Crazy Neighbor

[jwasbury]

Our beautiful new (to us) home has one major problem. Neighbor is batschit crazy. An elderly couple owns the house, have lived there for over 30 years. They keep their property impeccably maintained...no complaints there. The husband is a nice man, his wife is nucking futs. Listing realtor mentioned something about it, guy from across the street (10 year resident) also said she is "touched." We met the town's mayor at a mutual friends wedding...when someone introduced us to him and he learned where we lived he said "Have you met the neighbors?...He's a doll..." (pregnant pause followed).

She's been a terror towards our contractors during the whole house renovation, called building department on us, told my GC she would fight my plan to expand the driveway (which we ultimately got approval for without a zoning variance, so she couldn't do anything).

Latest and ongoing issue is her obsession with the tiny strip of land between her garage and my driveway. From day one she made sure we knew that was her property (yeah, we know that lady ). Meanwhile, she basically cannot access it without coming onto our property, has not asked permission to do so and she routinely trespasses on our lot in order to tend to this 2x18 strip of dirt. We put up a small, unobtrusive no trespassing sign and she's freaking out about it.

My next move is to erect a fence down the entire length of my driveway along the property line, which will make it impossible for her to access the little patch of earth from my property. I don't know what else to do here, not dealing with someone who is reasonable.

Any suggestions from the brain trust?

[legion]

Get one of those automated motion-tracking squirt guns for when she steps on your property.

[BK911]

Not sure I understand the issue.
She walks on your property to gain access to and maintain a small patch of grass?
Does she destroy your property during this trespassing?
If not, I'd find something else to worry about.

[legion]

Sounds like she terrorizes him and his contractors about every little thing.

[jwasbury]

There is no grass, its dirt. She trespasses on my property so she can write “love notes” like this to us on the piece of plywood that protects her vintage garage window.

[BK911]

Definitely psycho!!
Still wouldn't sweat it.
Sounds like she wants the confrontation.
Ignoring her will probably be the most irritating to her.

[Baz]

1) document everything and copy to local law enforcement and city manager
2) write letter, perhaps in council with your attorney, advising her of specific property line specifics with suggestions on how to proceed in an effort toward civility
3) send her a card via mail with a peace offering of some kind - gift certificate, or send flowers
4) do not go forth with any action that would be construed as an act of escalation of said dispute(s)

Those are just a few thoughts off the top of my head. May apply or may not.

Good luck! I'd say we've all BTDT.....

[stomachmonkey]

She's obviously not all there.

You can't reason with or fight that.

Let her tend her piece of grass.

Stick up a camera.

If she vandalizes your property then call the cops, beyond that, ignore her.

If she tries to engage in dialog just tell her nicely "sorry, no time right now, Have a nice day" and walk away.

The more you let her drag you to her place the darker and deeper it will get.

[motion]

Sounds like you're pretty much escalating a situation that will not have a pretty ending.

Why not just back off and let her have access to her grass? Maybe she'll simmer down.

Why does she need to encroach on your property? Is she encroaching a couple inches? A couple feet?

[Gogar]

She's begging for you to get weird, so the way you win is to kiss her ass. It'll drive her nuts. Stick up a camera, move along with your day, and let her lose her mind.

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by BK911

Sounds like she wants the confrontation.
Ignoring her will probably be the most irritating to her.

We are doing this...its definitely irritating her. Meanwhile, her squawking and the possibility that she goes batschit in my face is something that makes me anxious and interferes with my ability to quietly enjoy my property.

I have cameras and can document her trespassing on our property. Have not wanted to involve law enforcement as I do not see that being helpful at this point. If she does come onto my property and get in my face, yes the cops will be called.

I still think a fence is a viable option. Good fences make good neighbors and all that.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

.....

I still think a fence is a viable option. Good fences make good neighbors and all that.

In this particular instance it's my opinion that a fence will just make things worse.

You should also have a talk with the town.

It's quite possible that you can't legally cut off her access to her own property.

Something you want to know before hand as she will absolutely check if she does not already know and if you can't and do, she'll have a field day with it.

How old is she?

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by motion

Why not just back off and let her have access to her grass? Maybe she'll simmer down.

Why does she need to encroach on your property? Is she encroaching a couple inches? A couple feet?

I'd be happy to let her access the patch if she just wanted to tend garden, and didn't write batschit graffiti that I get to look at from my dining room table.

Why does she need to encroach on my property? Because there isn't any other practical way for her to access that space from her property without jumping a fence. Pretty common situation in dense suburban areas. As an example, there is a 2 ft wide strip of land behind my garage that is my property, but I can't access it without climbing a 5ft high privacy fence, or going around the block and crossing my neighbors lot to get to it.

[recycled sixtie]

I would say for now chill out. Retaliation will only put up your blood pressure. Put up a couple of outdoor blink cameras to discourage the bat crazy and record any aggressive behavior or damage that is done.

I am sure the police/city have heard enough about misbehaving neighbors as they have bigger fish to fry.

I have applied for Peace Bonds(you may have something like that where you are) against a couple of neighbors who try to harass me or damage our property. If I feel threatened I have been told to phone the police. Otherwise I work through the Courts.

Like I used to tell my wife it is not what the baby does it is how you handle it.

Cheers, Guy

[Danimal16]

All good advice for dealing with a disturbed individual.

My only concern is with her prescripting a property right in the form of a prior use easement.

If she is that crazy, you may need to protect your property rights through notification. If she perfects that right she may be able to take that piece of your property that she uses to access that dirt strip.

This is serious stuff, I would consult a lawyer.

You may need to act to preserve your rights, it could be as simple as a certified letter perfecting your rights, but if you are afraid to confront her, you may have more to lose than you realize.

[Baz]

Just for the record, I didn't advise to call the cops. My suggestion was to document and share with them (along with city manager) so everything is on record. She doesn't even have to know about this. Nor should she - it's just for furture reference just in case, which I hope never happens.

[jwasbury]

Would certainly check with town regarding fencing prior to moving forward with anything.

The Batschit lady would still be able to access her little patch, but would need to remove some sections of fencing from their property in order to do so.

[fintstone]

Sounds harmless to me. Bake her some cookie/brownies and take her a bouquet of flowers. Tell her that you were sorry that you got off on the wrong foot...as you realize your renovations were disruptive. Thank her for her patience. She probably feels your renovations change the character of the neighborhood, the view, etc. It is difficult when new neighbors move in and change things. Especially for older folks or those that have been there a long time.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Danimal16

All good advice for dealing with a disturbed individual.

My only concern is with her prescripting a property right in the form of a prior use easement.

If she is that crazy, you may need to protect your property rights through notification. If she perfects that right she may be able to take that piece of your property that she uses to access that dirt strip.

This is serious stuff, I would consult a lawyer.

You may need to act to preserve your rights, it could be as simple as a certified letter perfecting your rights, but if you are afraid to confront her, you may have more to lose than you realize.

IMO, this applies to the access to the dirt strip^^.

She has lived in her house for over 30 years and has had access to that strip all that time. Unless there was a written statement in the selling documents that she had permission to use the access (or denied use), then she more than likely has a prescriptive easement on your driveway. She doesn't have to have anything recorded, just use which, in this case, is her and her husband's word. Contacting the former owner and asking if he gave permission would negate the easement, if he gave it and if he can be located.

As mentioned in the above post, pushing the issue may give her information about a legal right she has that she is currently unaware of. You could go ahead and construct a fence and see what she does. If she goes legal and claims an easement, the worst for you is removal of the fence.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Our beautiful new (to us) home has one major problem. Neighbor is batschit crazy. An elderly couple owns the house, have lived there for over 30 years...

Any suggestions from the brain trust?

You might do as fint suggests...might work, might really piss her off...crazy...

Just ignore her if it doesn't work...you said she is old right? Life is short....some have time on their side though