Fairfax county here. Our neighbors (at least three adult couples live in that home) next door are generally not very concerned with "curb appeal," but over the last year or so, it's gone from their preference to everyone else's problem. . The back of the property has become overrun with vines, random trees/shrubs, and overgrown plants that are damaging the shared fence. Their shed has been entirely consumed by vegetation. Branches of their maple trees have fall and damaged the fences, and have been left for the elements to handle. Multiple abandoned buckets and kiddie pools outside have filled with whatever rain water and have become mosquito sanctuary bogs, all of which they lovingly placed around fences. Under their desk is more vines, trash, and I frequently see Norway rats running into and under the deck (which the cat colony they feed certainly does nothing about!). My family can't enjoy our yard regardless of what we do, because the swarms of mosquitos coming from just the other side of the fence is relentless, and the growing piles of trash will attract even more rodents. We've spoken with them, we've offered to split the cost of repairing the fence and addressing the vegetation that has damaged it, but they're uninterested. When we mentioned the rats, they said the rats "come and go." Would you call code compliance? |
I’d call a landscaper, pay them, tell them to knock on the door and offer to clean it up for “free”. |
MYOB |
How broken does your brain have to be to care this much about someone else's yard? |
Rats and mosquitoes are a code issue. There is obviously something wrong in that house. |
But it's not your business! |
I was going to tell you to chill until I got to the trash and rats. And if there’s an active cat colony and there are still rats? There are likely a lot of rats. If it’s a rental, I’d start by contacting the landlord. If it’s not a rental and one of the couples is an owner, I’d report the rat issue alone. |
Oh I would report. Rats are no joke.
I'm in Moco, so I can't tell you how to go about reporting. But I did call in an issue in our neighborhood several years ago. The house was all but abandoned and they were letting everything get overgrown into the sidewalk. County came out an inspected, put up a notice and the house was never a problem again. |
This would be my concern. Generally I'm a MYOB kinda person. If a person wants a grown up yard and run down house, that's their business. But IF there are RATS and mosquito breeding in stagnant water, then it becomes a major health hazard and becomes everyone's business. |
I was at MYOB until the menagerie. Call the county and see if anything can be done. |
Why don’t you offer to help? It could be that they are going through a hard time. |
The county will ticket and charge them |
If they are mowing their grass I doubt there is anything to be done. Their taste in how big to let bushes grow and whether to let their she’d have ivy on it is not your business. |
Sounds like they do have code violations. I’m in Arlington but there is an online form you can fill out to report. I’d assume Fairfax has the same. |
How do you know they're not practicing carbon sequestration or permaculture methods? Mahbe learn and move away from monoculture lawns |