Sodding neighbours

[ronk]

I've got a pollock of a neighbour !
The idiot washes his car whatever the weather - tonight it was just prior to the temp dropping below zero - now I have a frozen river across the road in front of my house.
It's not a problem if driving but I wanted to walk up the road to see a pal tonight but couldn't cross the ice rink ( I have a wobbly leg problem and a blue badge ) There are no footpaths to use .

The guy is a prize tit and probably won't listen to any reasonable request - does anybody know of any legal responsibility he has please?

 

[buzyg]

Yup, if you are injured on that ice he is liable, as far as I am aware. Certainly if it's on his land. Proving it is another matter.

We have a salt bin in the Garage, so I just throw a shovel of salt on when something like that happens. Which is about one every Blue moon, this being Cornwall. :wink:

 

[Chris_D]

Kill him.
yw

 

[ronk]

Kill him.
yw

You mean the softly softly aproach!!!

 

[Smartbear]

Best thing is to knock & ask him politely not to do it, its easy for these things to escalate & get messy.
Hope he listens to reason.
Rob

 

[ronk]

Best thing is to knock & ask him politely not to do it, its easy for these things to escalate & get messy.
Hope he listens to reason.
Rob

That's what normal / decent folk do - but the bloke is a pillock first class.

There was some jolly japes where he previously worked - the boys in the office called him a crafty butcher because he didn't like football - he took the employer to court after the sack / condtuctve dismissal - and won !!!

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've got a pollock of a neighbour !
The idiot washes his car whatever the weather - tonight it was just prior to the temp dropping below zero - now I have a frozen river across the road in front of my house.
It's not a problem if driving but I wanted to walk up the road to see a pal tonight but couldn't cross the ice rink ( I have a wobbly leg problem and a blue badge ) There are no footpaths to use .

The guy is a prize tit and probably won't listen to any reasonable request - does anybody know of any legal responsibility he has please?

Sounds fishy having a pollock for a neighbour!

But AFAIK there is no statutory obligation on your neighbour (i.e. he hasn't committed any criminal offence). :|

Although he does have a duty under Common Law not to cause damage and/or injury as a result of his negligence - negligence being defined in case law as something a "reasonable" man should (or should not) have done.

This sort of stuff gets seriously complicated (and very expensive!) but if your house insurance includes Legal Expenses cover you could try calling the insurer and see if they can help - but even if they can you need to bear in mind you will still be living next door to the pillock which can cause further issues!

You don't say whether you have actually spoken to the neighbour and explained your situation, but if not that may well be a good idea as a starting point! Even if you do end up pursuing a solution through the courts they like to be convinced that there has been some effort to reach a negotiated agreement before they are involved.

Hope you get things sorted anyway.

Just read a few more replies - smartbear has it nailed!

 

[jimbo1958]

Best thing is to knock & ask him politely not to do it, its easy for these things to escalate & get messy.
Hope he listens to reason.
Rob

That's what normal / decent folk do - but the bloke is a pillock first class.

There was some jolly japes where he previously worked - the boys in the office called him a crafty butcher because he didn't like football - he took the employer to court after the sack / condtuctve dismissal - and won !!!

I thought a Crafty Butcher likes his meat deivered 'round the rear entrance? :scratchhead:

Ahh!! I get it.

 

[ronk]

He's not what you could call a mans man in the true sense of the word - the banter in an office that I'm used to would, and has offended him !

I have previously allowed him to errect scaffolding on my adjoining property to effect repairs but his builders left debris and he refused to clean up - a decent neighbour would have I think!

I think he will have to jump thro many hoops to get my approval for scaffolding etc again !

 

[Mr Tidy]

Shame, but the simplest answer if you aren't happy is to move!

 

[TitanTim]

Robs right it's best to mention it to him, he might not realise the problem. Alternatively contact your local highways Authority and check if the road is gritted or for advice and voice your concerns it's a hazard for vehicles etc.

Tim.

 

[Anonymous]

Talk to him first "friendly" , If he gets nobby then mention that you will be claiming for negligence on his part by causing the problem. The word CLAIM might wake him up . The other parts to consider are, where the water runs ie on public road, the local council can advise on that and environmental issues (soapy water causing slip hazard when frozen). and is there any restrictions on washing the car there even if it is on his own driveway??

Stan

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

I have previously allowed him to errect scaffolding on my adjoining property to effect repairs but his builders left debris and he refused to clean up - a decent neighbour would have I think!

Well all that shite would have ended back over his fence without a doubt :evil:

 

[Anonymous]

I have previously allowed him to errect scaffolding on my adjoining property to effect repairs but his builders left debris and he refused to clean up - a decent neighbour would have I think!

Well all that shite would have ended back over his fence without a doubt :evil:

That and more, teach him some manners

 

[raymond.harper]

Get an old car. When he has washed his car again and ice has formed in the dead of night drive old banger onto ice straight into his car. Don't have to do this at speed just a gentle slow impact down the side of his car which will probably rended it a write off. Explain to the Police who will no doubt arrive that you lost control due to some idiot washing his car in the freezing weather. Make sure your insurance on the old banger is correct and that you will pass an eyesight test. You will no doubt lose your name claims bonus but at our age that does not make a great difference. Or in the dead of night go onto to ice and lie down. Call 999 and an ambulance will arrive and wake everyone up. When police arrive blame it on neighbour and say you will be mounting a claim from him for damages. Or just have a quiet word with him

 

[Chris_D]

Get an old car. When he has washed his car again and ice has formed in the dead of night drive old banger onto ice straight into his car. Don't have to do this at speed just a gentle slow impact down the side of his car which will probably rended it a write off. Explain to the Police who will no doubt arrive that you lost control due to some idiot washing his car in the freezing weather. Make sure your insurance on the old banger is correct and that you will pass an eyesight test. You will no doubt lose your name claims bonus but at our age that does not make a great difference. Or in the dead of night go onto to ice and lie down. Call 999 and an ambulance will arrive and wake everyone up. When police arrive blame it on neighbour and say you will be mounting a claim from him for damages. Or just have a quiet word with him

You sound like you've put a lot of thought into these ideas raymond? for a previous requirement perhaps?
scary. :lol:

 

[Sky-drive]

In the past with somewhat problematic neighbours I have posted a friendly note through the door advising of the situation.

If possible, take some photos of the ice for your records but at this stage I would drop a cordial hand-written letter (... could start by wishing him a Happy New Year) through his letterbox detailing the issue and risks with water freezing overnight from him washing his car and causing ice to form on the path.

In the letter just focus on the issue and not on him personally or his sexual orientation. Get a friend to write the letter for you if needs be as they wont be as emotionally connected to the issue so their tone in the letter may be more neutral.

Keep a copy of your letter and the date you posted it - some form of documentation might be a good idea with this particular individual if the situation escalates.

Your neighbour might just be completely unaware of any problem.

Good luck.

 

[Nictrix]

Best thing is to knock & ask him politely not to do it, its easy for these things to escalate & get messy.
Hope he listens to reason.
Rob

This does not always work as people dont act the way you would think they will.
I have a new neighbour across the road from me.
His driveway is almost exactly across from mine.
The angle of the driveway and his car type means he cannot use the driveway without scraping the s**t out of his bumpers so parks on the road, outside his driveway, right across from mine.
I asked him politely if there was any way he could park 5ft either way to give a bit more access to the driveway to save bumping over kerbs or doing 7 point turns. His answer was "I should be allowed to park outside my own driveway"
Fair enough, he obviously doesnt care about his new neighbours so f**k him.
What goes around comes around.
Oh, he is an MOD cop so I should have known he was a twat before talking to him in the first place.

 

[mattyp]

Unfortunately winning an argument with a genius is extremely difficult, winning an argument against an idiot is impossible.
Does not make it right or any easier unfortunately but past behaviours mean you know which camp this cretin falls into.

 

[Anonymous]

Best thing is to knock & ask him politely not to do it, its easy for these things to escalate & get messy.
Hope he listens to reason.
Rob

This does not always work as people dont act the way you would think they will.
I have a new neighbour across the road from me.
His driveway is almost exactly across from mine.
The angle of the driveway and his car type means he cannot use the driveway without scraping the s**t out of his bumpers so parks on the road, outside his driveway, right across from mine.
I asked him politely if there was any way he could park 5ft either way to give a bit more access to the driveway to save bumping over kerbs or doing 7 point turns. His answer was "I should be allowed to park outside my own driveway"
Fair enough, he obviously doesnt care about his new neighbours so f**k him.
What goes around comes around.
Oh, he is an MOD cop so I should have known he was a t**t before talking to him in the first place.

They have nothing to say outside of their job, I know,, was offered the same job when I left the Army. Not for me,