Browse Forums General Discussion 1 May 12, 2008 8:06 am OK, Sunday, we are up at the block with our 2 wee kids before we head off for a Mothers Day picnic.
The next door neighbour on our left side (let's call him Derek for the exercise) comes round and starts telling us he's not happy with the proposed positioning of our house as he'll lose some morning sun. WTF??? We're 10 metres from the boundary we share (we have a very wide block) so we're well within the overshadowing rules. He's been very lucky to have a vacant block next to him for 4 years I reckon. THEN he says he wants the large Eucalyptus that is on our side of the boundary removed. Apart from the fact that covenants prevent us from removing it, we like the tree, it gives the block character and will shade the house from Western sun. THEN the neighbour from across the road who we had never met before (lets call him Jim), comes over, and starts discussing with Derek right in front of us how he will help kill OUR tree by pouring acid on it. So our new neighbours are planning to pour acid on our tree that our 3 year old twin girls play under and have a swing from. We're very worried that next time we visit the block the tree will be dead, and my wife has been very upset all day that we will be moving into a nasty neighbourhood, she's even talked about selling the block.... Sorry guys..... just needed to vent somewhere, my blood's boiling and I lost sleep last night thinking about this! How would you guys deal with this? 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???!!! 2May 12, 2008 8:22 am Geez, how awful, I have no advice, I'd be feeling really upset too.
I guess you just don't know what you're going to get. You could sell this block and buy another and find those neighbours horrible in some other way. Hope someone else has some advice for you. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 3May 12, 2008 8:32 am Oh no, I understand your dissapointment.
We are moving from a great court where we all laugh and have a drink kids play etc to ...who knows. Maybe stand your ground when you visit and don't let them walk over you. Make mention that you are only doing the right thing. Good Luck. If you sell and get another block, go visit all the neighbours first!! Paula Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 4May 12, 2008 8:42 am Put a sign out the front of your land
“BUGGER OFF WINGING NEIGHBOURS! If tree dies it’s the fault of the neighbour in **** and ****” You have done nothing wrong….they are flexing their muscles to the new kid on the block. Flex back! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 5May 12, 2008 8:50 am Michelle Put a sign out the front of your land “BUGGER OFF WINGING NEIGHBOURS! If tree dies it’s the fault of the neighbour in **** and ****” You have done nothing wrong….they are flexing their muscles to the new kid on the block. Flex back! Agree totally Michelle. And I don't know them well enough to know if they're just joking.... It may be their fault if the tree dies, but it's our tree...... And we don't want to fall out with the neighbours before we've even started to build... let alone moved in..... 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???!!! 6May 12, 2008 8:51 am If i were you and your planning on staying there.
I would document which neigbours have proposed to kill your tree and have a note of it with your council. At least if something happens, they can investigate it and test the tree for any poisoning if it dies. As for the boundry/sunlight issue. Your neighbour will have to put up with it. Gppd luck, its a shame when things like this happen. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 7May 12, 2008 9:07 am ohh boo, thats such a nasty thing for ur neighbours (that you dont even know!) to say!!!
i agree with snist, i would document it and lodge it with the authorities...thats so mean.... i would be tempted to say to them, if u pour acid on our tree, ill pour acid on ur front lawn too!!! hahahahah...thats the nasty streak in me coming out...hahhaa dont let them bully u, i mean who do they think they are?!?!? Thuy Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 8May 12, 2008 9:23 am Newbies i would document it and lodge it with the authorities Any idea which authorities though? Thanks 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???!!! 9May 12, 2008 9:26 am I too agree with Snistr and Newbies.
I'd say to them - probably face to face - and be quite serious about it (not angry, just not joking): "it's my land, it's my tree, it's my decision, I'm keeping it. There'll be no poisoning of it. That's that." Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 10May 12, 2008 9:27 am Very sad indeed, it wouldn’t surprise me if these neighbours also empty their grass cuttings on your property. If it were me in the same situation, I’d be very cautious about creating too much agro with the neighbours until your house is finished and you move in, nothing worse than having neighbours vandalising your house during construction.
Once you move in then its time to take revenge, for the neighbour that’s complaining about the morning sun grow some fast growing trees along that boundary to completely block their sun. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 11May 12, 2008 9:31 am The local council should be a good enough authority. Aren't they the ones who have to power to tell you you can't cut down a tree on your own land... Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 12May 12, 2008 9:33 am Hey Simon, sorry to hear about your "lovely" neighbours-to-be.
You mentioned in your initial post that there are covenants that prevent you from removing the tree? Who's covenants? Are they the developers or the councils? Do some homework on that.....ring the council and explain the situation and ask them for their advice. I'm sure they would have some suggestions for you? The other option i'd recommend, but i don't know if you're this type of person is to take a trip up there and visit the neighbours and have an informal chat (without kids and maybe even the wife if she's really emotional about it?) - take a friend perhaps (aka witness). Tell them that you're not really happy with what was said or discussed in front of your family and that you have notified the council of their intentions to poison the tree with acid. Tell them that you like the area and want to make a great and safe home for your family and don't want to get nasty. So in other words lay it straight with them. If they have any issues with any encroachments then i'm sure they have the options to have them heard when council decides on your planning permit etc. Stay strong Simon, unfortunately you cannot choose your neighbours and who knows after all this blows over you guys could be the best of mates? Either that or we look forward to seeing you guys on TTN or ACA..... But firstly i'd talk to the council and go from there. Good Luck. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 13May 12, 2008 9:44 am When you think about it, why would these neighbours wait until now to poison the tree, and not only that but mouth off to you about it? IMO they are just playing a bluff game to get you offside before you start building.
It’s probably because they don’t like change, and the thought of having a neighbour, is upsetting both of them. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 14May 12, 2008 9:49 am hehe i think the council would be the first authorities. I was thinking of getting the Police involved, but thinking about it now, I dont think they could do anything for ya...
Pheonix has a good idea and laying it out for them straight up and see how they react to that...they prob think that because they've bullied u, u wont fight back. Stand your ground. hehe I still cant believe they said that to your face! *shocked* what is the world coming too that its resorted to pouring acid on the environment!!! Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 15May 12, 2008 9:50 am kiwi056 When you think about it, why would these neighbours wait until now to poison the tree, and not only that but mouth off to you about it? IMO they are just playing a bluff game to get you offside before you start building. It’s probably because they don’t like change, and the thought of having a neighbour, is upsetting both of them. I agree, I think you are totally correct. My worry is that now they are aware someone will be building they will be pressured into doing something before its too late and we move in. But I really don't want to start life in our new house with bad feeling between us and neighbours, no matter who "started it" or who's at fault..... 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???!!! 16May 12, 2008 10:02 am If the tree dies….council will inspect as to why!
It wont be hard for them to detect Acid!! Your neighbours will be in big trouble for doing it, it’s a hefty fine, make note of the threat date and time…..and by who, and submit it to the department of council that looks after the landscaping and protection of trees. This sort of thing is not taken lightly by council….make sure they know about it now. Your neighbours don’t have to know you have done it. Stay one step ahead of them, but don’t tell 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???!!! 17May 12, 2008 10:04 am Oh you poor things, I would definetely let the local council know whats going on,, I would even mention it to the police, then if they did anything it would be on record.
Surely killing a tree on someones property amounts to criminal damage. Lets just hope they are bluffing and nothing comes of their threats Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 18May 12, 2008 10:50 am I'd tell them that if that one dies you'd love to plant and entire row of Leyton Greens along the boundary. In a few years time they'd be 15m high and block out 100% of his 'morning sun'
That'll **** 'em I've had some problems with neighbours behind us. Actualy several of my neighbours have had problems with them. Apparently when your the first to build in an estate and the first to move in, it gives you the right to tell others what to do. I must of missed that in the contract for sale or council reg's. Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 19May 12, 2008 11:49 am Shady Apparently when your the first to build in an estate and the first to move in, it gives you the right to tell others what to do. I must of missed that in the contract for sale or council reg's. That is so true, it also applys to established streets - the longer your there the more clout you have - according to one particular neighbour I know Paula Re: Neigbours-to-be - how would you guys deal with this???!!! 20May 12, 2008 12:25 pm kiwi056 When you think about it, why would these neighbours wait until now to poison the tree, and not only that but mouth off to you about it? IMO they are just playing a bluff game to get you offside before you start building. It’s probably because they don’t like change, and the thought of having a neighbour, is upsetting both of them. I agree with the above. If the tree is upsetting both neighbours so much they want to poison it, why didn't they do it in the 4 years the land was vacant? Is it possible that they were trying (badly) to say, now that you own the land, if you have a problem with the tree, they will help you get rid of it. They might have been hoping that their new neighbour would hate the tree too. They've approached you but you've told them you can't get rid of the tree because it's protected in the covenants. I'm wondering whether they were trying to tell you that they know ways to get rid of it, if you want to, and they won't complain if it has an "accident". Received keys to my new home on 16/5/08 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 8766 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 39469 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 2448 |