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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    1

    Default Harassing Neighbor

    After saving for many years, I bought my first house. Unfortunately, I was not told that the next door neighbor was so unstable. It turns out I am the fifth owner in 10 years because of this neighbor. What does he/she do? Well, to start with he has property line issues. He thinks his property goes beyond the buried metal rod property marker. So he comes onto my property and vandalizes my garden beds, my sprinkler heads, my trees, etc. In addition, he parks his car in front of my house, blows his leaves onto and in front of my property, puts his trash bins in front of my house, throws tree branches on my grass and on my driveway. He even encourages his kids and grandkids to do the same, as I have seen the same behavior from them. There has been alot more harassment, but what I have mentioned gives you a flavor of the situation. Nothing I have done has incited this. The wife is very submissive to the husband and seems to myself and the neighbors to have a fews screws loose as well. Tried talking to her but that didn't work.

    I have asked him nicely if he could park his SUV in front of his own house and his response is that he can park his SUV anywhere he wants and he has always parked his car in front of my home. I have chosen not to directly confront him on any of the other issues because he seems unstable and I am a single woman living alone. I have documented his behavior with pictures and security camera movies and given the information to the police and they said that there was nothing they could do as the camera footage was not clear enough and the they didn't see him actually doing the action from my pictures. The advice I have been given by the police is to get a large sized boyfriend, so they are not very helpful. They also say that if the neighbor lived next to them it would stop immediately and insinuate that they would do something illegal to get it to stop. But I am not going down that road. The owners association will not help with this either. I really can't afford to hire a lawyer to start a civil suit.

    I have so many friends in the neighborhood and love my home. It just doesn't seem right that this nasty neighbor can get away with this behavior. Does anyone have an educated legal advice on this issue? I live in Virginia.

    Nice Neighbor

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    2,006

    Default Re: Harassing Neighbor

    There's always one in the neighborhood isn't there?

    Fences make good neighbors. Not sure if your association allows it. Find a way to do this as you stand getting a better chance of getting your money out of it (if you find you have to sell to keep your sanity).

    His wife is submissive because she is probably scared for her life.

    Get a better video, espically if he is on your property. Take still pictures of him on YOUR property. Post a NO TRESPASSING sign. You should have had a property survey when you purchased your home. Pull out the papers and look to be sure those "buried metal rods" are infact YOUR markers. If he is damaging your property (sprinkler heads, etc) you need proof. Video cameras are quite cheap these days, if your unable, consider renting one or borrowing one from a friend/neighbor. The police will have to take action then. Have the police tried to talk to him? They CAN do this.

    If he put his trash bin in front of my house, I would "assume" that he was throwing away the bin and place a note on the bin itself that read "please throw the bin away, it does not belong to me" The trash men will have a field day and you have committed no crime.

    Consider the SUV a blessing and convey this to him. "Thank" him for doing this as you are a "single woman" who likes the impression that someone is home. Tell him you rethought it and he was right....he sounds just dumb enough to fall for it. He obviously does not want a car in front of his house, so park yours there. Check with police to see if there is an ordinance allowing him to park there during certain hours and call when he is in violation.

    I would also send a certified letter to him informing him that you wish him to stay off of your property as he is damaging your garden, etc. and that his further insistance in trespassing will result in a civil lawsuit. He may not be aware that he is doing this (I doubt it) but it will at this point be notice to him legally. The damages you have stated sound small claims anyway. You don't need a lawyer to do this and can call your local court to find the costs. Its very simple to do. The burden of proof is different in small claims which IS a civil matter.
    Good luck!

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