When you move to a new neighborhood, you might dislike certain things about the place. And, while you can make as many changes as you want in your own house, there’s nothing much you can do about the homes of people who live next door. However, sometimes nosy individuals might take matters into their own hands.
For instance, a woman expressed her anger online about how her neighbors decided to change her house color without her permission. The author, who loved her yellow house, was shocked to see it painted gray after coming back from a two-week vacation. Keep reading to find out how she dealt with her neighbors’ rude actions.
Dealing with bad neighbors can be quite a hassle
Image credits: Thgusstavo Santana / pexels (not the actual photo)
A woman revealed her neighbors tried to sue her over her house color, then secretly got it repainted it while she was away
Image credits: Ian Ramírez / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Yan Krukau / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels (not the actual photo)
Every state has its own vandalism laws, so the woman included her state name for clarity
She provided further updates about the entire situation
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People aren’t as acquainted with their neighbors anymore
We all have our own checklists when searching for a new place to live. For some, it could be amenities like parks or schools in the area; for others, it could be the cost, layout, or size. But the people living nearby probably affect most of us.
Whether you like them, hate them, or simply tolerate them, the truth is, you can’t avoid the people who live next to you. Well, you can try, but it’s not 100% possible. At some point, you will bump into them. It could be while getting your mail or throwing out your garbage.
Getting to know your neighbors is completely your choice. Based on a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, 57% of Americans claim to know some of their neighbors as opposed to 43% who know most or all of their neighbors . For those aged 18 to 29, that percentage rises to 78%, and for those aged 30 to 49, it is 72%.58% of people claim to know their neighbors, yet they don’t hang out or engage in conversation with them.
Earlier, more people were well acquainted with their neighbors. Half a century ago, front porches often became social hubs of the block, where people gathered for evening chats or gossip sessions. Fast forward to today, where many of us use digital tools to stay in touch.
With almost everything available in the comfort of our homes, we tend to spend less time in the neighborhood. For instance, BBQ nights in the backyard are replaced by ordering food online. We prefer staying in and playing video games or scrolling through our social media over enjoying a quick chat with our neighbors.
Irrespective, having bad neighbors can make life really difficult. They are the ones who think it’s okay to pluck the beautiful flowers from your garden or the ones partying the night away, playing DJ to the entire neighborhood.
Image credits: Rachel Claire / pexels (not the actual photo)
There are certain things you cannot morally or legally do to your neighbor’s house
However, living next to someone doesn’t give you ‘special’ rights over their property. Despite how much you despise your neighbor, there are certain things you shouldn’t morally and legally do. You can’t enter a person’s property without their permission, as it is considered an invasion of privacy.
Additionally, if you take anything from their property without asking them first, it is stealing, and they can file charges against you. As a good neighbor, you should be considerate and not block their driveway or walkway.
Also, dumping garbage or littering other people’s property is both disrespectful and illegal. If you wish to put up structures that might encroach on their land, then you need to ask for their permission.
Lastly, you cannot intentionally damage their property. This includes breaking their windows, graffiti, or tampering with their belongings. Depending on local laws, unauthorized painting can be considered vandalism or property damage.
In this particular incident, the couple living next door got their neighbor’s house painted without her permission. Now, it will cost the author a significant amount to repaint her home. The financial burden and practical inconvenience her neighbors put her through can be quite stressful. What do you think about this incident? Have you ever dealt with such unruly neighbors?
Image credits: Dmytro Kormylets / pexels (not the actual photo)
Many advised the author to repaint her house a brighter yellow and file a complaint against her neighbors
