I think you should tell them very politely that anything thrown into your garden will be handed back to them at a time that is convenient, in other words at your convenience, not theirs. So, for instance, if the ball comes over six times in half an hour you are not responsible for giving it back straight away or at any particular time. But you should not play into their hands by taking the ball hostage.
Make it clear that they are in no circumstances permitted to come into your garden and help themselves, and that if they do you will seek legal advice on trespass.
You should also keep a written record of any incident that causes you inconvenience (digital photos have a date on them) so that should things get worse you will have evidence if you choose to go to the local PCSO for advice.
Does their neighbour on the other side have similar problems?
in my last house we had constant football issues as there was a small patch of grass beyond our garden wall. In the end, I resorted to " holding the ball hostage" for a few days. In law, you can not keep it, or refuse to return it, but you can say, " it's not convenient to retrieve it right now, come back in a few days" worked for me , but I'd advise a cautious approach.
I do so hate the " they're just playing " excuse for everything naughty children get up to.
The neighbours on the other side have nothing to do with them either. When I caught next door throwing rubbish on my property, they admitted throwing it on the other neighbours property too.
Must have been dragged up from the gutter.
I have been told that there is a limit of 3 incidents where a ball or toy can be returned as being acceptable. Any more than 3 incidents in a 12 month period is classed as a deliberate act. I'm still trying to find a solicitor that knows for sure.
Duncan - I read your post and felt so angry. I spend so much time feeling furious about the way people allow their children to behave. It's disgraceful. I've just put blackthorn hedge round most of my front garden because of children running through the garden, along with a boundary fence. Many people here know the saga. If I was you I'd stick as many jaggy shrubs as you can - pyracantha, berberis, quince, hawthorn etc - in the space and hell mend 'em. The worry is that, if you confront them about their behaviour, they'll retaliate in a (possibly) unpleasant way which you wouldn't want, but it's dreadful that people can be bullied like this.
You can't reason with unreasonable people.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sadly Verd, it doesn't always work out as well as it did for you. While I agree with you totally about bullies, sometimes you have to know which battles to fight. There's a very unpleasant family round here who exacted revenge on someone who stood up to them. It can often be difficult to judge the best way to go about these situations.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Some helpful replies. Most poster know about my neighbour, as regards the fence which sounds about the same hieght as the one built by my neighbour.I built a trellis a ft into my property to grow stuff on, which has been fine but the fence is falling down into the garden now. The jury's still out as to what to do about that little problem, I put a lock on the gate so he has to knock on the front door to talk about it. The point is he can't enter my garden without me knowing about it, he certainly can't lift the fence and just stroll in.
There have always been children in the house on the other side, it's rented but the owners did once live there and are actually nice people. I got sick of the family with lots of children who would play cricket in the garden every summer. They would knock on the front door though for their balls but spending entire afternoons answering it was no fun. In the end we took out a narrow panel near the house so they could just come and get their balls so long as they hadn't landed in the veg plot and we agreed if anyone hit the ball over the fence they lost a run instead of gaining one.
Then there is the current family with small children who complained the cat was pooing in their garden, I bought them water pistols and they spent several fun filled days squirting the cat if she went into their garden, the rule was they could only squirt if she was on the fence or in their garden but not if she was sat at the gap in the fence and on my side. She soon learnt to sit at the gap and the children would come over and stroke her. They were most upset when she died.
The point I'm making is you can sometimes work it out with some neighbours but not with others. I find it easier just to ignore neighbour from hell but keeping a diary of not nice stuff helps if you want to make a complaint about them, taking pics also helps so long as you tell them why your doing it.
Posts
Sorry couldn't make a link as I'm on my mobile. But I think this looks the part
Good luck Duncan, if that doesn't work get a big dog or pet Lion.
I think you should tell them very politely that anything thrown into your garden will be handed back to them at a time that is convenient, in other words at your convenience, not theirs. So, for instance, if the ball comes over six times in half an hour you are not responsible for giving it back straight away or at any particular time. But you should not play into their hands by taking the ball hostage.
Make it clear that they are in no circumstances permitted to come into your garden and help themselves, and that if they do you will seek legal advice on trespass.
You should also keep a written record of any incident that causes you inconvenience (digital photos have a date on them) so that should things get worse you will have evidence if you choose to go to the local PCSO for advice.
Does their neighbour on the other side have similar problems?
in my last house we had constant football issues as there was a small patch of grass beyond our garden wall. In the end, I resorted to " holding the ball hostage" for a few days. In law, you can not keep it, or refuse to return it, but you can say, " it's not convenient to retrieve it right now, come back in a few days" worked for me , but I'd advise a cautious approach.
I do so hate the " they're just playing " excuse for everything naughty children get up to.
Must have been dragged up from the gutter.
I have been told that there is a limit of 3 incidents where a ball or toy can be returned as being acceptable. Any more than 3 incidents in a 12 month period is classed as a deliberate act. I'm still trying to find a solicitor that knows for sure.
Duncan - I read your post and felt so angry. I spend so much time feeling furious about the way people allow their children to behave. It's disgraceful. I've just put blackthorn hedge round most of my front garden because of children running through the garden, along with a boundary fence. Many people here know the saga. If I was you I'd stick as many jaggy shrubs as you can - pyracantha, berberis, quince, hawthorn etc - in the space and hell mend 'em. The worry is that, if you confront them about their behaviour, they'll retaliate in a (possibly) unpleasant way which you wouldn't want, but it's dreadful that people can be bullied like this.
You can't reason with unreasonable people.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sadly Verd, it doesn't always work out as well as it did for you. While I agree with you totally about bullies, sometimes you have to know which battles to fight. There's a very unpleasant family round here who exacted revenge on someone who stood up to them. It can often be difficult to judge the best way to go about these situations.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Some helpful replies. Most poster know about my neighbour, as regards the fence which sounds about the same hieght as the one built by my neighbour.I built a trellis a ft into my property to grow stuff on, which has been fine but the fence is falling down into the garden now. The jury's still out as to what to do about that little problem, I put a lock on the gate so he has to knock on the front door to talk about it. The point is he can't enter my garden without me knowing about it, he certainly can't lift the fence and just stroll in.
There have always been children in the house on the other side, it's rented but the owners did once live there and are actually nice people. I got sick of the family with lots of children who would play cricket in the garden every summer. They would knock on the front door though for their balls but spending entire afternoons answering it was no fun. In the end we took out a narrow panel near the house so they could just come and get their balls so long as they hadn't landed in the veg plot and we agreed if anyone hit the ball over the fence they lost a run instead of gaining one.
Then there is the current family with small children who complained the cat was pooing in their garden, I bought them water pistols and they spent several fun filled days squirting the cat if she went into their garden, the rule was they could only squirt if she was on the fence or in their garden but not if she was sat at the gap in the fence and on my side. She soon learnt to sit at the gap and the children would come over and stroke her. They were most upset when she died.
The point I'm making is you can sometimes work it out with some neighbours but not with others. I find it easier just to ignore neighbour from hell but keeping a diary of not nice stuff helps if you want to make a complaint about them, taking pics also helps so long as you tell them why your doing it.