:04
      +1

      Yeah, time for the OP to come clean on the facts because this is a rare situation.

      • Esky85 on 16/06/2022 - 16:16
        +2

        The green bin was out back, accessible only with a key which I didn't have on me at the time and the bin was probably 75-85% full anyway last time I checked. I mowed since it was last emptied. The waste amount is probably about a wheel barrow load and I think it was touch and go whether it would have fitted in. The only other bin easily accessible to me would have been my tiny general waste bin. The only other thing I think is worth adding is that this isn't the first time he has done this (trimmed his tree and left all the mess for me). Last time I thought I would just ignore it and clean it up myself. This time, I had a bit more self respect than to let people think they can walk all over me.

  • Donaldhump on 16/06/2022 - 16:03
    +1

    just chuck them in the bin, it will piss him off more

    • RebelOrlan on 16/06/2022 - 16:04

      Probably not, it's the issue with trespass and since it's a dodgy neighbour with a history of disputes. I wouldn't put it past that.

      A bit of common sense from the OP goes a long way.

      • Donaldhump on 16/06/2022 - 16:05

        trespass has already occurred OP wants to know if he should chuck them back
        GOTO my answer

        • RebelOrlan on 16/06/2022 - 16:08
          -1

          Yeah, it's accidental, but then it becomes deliberate if he actually goes over in person as well. It's a bit messed up and could have been avoided if the OP actually did maintenance.

          • Donaldhump on 16/06/2022 - 16:17
            +1

            @RebelOrlan: sorry im missing the story

            d/h neighbour went over to OP house, trimmed bushes and left them behind. d/h neighbour didn't do any damage or anything malicious, so why retaliate just chuck the shit in the bin

            • AustriaBargain on 16/06/2022 - 19:05

              @Donaldhump:

              neighbour didn't do any damage

              Then chucking them over the fence won't do any damage either.

              • Donaldhump on 16/06/2022 - 19:48
                +1

                @AustriaBargain: No but it might antagonise him to punch op in the head, torch his house, actually do damage, be a general pain in the ass etc see where I am going with this.

                For the sake of 5 mins work just out the shit in the bin

                You want the easy solution or the hard one

  • Stopback on 16/06/2022 - 16:12
    +2

    Get a bucket of KFC. Slab if VB and a couple of bumps and see if you can talk it out

    Hundred is a small cost for good neighbor

  • kanmen on 16/06/2022 - 17:09
    +1

    Is it possible that the clippings flew over to your side?

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 16/06/2022 - 17:10
    +2

    I can see this being on A Current Affair in a months time.
    You throw the clipping back over
    Neighbour throws them on your car and punctures a tyre
    You throw the clippings back on their car and puncture their tyre
    He gets drunk and bashes on your door one night, you both yell, someone call the cops, he runs and hides in his house
    cops leave as they can't do anything.
    Rinse repeat next weekend. You don't answer the door this time.
    Neighbour emails Tracey the following weekend and gets a cool $500 for a 5 minute interview saying you're a w*nker.

  • AustriaBargain on 16/06/2022 - 19:04

    Just be thankful that you don't own the house and that you can move away without breaking the bank and forget the chavs forever.

  • ChocStrawberries on 16/06/2022 - 19:36

    If it happens again, bag it up and leave it at their front door. Worked with our sh!thead junkie former neighbours a few years ago when they'd hide their empty cans and bottles in our front garden. Either that or pack it up in some empty Amazon boxes (labels removed) and leave it at their front door. I'm not a petty person, but am sick to death of putting up with a-holes taking advantage of nice people, so I might as well have some fun in getting back at them.

  • nswnotill on 17/06/2022 - 08:20

    If I have around one barrow load of clippings (as per OP's post) i sometimes spread them all over the lawn and run over them a few times with the rotary lawn mower. This chops it all up ( bar the larger stems), and applies a mulch. After a few days it has disappeared and rotted away.

  • payless69 on 17/06/2022 - 16:08

    Quick call the bikies!
    A kilo of asparagus down the throat, pee in a bucket and when they are out douse the front door. Pungency guaranteed for 6 months!

  • Esky85 on 29/11/2022 - 17:18

    Neighbour update:

    So it's been a few months and I've been keeping to myself and not stoking the fire. Out of the blue, a few of the people in my street including us got an anonymous letter in the post typed up on a computer with very bad grammar (but we can guess who). It said words to the effect of "we have a bunch of security cameras inside and outside with date/time stamps… and we invite anyone making false accusations against us to review the footage whenever you like". I have no idea what they are referring to and find the whole thing so strange. Out of this incident we met a very nice family over the road that were quite frightened by that letter but we have now become friends. Nice to have allies that understand your plight. Now if I could just get their dog to shut up we would be awesome. Absolute weirdos. The guy seems to be a FIFO worker and goes away on a 3 on, 1 off roster. The woman seems to think everyone is out to get her and locks herself in the house most of the time. They have a union jack flag that's been hanging at half mast since the queen died a couple of months ago and it's flapping over the fence next to the same car in the original post. I dream of pruning the flag back the fence line, that would be funny, but can't be bothered dealing with the fallout.

  • Esky85 on 03/10/2023 - 16:04

    Update 2:

    I'd have moved away by now but it's a bit hard in the current housing market and with a baby. I had to ask them to please do something about the barking a while back because I couldn't watch the telly and it was sometimes waking up my baby. Boy did that go down like a tonne of bricks. Turns out these neighbours are absolute loonies and known to police. They both have anger management issues and he has assaulted people before (punched a guy at his work and lost a previous job over it) but seem to spin it like everyone is out to get them and they were the victims. They are the sort of people that leave magic spell powders in people's letterboxes in our street and some of the other neighbours close by say they've always been weirdos. When the husband comes home from his FIFO swing they often get on the drugs, knowing that by the time he flies back it will be out of his system. Strange men show up to the house when the husband is away. I've heard rumours they are swingers and don't like to take no for an answer. Pretty gross… She doesn't work, she reckons, but I don't think that is by choice. Seems to have a few issues/screws loose. Anyway, they threatened me and my wife over me asking if I could buy some barking collars for them, but when he saw I was up for it (i do taekwondo and I'm a veteran so know how to defend myself if need be) he shat himself and they have been hiding in their house ever since. I found it pretty funny and pathetic. If I see them I just smile at them now and they scamper away inside like scared little kids. We get the occasional passive aggressive note in our letterbox but that is about it. Even though they denied their dog barked, it has somehow magically stopped.

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