Nosy, interfering neighbours are a nightmare. How one deals with them can set the tone for future neighbourly relationships, so it can be a tricky path to negotiate.
It's a dilemma that a woman on Mumset finds herself in, as her family - including her son and his girlfriend - are plagued by an interfering neighbour, and they are unsure whether they should confront her or just grin and bear it.
But now the nosey neighbour is overstepping the mark even more, and the anonymous woman is desperate for advice on what to do next.
She writes: "My son and his partner bought a house in the spring a few doors down from me and my husband. They have a busy-body neighbour, who snoops about, asking my son's family and friends what are they doing there etc.
"Today I took my son's partner to do a food shop. When we got back busy-body neighbour was in their garden removing weeds." Seemingly unperturbed, they confronted her and were shocked with what she came out with.
"We challenged her and the busybody claimed she has right of way through their garden, and always has. So I checked the deeds a few months back and she has no right of way at all. "
After this revelation they could no longer hold their tongues and issued an ultimatum: "The gardening was the final straw and a big argument ensued and we told her to stop coming through their garden. Spicy language was used but she swears blind she has the right."
Their post on Mumset is seeking advice and reassurance that they have so far acted correctly. More than 200 people have shared their thoughts, with the majority sympathising with their plight.
One wrote: "Show her the deeds for your kid's property and theirs. Then tell her if she does it again you will take her to court and request damages. Right of way also doesn't mean you can week and use the garden anyway!!"
Get some legal advice suggested another comment: "Conveyancers, local searches, deeds etc would all have highlighted if there was a legal right of way. At a minimal cost for a one-off letter, I'd get a solicitor to write to her telling her the legal situation and warning her off. Hopefully this will do the job and will save the face to face public arguments."
Another suggested that they need to make a clear statement, writing: "I think it would be sensible to put a fence up, if funds allow. It puts the ball back in her court to prove she has rights to claim access."
Finally, another pitched in with some sage advice: "It sounds like she almost enjoys the bullying and drama. For that reason, I wouldn’t engage personally, I’d get a solicitor’s letter mentioning she has no right of access; I’d also get the solicitor to mention harassment and the interference with your garden (the weeding). It sounds like she’s got used to treating it like hers."
