View Full Version : What should I do about a neighbor that has been harassing for over 12 years?
yonne
Feb 2, 2011, 08:39 AM
I have living in my home for over 12yrs. My next door neighbor has been harassing me through this whole time. I really don't say much to her,but she continues to pick at me for the dumbest things. She tells people that I'm crazy and wants me to move off the block. When it snows, instead of putting the snow off her property to the curb, she puts it on my property. And I have witness her doing so. I told my parents what she was doing and they responsed to the matter. They simply told her to just leave me alone. As the years progress, she has been telling others on the block personal information that I have never talk to her about. Then one day, not notifying myself or the neighbor on the other side of her that she was getting her basement done. They started working at 6am (the permit\sign stated 7am) and this caused problems in my home. Then to top it off, she asked me if it was all right if "she" could get siding put on her home. I told her that I had nothing to do with it and why was she asking me. Then she called me a stupid b---- and was too retarded to understand. She has called the cops on me several times and has several of my cars removed from in front of my home. She has called my children "creatons" and they aren't allowed to walk on her property. Come on enough is enough! Why does she have to make our lives miserable. What can I do so that she can just leave alone?
joypulv
Feb 2, 2011, 09:21 AM
We aren't hearing both sides of the story, so it's difficult to advise.
She can't have cars removed from YOUR property. She can have them removed from shared rights of way and public areas, if they aren't supposed to be there. There may be ordinances about a limit on the number too. You need to know the law.
She can prevent anyone from walking on her property. Nothing wrong with that. You don't say why she calls the police or what happened when they arrived.
If work starts before 7 am, call the building inspector at city hall.
If she asks you about siding, she may be asking about workmen putting ladders over onto your property or something; you don't say how close you are. She may not be asking but letting you know, since you are upset about not knowing about the other work.
Many of us have known difficult neighbors.
I once had them on 2 sides, on a 50' x 100' lot, but the problems resolved eventually. That's life.
smoothy
Feb 2, 2011, 09:46 AM
Towing companies don't tow vehicles without a release being signed... if the person calling doesn't own it. If it was towed from your property or from a public area... that constitutes grand theft auto in some states... it does in MD. You could have whomever signed that charged if that's the case.
I'd throw snow back on her... if you saw her throw it on you... she will get tired of having to shovel it twice if it's the case.. or three times. I'm stubborn, and I've done that before.
SHe's a busybody... just don't tell anyone else your business... adn if they ask... just say you are tired of it getting passed on to the troll next door... and since you don't know who is doing it... you are not telling anyone anything personal.
And I would not let her or any of her workers onto your private property for any work she needs done... they have to do it without tresspassing (assuming its not a shared access area or covered under an easement). Even if it makes it harder and costs her more.
As was said... her property is hers... just as your is yours.
Incidentally... if its your house... why are your parents dealing with this?
Jake2008
Feb 4, 2011, 07:59 AM
Do you live with your parents in this home? Do you own the home and your parents live with you?
If, after 12 long years this has been going on and you haven't bothered to involve the police with all the 'harrassment' she's tossed your way, why is it now that you are seeking some resolve to the problem with this neighbour.
Why not last year, six years ago, 10 years ago. Or have there been police reports, formal complaints etc. How have you tried to resolve problems in the past, i.e. with a noise complaint over the construction starting over.
Have you seen a lawyer for advice over the years?
The obvious thing to me, especially if my children are being targeted, and it has been continuous and ongoing, would be to move, if all else failed. But I imagine that your children are at least teenagers now, and will be on their own in a few years.
So other than moving, it appears nothing you have done over the years to solve the problems with your neighbour, if you have tried various means to do so, has not worked.
I'm not sure what kind of answers you are expecting, but perhaps the solution now is to move.
dontknownuthin
Feb 4, 2011, 09:58 AM
I'm guessing the cars were there too long and violated an ordinance, and are a nuissance. If there's cause to remove them and they are removed, you should learn the law and not be offended by it. Perhaps you have too many cars at your residence - there is a limit to what your property can hold.
I agree she probably needed some access to your property for the siding installation. Your response was kind of antagonistic when she asked and you might have said more nicely, "You're getting new siding - how nice that will look. What color have you chosen? Will the workers need access to my property for their ladders? It's not a problem as long as they are insured and don't block our access, of course. How long will it take?" if it takes too long, you can later approach her and advise you'd like them to wrap it up as soon as possible.
Your kids should just stay off her property - it's rude but legal to block them.
Otherwise, just try to coexist and ignore her slights. I'd not worry about the snow, or take photos and give them to the police if you want to make a complaint.
My sister's neighbors had a professional snow removal service who dumped all the neighbor's snow with a plow in my sister's driveway after this huge chicago snowfall this week - creating a 5' mound of snow where my sister and her husband had already shovelled - over the course of hours. My sister took photos with her phone and showed them to the police, and the driver had to come back, plow it out and pay a huge fine to the city.
Fr_Chuck
Feb 4, 2011, 10:05 AM
Cars don't get towed for no reason, if they did you can sue the towing company and her for the cost of it, plus press criminal charges.
If you had unlicensed or non running cars in your front yard, in the drive way or on the street and it violated city codes, she could call the code enforcement and have them towed off. *** In fact if you lived next door to me after a while I would do the same thing also.
Kids on her property, thus why I have a fence, and yes if your kids were on my property I would chase them off or call the police on them also.
Basement starting at 6 not 7, that you complain to the zoning and building permit office, against the construction company. Many contractors start at daylight or before, on large jobs And this being a temp thing are normally ignored. *** there are laws as to how early trash trucks can come into certain areas but few follow those rules either.
If they put snow on your property, have it removed and sue her for the costs.
As for as the sliding door, after you complained about the basement, she was insulting you by "asking permission" and yes it does sounds like you did not get the reference
Sounds like there is a lot more to this and I am sure her side will sound a lot different