Crazy or annoying neighbor story

[Anonymous]

Townhome PP here. I forgot we had another new neighbor who didn't like the fact a halfway house was down the road from our complex. We'd lived in the neighborhood 5+ years at that point and never had an issue with these neighbors; they didn't walk or drive through our community and their property always seemed calm. But the new neighbor wanted to build a fence around our complex because "they might come at us with machetes." MACHETES. We weren't in the jungle...we were in Fairfax County. Good grief.

[Anonymous]

RH on Capitol Hill, many years ago.

Elderly neighbor had a huge oak tree in her front yard that was dying. She had it cut down, but left the stump, close to the ground, smack in the middle of her postage stamp Capitol Hill yard, which was raised quite a bit higher than our yard. Then she set a huge, wooden rocking chair on top of the stump. One of those rustic, 2'x4' Cracker Barrel type rockers.

We would come home from work to see her slowly rocking on this massive wooden chair in the middle of her otherwise empty yard. I swear I heard the "eeee eeee eeee" music from Psycho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RH on Capitol Hill, many years ago.

Elderly neighbor had a huge oak tree in her front yard that was dying. She had it cut down, but left the stump, close to the ground, smack in the middle of her postage stamp Capitol Hill yard, which was raised quite a bit higher than our yard. Then she set a huge, wooden rocking chair on top of the stump. One of those rustic, 2'x4' Cracker Barrel type rockers.

We would come home from work to see her slowly rocking on this massive wooden chair in the middle of her otherwise empty yard. I swear I heard the "eeee eeee eeee" music from Psycho.

She sounds kind of awesome, and you sound lame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RH on Capitol Hill, many years ago.

Elderly neighbor had a huge oak tree in her front yard that was dying. She had it cut down, but left the stump, close to the ground, smack in the middle of her postage stamp Capitol Hill yard, which was raised quite a bit higher than our yard. Then she set a huge, wooden rocking chair on top of the stump. One of those rustic, 2'x4' Cracker Barrel type rockers.

We would come home from work to see her slowly rocking on this massive wooden chair in the middle of her otherwise empty yard. I swear I heard the "eeee eeee eeee" music from Psycho.

That sounds nice and nothing at all like the other psycho stories on here.

[Anonymous]

Oh let's see.

When I was a kid the delinquent boys next door used to light aerosol cans on fire and shoot the fireballs at our roof. We had cedar shingles. Not great. All kinds of dangerous driving and drugs. One eventually set fire to their basement and they had to move out.

When we had a preschooler in a condo a newlywed couple moved in below us. The guy was in a MFA writing program and would spend all day writing what I am sure he thought was The Next Great American Novel. He complained constantly during the day that our child made noise and it was impossible for him to work. Our chid was not noisy or stompy and half the time not even home. But also these condos were two floors each so he could have moved downstairs (1200 sf, two adults, plenty of rooms) if it was so important. He chose to come up to our condo and knock fairly frequently, and would creepily peer into the house at empty space or MY CHILD. One time our kid was actually having a tantrum, a very bad, rare tantrum (our child didn't have tantrums, but he was hurt or sick or something). I knew the neighbor was going to complain and sure enough he came up and was just an absolute jerk in the face me of me having a very bad and sad mom moment. I lost it on him, called my husband, and my husband came home and went down to tell the neighbor off. In the end the neighbor complained to the condo association that we didn't have 80% rug coverage and he was right, so we had to spend money on rugs when that really wasn't an ideal time to spend the money but we did. We moved a few months later. Found out he started complaining about the kid across the hall, saying it wasn't our kid making noise after all...which, yeah, I know that. I saw him walking his new baby about a year later and though I don't want to be a jerk I hope that baby gave him absolute HELL.

[Anonymous]

My sweet elderly neighbor died and her heirs rented out her home to a tenant taking section 8.

So many issues, but the worst was that she kept her dog on the balcony. All the time. This poor animal was never walked or socialized so he was living in his excrement. The balcony was covered in shit. To make matters worse, our balconies were divided only by a low fence, so the poor dog would jump over to shit on our balcony instead. It took several weeks of calls to the humane society, and to other authorities from us and other neighbors for the dog to be removed from her home and eventually rehoused.

She was also a prostitute, bringing men home regularly and offering sexual favors to others at low costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RH on Capitol Hill, many years ago.

Elderly neighbor had a huge oak tree in her front yard that was dying. She had it cut down, but left the stump, close to the ground, smack in the middle of her postage stamp Capitol Hill yard, which was raised quite a bit higher than our yard. Then she set a huge, wooden rocking chair on top of the stump. One of those rustic, 2'x4' Cracker Barrel type rockers.

We would come home from work to see her slowly rocking on this massive wooden chair in the middle of her otherwise empty yard. I swear I heard the "eeee eeee eeee" music from Psycho.

I kinda love this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh let's see.

When I was a kid the delinquent boys next door used to light aerosol cans on fire and shoot the fireballs at our roof. We had cedar shingles. Not great. All kinds of dangerous driving and drugs. One eventually set fire to their basement and they had to move out.

When we had a preschooler in a condo a newlywed couple moved in below us. The guy was in a MFA writing program and would spend all day writing what I am sure he thought was The Next Great American Novel. He complained constantly during the day that our child made noise and it was impossible for him to work. Our chid was not noisy or stompy and half the time not even home. But also these condos were two floors each so he could have moved downstairs (1200 sf, two adults, plenty of rooms) if it was so important. He chose to come up to our condo and knock fairly frequently, and would creepily peer into the house at empty space or MY CHILD. One time our kid was actually having a tantrum, a very bad, rare tantrum (our child didn't have tantrums, but he was hurt or sick or something). I knew the neighbor was going to complain and sure enough he came up and was just an absolute jerk in the face me of me having a very bad and sad mom moment. I lost it on him, called my husband, and my husband came home and went down to tell the neighbor off. In the end the neighbor complained to the condo association that we didn't have 80% rug coverage and he was right, so we had to spend money on rugs when that really wasn't an ideal time to spend the money but we did. We moved a few months later. Found out he started complaining about the kid across the hall, saying it wasn't our kid making noise after all...which, yeah, I know that. I saw him walking his new baby about a year later and though I don't want to be a jerk I hope that baby gave him absolute HELL.

Oh shoot, we had one of these. Guy was off the rails. I am so sorry. That is the creepiest thing I have ever experienced. Seeing a grown man peer into your yard from at/over your own fence (ie: on your property), approach your house often and peer in the windows - that is enough to make anyone move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted about it at the time. Crazy, volatile, psychotic back neighbor. Our houses back up to each other and we have a pool that’s enclosed by a screen. Outside that screen for five feet is a row of bushes, on our property (you can’t have a screen enclosure closer than that.) Back house goes up for sale and real estate agent mulches our back bushes to match the mulch in the other house. I called and asked what the what, don’t do that, it gives the impression their property line goes all the way to the screen. She apologized and then these psychotic people moved in. This row of bushes (which gives us privacy) became his hill to die on. But if you dropped a blade of grass, or placed one foot over his property line he would literally lose it. Our landscaping company was doing annual spray treatment and he came out with a knife threatening him. He’s threatened to shoot us. It’s surreal.

So many unhinged people out there! About a decade ago, a friend’s FIL was shot and killed by his neighbor over a property dispute. Something like the neighbor was angry at the man for crossing the property line while mowing his lawn (the neighbor was mistaken).

I have known people to move because of bad neighbors. If you are able to do so, why not? Better than feeling unsafe. One of my friends built a small room onto their house, and it set the crazy neighbor OFF. People are not always sane or reasonable, and it is fine to get away from them, especially if you have kids - keep them safe at all costs.

[Anonymous]

We have a crazy lady that moved to our block and within a week sent people instructions on 'how to vote' in the upcoming electuon, complete with commentary on the 'types' of people who don't follow her lead. She also set up a list serv for th emoms on the block (despite all th eother moms already having one and being freinds for 15 years. Yet, she demanded hers be the one used. All of us old timers just blocked and ignored her . I feel sorry for the newcomers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh let's see.

When I was a kid the delinquent boys next door used to light aerosol cans on fire and shoot the fireballs at our roof. We had cedar shingles. Not great. All kinds of dangerous driving and drugs. One eventually set fire to their basement and they had to move out.

When we had a preschooler in a condo a newlywed couple moved in below us. The guy was in a MFA writing program and would spend all day writing what I am sure he thought was The Next Great American Novel. He complained constantly during the day that our child made noise and it was impossible for him to work. Our chid was not noisy or stompy and half the time not even home. But also these condos were two floors each so he could have moved downstairs (1200 sf, two adults, plenty of rooms) if it was so important. He chose to come up to our condo and knock fairly frequently, and would creepily peer into the house at empty space or MY CHILD. One time our kid was actually having a tantrum, a very bad, rare tantrum (our child didn't have tantrums, but he was hurt or sick or something). I knew the neighbor was going to complain and sure enough he came up and was just an absolute jerk in the face me of me having a very bad and sad mom moment. I lost it on him, called my husband, and my husband came home and went down to tell the neighbor off. In the end the neighbor complained to the condo association that we didn't have 80% rug coverage and he was right, so we had to spend money on rugs when that really wasn't an ideal time to spend the money but we did. We moved a few months later. Found out he started complaining about the kid across the hall, saying it wasn't our kid making noise after all...which, yeah, I know that. I saw him walking his new baby about a year later and though I don't want to be a jerk I hope that baby gave him absolute HELL.

Looks like you were the problem. That’s why he heard everything. If you had followed the rules and had rugs, there likely wouldn’t have been an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh let's see.

When I was a kid the delinquent boys next door used to light aerosol cans on fire and shoot the fireballs at our roof. We had cedar shingles. Not great. All kinds of dangerous driving and drugs. One eventually set fire to their basement and they had to move out.

When we had a preschooler in a condo a newlywed couple moved in below us. The guy was in a MFA writing program and would spend all day writing what I am sure he thought was The Next Great American Novel. He complained constantly during the day that our child made noise and it was impossible for him to work. Our chid was not noisy or stompy and half the time not even home. But also these condos were two floors each so he could have moved downstairs (1200 sf, two adults, plenty of rooms) if it was so important. He chose to come up to our condo and knock fairly frequently, and would creepily peer into the house at empty space or MY CHILD. One time our kid was actually having a tantrum, a very bad, rare tantrum (our child didn't have tantrums, but he was hurt or sick or something). I knew the neighbor was going to complain and sure enough he came up and was just an absolute jerk in the face me of me having a very bad and sad mom moment. I lost it on him, called my husband, and my husband came home and went down to tell the neighbor off. In the end the neighbor complained to the condo association that we didn't have 80% rug coverage and he was right, so we had to spend money on rugs when that really wasn't an ideal time to spend the money but we did. We moved a few months later. Found out he started complaining about the kid across the hall, saying it wasn't our kid making noise after all...which, yeah, I know that. I saw him walking his new baby about a year later and though I don't want to be a jerk I hope that baby gave him absolute HELL.

Looks like you were the problem. That’s why he heard everything. If you had followed the rules and had rugs, there likely wouldn’t have been an issue.

Agree. Obviously, that is why your association required 80% rug coverage.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor threatened to cut the head off my nine month pregnant wives head in a heated one side exchange. He came on my property while I was at work and wife home with out one year old. My Gardner trimmed a busy on my property he looked at and ticked him off that I did that without his permission. All work on my side of fence required his permission.

Guy was a Large German angry man around six foot four inch and 245 pounds.

The next year I did my roof. My brother knew of this Irish roofer. Like to drink, very short fuse, quick with his fists. Was around six foot six inch 295 pounds. I told him story.

Soon as the roofer truck shows up I go upstairs with wife look out windows and he comes flying out in a full rage running towards my house. My Irish roofer standing on property line wife fists up. He stops as quick as he could on property line my roofer says cross this line and I am giving you the beating of a lifetime.

He ran inside. I paid an extra $1,000 for roof but so worth it.

That roofer was scary. Nice enough man but wow was he big.

He died of a heart attack at 52 yelling at neighbors landscaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor threatened to cut the head off my nine month pregnant wives head in a heated one side exchange. He came on my property while I was at work and wife home with out one year old. My Gardner trimmed a busy on my property he looked at and ticked him off that I did that without his permission. All work on my side of fence required his permission.

Guy was a Large German angry man around six foot four inch and 245 pounds.

The next year I did my roof. My brother knew of this Irish roofer. Like to drink, very short fuse, quick with his fists. Was around six foot six inch 295 pounds. I told him story.

Soon as the roofer truck shows up I go upstairs with wife look out windows and he comes flying out in a full rage running towards my house. My Irish roofer standing on property line wife fists up. He stops as quick as he could on property line my roofer says cross this line and I am giving you the beating of a lifetime.

He ran inside. I paid an extra $1,000 for roof but so worth it.

That roofer was scary. Nice enough man but wow was he big.

He died of a heart attack at 52 yelling at neighbors landscaper.

+1. LOL. No surprise there - KARMA, she is real!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A crazy neighbor moved into a middle unit within our townhome community and proceeded to cause actual concerns about a neighborhood mass shooting. I knew it was going to be problematic the first week when he put up a no trespassing sign and installed three different cameras, two facing a SHARED PATCH OF GRASS and one on the garage. Within days I told my husband the guy was for sure nuts. Who puts up a no trespassing sign and multiple cameras when they live in a middle unit townhouse?!? It was absolutely a harbinger of what was to come. He terrorized the entire neighborhood over the course of what felt like the longest year-multiple police call-outs, actual stalking of a neighbor's daughter, a restraining order from a different neighbor. Many other incidents. We were legitimately afraid.

We have one of these, too, a renter, but the number of people affected was in the double digits. It's in a condo building and the HOA and building management kept claiming there was "nothing they can do," despite the police telling them otherwise.