I think my neighbor of 9 years hates me

[Livinzoo]

LOL

He is one of those neighbors that should live in a covenanted subdivision. He mows his grass to a half inch, some of it in to the dirt. He actually was out burning his grass that past few days. He use to drive his lawn mower around an electrical box in my yard while mowing it to a half inch. I finally had to put rocks in his way. Now granted I am one of those crazy people who have a pen of chickens in my back yard (in a small privacy fenced area) and a garden in my front yard area where people usually have shrubs near their house. I leash walk my dogs in the front yard and sometimes they cross into the area he mows and claims as his. Since they mentioned this bothered them, I have only let the dogs go in areas that he doesn't mow. Well last night I came home to him planting cypress trees between our houses. Did I mention our houses are about 10 feet apart and neither one of us know where the exact property line is. This just cracks me up because we just closed on our New house on Monday and are in the process of slowly getting it ready to move in to. Then we will be fixing this house up and putting it on the market. So all of his effort is going to waste.

LOL I'll have to get some pics.

 

[duckyfromoz]

You should be glad he keeps his lawn neat and tidy...It may help when the time comes to sell your place -It it easier to find buyers when it looks like there are nice neighbours.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Good luck in the new house!

 

[Mattemma]

Sounds like this neighbor has a clear idea of where he THINKS the property line is. Our neighbors did as well even when we had a survey and markers with flags placed every 10 feet! Only a fence stopped tresspassing mowers.Consider yourself lucky to be moving. Next house we buy I want a real survey done(not mortgage survey) BEFORE we sign on the dotted line. To many issues when you are dealing with *the line* like encroachments. Any potential buyers of our home will get a survey AND results of a house inspection. We bought a home will well hidden issues.....the neighbors were just one,lol.

Best wishes in your new place and selling your own. I have a front yard garden too!

 

[cmb19]

Definitely make sure you get the property lines figured out exactly...in some states there's laws stating if a person mows/uses property for a certain number of years it legally becomes their property. If he's been mowing on your property for 9 years, there's a chance he can claim the property as his now if your state allows it.

 

[Dar]

there are 2 things that make great neighbors... BIG fences... and lots of acreage...lol

 

[Mark's Menagerie]

Quote:
I'd get the property lines surveyed and marked. and I'd put up a fence.

In most places, if you've let someone use your property freely for 10 years then you lose the right to enforce your rights and it can become public domain (like letting people walk acrossed your property).
of course you don't lose the liability... so if someone got hurt you'd still be on the hook for damages.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Depending on the state, as they all have different details such as what constitutes use and the timelines required, a non-owner can ACQUIRE TITLE to your property or an EASEMENT allowing him/her to continue using it as they have been. The former is called Adverse Possession and the later is a Prescriptive Easement. THere have been several threads on this in the laws section over the last month or so.

The neighbor using what may be your property as his own could well cause difficulties in finding a purchaser--just because you are moving doesn't mean your headaches are over. Get a survey of your lot NOW, and if the trees he planted or where he is mowing is on your property, very definitely either prevent his use (install a fence) or formally give your permission (a certified letter with a signed receipt is a good idea). If there is an HOA board, bring the matter to their attention--it would be common for the covenants to disallow subdivision of a lot or redrawing the boundaries.

 

[Tala]

I had a neighbor that thought it was ok to tie their dog up in such a way so that it spent half of it's days in MY yard - digging holes, pooping and lounging at me........ Fortunately their landlord has a survey complete with those metal spikes driven at the corners. I strung up an electric fence and suddenly they found a better place to tie the dog

The neighbor actually complained to me that my fence was on their side of the property line, so I told them to ask THEIR landlord about it (since they had the survey done, lol). Never heard another word from her

I've never before been actually GLAD when someone got foreclosed on --- until it happend to them (or their landlord).

 

[MagsC]

Threads like this make me glad our closest neighbors are good ones. They have talked about a fence but only because they want an area to let their dogs loose. They dont run to the town office with every little thing and neither do I. Any problems we can work out ourselves and they have been minor. They are a young couple and their music/partying on weekends bothers me not at all.
Sounds like its good you are moving!!! The neighbor sounds like a bit of a jerk.