Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 21May 12, 2008 12:31 pm I'm so sorry this is happening to you guys - it sucks
Everyone has offered great suggestions - i think getting in touch with the council is a great idea It's a shame this has to put a sour taste in your mouth in what should be a fun and exciting time, I hope it gets sorted out!! Good luck Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 22May 12, 2008 1:18 pm OK time to turn the tables here.
Get a friend who could look 'official' to go the the lock. Get them to take lots and lots pictures, measure the trunk circumference etc etc. Hopefully this willdraw out the niehgbours, whereby you friend could introduce himself as from the council or developer. Just checking on the health of the tree and making sure it has not been vandalised. Hopefully this will send them the message that the tree is being monitored. Adrian B Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 23May 12, 2008 1:23 pm Adrian B OK time to turn the tables here. Get a friend who could look 'official' to go the the lock. Get them to take lots and lots pictures, measure the trunk circumference etc etc. Hopefully this willdraw out the niehgbours, whereby you friend could introduce himself as from the council or developer. Just checking on the health of the tree and making sure it has not been vandalised. Hopefully this will send them the message that the tree is being monitored. Crafty.... very crafty..... Still deciding what to do..... don't want to turn a molehill into a mountain if nothing is ever going to happen and it's just talk, particularly as I might later need to borrow the neighbour Derek's Bobcat, trailer, or even tennis court.....! Aaaarrrggghhh why couldn't they just have said "welcome to the neighbourhood we hope you'll be very happy here....." Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 24May 12, 2008 1:26 pm Adrian B OK time to turn the tables here. Get a friend who could look 'official' to go the the lock. Get them to take lots and lots pictures, measure the trunk circumference etc etc. Hopefully this willdraw out the niehgbours, whereby you friend could introduce himself as from the council or developer. Just checking on the health of the tree and making sure it has not been vandalised. Hopefully this will send them the message that the tree is being monitored. I like your thinking Adrian ……lucky you and I aren’t close friends! The trouble we could get up to! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 25May 12, 2008 7:27 pm I think, give them the benifit of the doubt that they were only joking / mouthing off/ acting tough /sounding you out and do not confront them about it directly, as you say, you want to be on good terms with these guys long term, BUT in the meantime do inform council of the threats, and have a record of them, so that if anything does happen to the tree (as others have said, unlikely if they have had 4 years to do it unoppossed) council will be able to proceed against them.
But sounds to me like they are the tough guys when they're egging each other on but are all talk and no action. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 26May 12, 2008 8:01 pm Helyn I think, give them the benifit of the doubt that they were only joking / mouthing off/ acting tough /sounding you out and do not confront them about it directly, as you say, you want to be on good terms with these guys long term, BUT in the meantime do inform council of the threats, and have a record of them, so that if anything does happen to the tree (as others have said, unlikely if they have had 4 years to do it unoppossed) council will be able to proceed against them. But sounds to me like they are the tough guys when they're egging each other on but are all talk and no action. I think that's very sensible. I've done a lot of thinking about this. I don't think I'm confident enough to confront them further. The last thing we need is bad feeling around us. I'll just keep a close eye on them in future......... Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 27May 12, 2008 8:40 pm I agree with others, notify council now and document everything just in case. Hopefully they will turn out to be good neighbours in the future, but if the situation does deteriorate, you'll regret not having anything to back up your side of the story.
Don't put yourself under any pressure to confront them if you don't feel confident enough to do so now. If they initiate contact instead, just remind them that you are keeping within your legal requirements. Because they've threatened you, they cannot say the same! Surely if you take the moral high ground in the eyes of council you can't go wrong. PS If you really want to be vindictive, poison the tree yourself and blame them! Geoff - Decophile. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 28May 12, 2008 8:46 pm Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!!
My answer to that would be……you don’t want to know! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 29May 12, 2008 8:47 pm Eager IPS If you really want to be vindictive, poison the tree yourself and blame them! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 30May 12, 2008 9:05 pm I'd be inclined to draw a sun angle diagram (you house and his and shade angles) and have a chat with the one whos complaining about the house position ás to what where and why he has a beef.
And the tree one - well as per above - let the council know. and at the same time Id be çhatting with the town planners and council complioants department to see if you can find out if they are a pair of trouble makers in the district. Pubs, service stations, supermarket owners etc are good sounding board places to sus out the good and bad neighbours in an area. Be subtle about it and dig up some unsolicited info. Steve ps. If you're being muscled by a bully - being a smarter bully back is sometimes required. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 31May 13, 2008 8:35 am Yak_Chat I'd be inclined to draw a sun angle diagram (you house and his and shade angles) and have a chat with the one whos complaining about the house position ás to what where and why he has a beef. The strange thing is, both houses face due North, therefore getting maximum sun, and our nearest wall will be 10m+ east of his boundary. So although he may well complain, I can't see how I can be more reasonable. Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 32May 13, 2008 2:14 pm Hi Simon,
They are just being bullies...typical school yard stuff. They think they have the right to dictate what they want you to build because they were there first. We encountered this with our last house so I know exactly how you feel. Ignore what they said and for the moment be amicable and nice to these neighbours. After a while you will be able to suss out whether they will be big TROUBLE and very unpleasant to live with OR they were just being a couple of jokers. In our situation, the neighbour sold up. If he hadnt we would of, bad neighbours are not worth your quality of life. My advise is to sit and wait, meet them a few more times and get to know them and they get to know you. Mrs B ps...agree with others posters, report tree situation to the council, there are very strict laws concerning damage to neighbouring trees. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 33May 13, 2008 2:34 pm Mrs B ps...agree with others posters, report tree situation to the council, there are very strict laws concerning damage to neighbouring trees. Thanks everyone. The council actually hasn't been terribly interested or helpful. I rang them and told them about the conversations. They confirmed that no-one can touch the tree, even to prune it, without council permission. They did say that if anyone poured acid on it that would be a trespass issue and they couldn't prosecute without any hard proof. Let's just hope this all turns out to be a storm in a teacup... Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 34May 13, 2008 10:42 pm Quote: The council actually hasn't been terribly interested or helpful. I rang them and told them about the conversations. Fax and post a letter for the council to acknowledge. They have to record it in their records as being received. Council meetings and proceedures re wonderful things Sometimes Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 35May 14, 2008 10:09 pm I know you've said to us that there are convenents preventing you from killing the tree but did you actually tell them that? And did you tell them you liked the tree? Just curious how the conversation ended... Slab down mid Jan - now at fix stage. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 36May 14, 2008 10:36 pm Yak_Chat Fax and post a letter for the council to acknowledge. Excellent point YakChat...as I work for a public utility I can confirm that this is a very good tactic...letters have to end up "somewhere"....if nothing else it'll end up on your property file....that is officially documented. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 37May 15, 2008 7:56 am Mikita I know you've said to us that there are convenents preventing you from killing the tree but did you actually tell them that? And did you tell them you liked the tree? Just curious how the conversation ended... Yes, I said both. The conversation ended with me and my wife in shock at what had been said and the neighbours talking to each other about gardening...... Arrrrrggggghhhh. simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 38May 15, 2008 12:20 pm Whats the point of going to complain to council - if you want to live there you need to make peace with your neighbour - show him you won't be bullied but that you want to get along. Talk to them - you don't have to be friends but you need to reach a point where you can co-exist. Dragging them into trouble with the council over a tree is a sure way to guarantee you won't enjoy living there. Go talk to them and tell them that your wife is stressed about the incident. Don't do it angrily and give them an opportunity to maybe turn it all into a joke. Fi has moved in!! Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 39May 15, 2008 8:15 pm The Dynamic Duo Mikita I know you've said to us that there are convenents preventing you from killing the tree but did you actually tell them that? And did you tell them you liked the tree? Just curious how the conversation ended... Yes, I said both. The conversation ended with me and my wife in shock at what had been said and the neighbours talking to each other about gardening...... Arrrrrggggghhhh. simon Sounds like they're just mouthing off. Aside from quietly faxing off to the council so it's recorded, I'd just pretend the conversation never happened and go about my own business....and avoid speaking to them. If they approached me again I would say pretty much what Rod said ie. thanks for sharing your views, I'm sorry you feel they way you do but it's my land, my tree and my choice. In terms of poisoning the tree, I doubt they'll do it - given they've had plenty of time to do so. They'd be pretty stupid to tell you that and actually go head and do it. And who cares if they don't like you? Being friends with your neighbours is overrated anyway... Slab down mid Jan - now at fix stage. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 40May 15, 2008 9:09 pm brittany Whats the point of going to complain to council - if you want to live there you need to make peace with your neighbour - show him you won't be bullied but that you want to get along. Talk to them - you don't have to be friends but you need to reach a point where you can co-exist. Dragging them into trouble with the council over a tree is a sure way to guarantee you won't enjoy living there. Go talk to them and tell them that your wife is stressed about the incident. Don't do it angrily and give them an opportunity to maybe turn it all into a joke. I don't agree. No-one should have to kowtow to a bully neighbour. There is not one shred of evidence to support the notion that newbies have to be friends with their neighbours. Sure it helps, but it is not compulsory. The existing residents have already made it quite clear that they are not interested in friendship. Also, The Dynamic Duo would only 'drag them into trouble' IF the tree is damaged. Hang tough, TDD. Geoff - Decophile. Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8774 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 39718 Hi It came to my attention after the handover that - The facade cladding on the face and the side are not straight. -The face tapers down by 50mm from left to right and… 0 2461 |