Wednesday, May 20, 2015

"Good fences make good neighbours." Robert Frost

You may recall my post from last November where I showed a photo of my neighbor's collapsed fence.  The neighbor informed me back then that he had contacted his insurance company and he would have the fence fixed in a couple of weeks.  I heard that promise a gazillion times until five months later I called and reported him to the Township.

To make a bad situation worse, when the fence was replaced over ten years ago, he made his own panels but used nails that were too long so that they projected into my yard.  Some by an inch or more.  Last summer while working out there I was stuck in the arm by one of them and was only saved from injury by having had on a heavy jacket.

This winter I finally called him and complained about his dog being in my yard and growling at me while I was standing in my kitchen.  Give me a freakin' break.  He informed that he was not living in the house but he would call his wife and tell her to bring the dog inside.  That took 20 minutes.

The neighbor and I are not on speaking terms now and I really could care less.  The house has an open pool.  Anyone could wander through my yard, which was not fenced at the time, and fall onto the pool.  When someone mentioned to me that my failure to report his deficiency could be negligence on my part, I called and made a report.

Why do some folks have such disrespect for others?   What is it with promising that something will be done 'this week-end' only to never follow through?

Meanwhile, his ugly old fence is up.  But he left pieces of concrete that he used originally to fill in gaps between the fence and the ground (cause he had no idea how to install it properly) in my yard.  I have tried to be a good neighbor.  I give up!

7 comments:

  1. Seems like it's the wife's responsibility now if he is not living there. Unfortunate when you have a totally inconsiderate neighbour. Of course some of it may be financial.

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    1. The house is in her name but if you talk to her she says it is her husband's responsibility. Not sure what their arrangement is but he shows up to cut the grass.

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  2. Your neighbours have separated-probably not amicably and, being a Credit Counsellor, they are in not doing well financially. They probably bought a home that they could just keep up with the mortgage while together and now they are having a tough time. I wonder how long it will be before you see a "For Sale" sign come up or it will be rented out (hope not this one). I would contact the city although you probably already know all the rules. My hubby would have no problem calling and telling the people next door off. He has done this in our neighbourhood and now they respect him if they don't like him. Actually, before I met my hubby I had so many issues with my neighbours who would park in front of my driveway, plus so many other things. I would try to be nice and that seemed to not have any effect. After I met my hubby, he would talk to them and if they failed to listen he would literally get in their face and tell them a thing or two and now...no issues. They now talk to him and say Hi! The nails can really injure you or your grandson and with rusty nails you have other infections etc...There may be some bi-law that can be enforced.

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  3. Thanks for visiting my blog. It is sad when there is a neighbor like yours in the neighborhood. I have good neighbors. We aren't close friends but they do keep their property up! Have a good holiday weekend!

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    1. I have some good neighbors and some really awful ones. That's life I guess.

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  4. I've had bad neighbors and it makes life very uncomfortable. I'm all about peace and harmony. I hope you get the fence situation resolved quickly. That would be driving me crazy. Have you ever thought about contacting an attorney and just having them send a letter. Sometimes the threat of legal action is enough to get someone to act. Good luck.
    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. The Township code officer told him to either get it done or they would take them to court. State law requires that there be a fence around a pool. An attorney friend is the one who told me not to wait any longer before involving the officials. Some folks are just plain lazy.

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