what do you do about neighbors that don't take care of their house/yard? archived

It is a horrible thing you a dealing with and I am not sure of the answer. The town may have some ordinances that you might be able to get them to enforce.

I thought you might enjoy this:

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It is a good laugh!

Maplewoodmommy:

What do you know about these neighbors? Are they elderly? Are they in good health? Do they work very long hours with little time left for lawn and garden care? Are they first time home owners used to an apartment where someone else tends to these matters? Your answer to each of the above questions will help frame the best response to your question. To answer your question short term, you have indicated several possible infractions of various town ordinances -- not shoveling within a given time frame after a storm for instance, which could be reportedto the town when they occur. This assumes you want to go that route.

Move.

Thank you. I should have clarified that but was trying to give out as little information as possible about them. Suffice it to say that they are young, in good health, one works from home often AND until recently they had two able bodied teenagers at home. If they were elderly, it would be a different story entirely. I would do the work for them. In fact, we have offered in the past to take down some of the dead trees and overgrown, old bushes that are between our properties and make a bed that we could plant together. (I foolishly cling to a utopian ideal about the suburbs.) These offers have been rejected and now things have gotten very contentious between us.

Posted By: maplewoodmommyFull disclosure -- Every attempt to discuss these things with them ends up badly.

Really? They sound like they just don't care for whatever reason.

In the winter I take the snowblower out and do most of my neighbors' homes. I even do the young ones that can't get to it easily. It doesn't take that much time. I HATE walking the dog on an icy sidewalk. Come to think of it so does the dog.

I'd report them to code enforcement. Especially since they apparently don't care, as opposed to it being some other problem preventing them from taking care of their property.

Even if you were to move, which, I gather, you don't want to do, you'd still have no guarantee as to the kind of neighbors you'd have. My brother in law has the same sort of problem on Staten Island. He waited until the neighbors were away for the day, and went across the street with his lawnmower and cut down the weeds. A dead bird sounds like it could be a health issue. Are there rats on the property? Maybe the health department should be informed.

Maybe they like it that way or have other interests. The perfect lawn is an invention financed heavily by Scott's (who we are supposed to be boycotting according to Dave). Read "The Lawn: A History of an American Obsession and maybe you will calm down:

http://www.amazon.com/Lawn-History-American-Obsession/dp/1560984066/ref=sr_1_1/002-5673996-6646450?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186535064&sr=1-1

Or maybe not. I guess I have some perspective because I grew up in the family with the "back to nature" lawn and I turned out OK and property values in my old neighborhood are sky high. I ended up marrying a "lawn fanatic" and I thought it was nice, but when my parents came to visit they shook their head and said, "Boy he does like that lawn?"

Later my mother and I went for a walk and when we went past a decrepit house with overrun lawn and she wistfully said, "Ohhhhhh, that's how we used to keep ours, remember?"

Anyway, I have some sympathy for you but I don't think it's worth getting bent out of shape or worrying no one will buy your house. You did after all.

moving is a stupid thing to say
why move call code enforcement this is why we pay to live in this area..
Move- real bright response

Not sure you have much issue with code enforcement other than in the winter if it snows.

Lawns aren't the most important thing in the world. Cannot understand why keeping them green throughout the season is so important--although this year we have had sufficient rain that everyone's is green.

Odd that the weed encroach in the spring. Our neighbor's wait until mid summer to get really noxious. But they, the neighbors, are noxious and as long as they keep their distance it is fine with me.

I didn't get the sense from the OP that this was a neat-lawn issue from some anal-retentive mower. Rather, more like an overgrown mess, dead trees, dead animals (but, hey, it happens), unnecessary work in autumn, and an ice danger in the winter. I'd bitch too. I suppose that the overgrowth is aesthetically disgusting but you may be able to prune clandestinely. If the dead trees are in some way threatening your property (house, garage) then maybe there's an avenue there to have them removed (insurance, the town, ?). Someone else may be able to advise better on that one. For the snow/ice you can get code enforcement. For the leaves, well that's just plain rude, lazy, and inconsiderate, but there's nothing you can do. Except get a leafblower and blow them, and yours, back over there.

Call code enforcememt and ask them to do a drive-by - if you live in South Orange, there are regulations about unsightly (read too long) lawns. If there is other debris, you have a right to complain as well.

You may cut anything that overhangs your property. Our neighbor recently decided to cut down all the trees on his property (don't know why) - but he also took down another neighbor's tree that hung over his property and one of my tree limbs. These were all healthy trees - maybe he was tired of rakeing leaves.

As mentioned above - you also have cause for complaint for shoveling snow - I think the time-frame is 24 hrs to get your sidewalk clean or there is a fine.

MW has ordinances on maintenance, including lawns. A few years ago the enforcement was so strict the code enforcement people earned the MOL nickname of "Lawn Police".

smc says move. what a putz.

(edited for spelling)

Not sure what your yard looks like, so my suggestion may be inappropriate. Perhaps you could try to design some sort of landscaping plan with a strategic use of evergreen shrubbery.

Years ago we planted Cherry Laurels to create a natural barricade that has helped discourage our neighbors very friend, sweet, kids from tromping through the gardens to come say hi. It looks nice for the neighbors and us, and the kids found it easier to come over another way. (They are teenagers now, and don't come over at all except to babysit on the rare evening they don't have social plans.)

Before planting, I asked the neighbors if they minded that we plant the shrubs, and offered to show them pictures of what they looked like in case they would want to suggest something else. They said as long as they look nice, they are happy with anything we want to plant. (I asked b/c we were going to plant right along the property line and the plants would end up growing to be a bit on their side too.)

link

I know that in West Orange it's possible to get the town to issue warnings and even fine people if the yard upkeep isn't up to snuff. There was a rash of that down along South Valley last year when the town was desperate to bring up the profile of that area, which butts up against other Oranges (not South). But sometimes they get a bit overzealous, so it's definitely something to use judiciously. Last year we got cited after a bad snowfall when I couldn't shovel because of a torn rotator cuff, and my husband was working late that evening. It only took one day for us to hear from the town! And another friend got a notice when her weeds were too tall. We also have the "paint police" in West Orange, and two people I know have been reported for needing to scrape the old paint off their houses and put up new. All of which means I won't report someone to the town unless it's pretty bad. That said, there's a young couple in our area who let their yard go to hell every summer, and right now they have grass going to seed, weeds that are three feet tall hanging out over the sidewalk... it's a sad-looking mess. I'm debating whether to contact the town or not. It's a tough decision to make.

Hi everyone and thank you for your comments. It was fun to read them. We definitely aren't moving (can't afford to after all the work we put into our house!) and we love Maplewood. My neighbor claims he is a naturalist and, not having a particularly suburban aesthetic myself, I can appreciate that (my favorite yard in the area is one in Millburn that has no grass at all and is just a collection of extraordinary native wildflowers). In this case, though, all signs point to profound laziness (coupled with being in way over their heads with their house) and a lack of consideration for us. A naturalist would take a nice walk around his/her property every once in a while to enjoy the view and check on things but that never seems to happen. I'd rather not call the police, of course -- but if things get bad enough we may have to. Anyway, I appreciate your suggestions.

You could go the covert route and one day when they are not home go over and weed and cut the lawn yourself. They may think it looks so good that they might keep it up. They don't need to know it
was you. What are they going to do call the cops and say someone mowed my lawn and weeded for me. You must arrest them. I would love to see that police report!

We've considered doing that with our lazy neighbors... at least, I've contemplated taking a chainsaw to their day lily patch, which is actually full of extremely tall weeds. I'd love to see that police report, too.

maplewoodmommy-

You are not alone. I have neighbors across the street who rather step over garbage on their lawn then pick it up. The house next to them is for sale and the owner lives right next door but he neve picks up his circulars, garbage either. Then I have some kids in the neighborhood that never heard of garbage cans.

I usually pick this stuff up @ 4-5AM in the morning before/after my run. I try to look at it positively saying I am contributing to the neighborhood, but sometimes it can be frustrating. Sometimes I leave the garbage on each of their front steps as a "reminder." So much for that.

Don't move and don't let this go. Inconsiderate people suck...

-SLK

Put up a fence or definitely use shrubbery to hide the house. I would also report them every time they don't cut the lawn or clean theiriss snow/ice filled sidewalks. There are definitely ordinances in both South Orange and Maplewood about this type of disrepair.

It sounds like these folks are just plain lazy and don't care what their property looks like. We have a house like that on our block, although, not next to me and it is totally hideous. They live on a very busy corner so their house just sticks out like a sore thumb. I always wondered about the inside of people's homes when their outside is so poorly maintened. I am going to assume that the messiness probably continues on in the inside.

Strange... the slobs on our street at also on a very conspicuous corner. Nice billboard for the area, no?
Wouldn't it be ironic if the inside was a showplace, and they are just sitting in there thumbing their noses at the rest of us? Yeah, right. That'll happen.

Our neighbors are also on a corner -- so the neighborhood can enjoy their lovely yard on two sides! Maybe we are all complaining about the same people!

maplewoodmommy--if the trees are dead, and hanging over your yard, I think you may be able to have at least the branches cut on your dime. Maybe just nicely let the neighbors know you will be trimming back the branches. If the trees are declared dead by the tree company, have them put something in writing and give a copy to your neighbor.

If one of the trees happens to fall onto your house from a storm it is considered an "act of God", you'll need the paper trail to prove that your neighbors are responsible for paying any damages.

I feel for you. That is a tough place to be in.

Other than the property conditions - can you have an amicable relationship with the neighbours?

a couple options:

1. Maybe before calling for investigations by authorities you can read the regs and find out what is wrong. Then a discussion about what is ebing a "naturalist" and what is against regulations may have more benefits as this gives them the opportunity to ake action and keeping it between the neighbours, rather than escalating it to authorities.

But, IF your previous discussions really make you think this is worthless, then skip it.

2. Call the authorities.

3. you can just live with it and dont pass judgement on them. Find positive ways to accept their property - good composting, thcik lush weeds that keep you (active) in your garden, consider yourselves "extra" tolerant...

I am not a big lawn guy, so #3 seems better for me than 1 or 2. If possible, I would prefer amicable neighbour relations with a bad lawn to hostile relations with a good lawn.

This article about eyesores next door was on MSN today.

http://realestate.msn.com/Selling/Article_mw.aspx?cp-documentid=5249535>1=10341

maplewoodmommy, I think the best solution is a fence. Great fences, make great neighbors. It sounds like these two are a litle off their rocker.

Posted By: Scarletmaplewoodmommy--if the trees are dead, and hanging over your yard, I think you may be able to have at least the branches cut on your dime. Maybe just nicely let the neighbors know you will be trimming back the branches. If the trees are declared dead by the tree company, have them put something in writing and give a copy to your neighbor.

If one of the trees happens to fall onto your house from a storm it is considered an "act of God", you'll need the paper trail to prove that your neighbors are responsible for paying any damages.

I feel for you. That is a tough place to be in.

If the tree on there property is dead and it falls during a storm and damages your property it is NOT an Act of God and they're responsible. Only if the tree is living thens falls during a Strom is it called an Act of God. Been there done that!

Too funny. When I looked at my property I noticed that my immediate neighbor had a rednck lawn and that convenced me to buy. Why? He makes a bigger mess then me. (9) years later he and I have become friends and invested lots of time in makeing our ajoining properties look better.. Together.
Another advantage is when he fires up his 800 HP dirt track race car it chases the critters away and rattle windows!
Yee haw!

romatc--from my understanding (I could be wrong it has happened) if a tree falls onto your house, you are responsible for the damages, whether or not it is your tree. If the neighbor's tree is dead, falls on your house, you are still responsible; unless you can PROVE that they knew the tree was diseased or dead.