Dispute regarding trash cans for alley pick-up in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This is the most entertaining thread ever, with nuggets of very helpful insights. Thanks, DCUM forum. The odd thing is we had no idea this new neighbor existed until months after he moved in, and the previous resident didn't mind us leaving them there. We didn't know there was a new occupant in that house.

We can't modify the fence because--and this is tough to explain in text--the sides and back of the fence are indeed shared with two other houses. The fence predates our arrival. If the three of us had the cash, maybe we'd collectively tear it down and start over. We all are affected by this new neighbor's position (it's not just our trash cans). He has his property deed on his side, and none of us dispute that. As for generating the good will of his new neighbors, well, that's another story...

Hold on: how do you get your trash into your garbage cans if you can't access the alley from your backyard?

By this, it sounds like multiple neighbors put their trash cans twice a week (probably all day) in the other neighbors yard. I'd be pissed to. Each neighbor needs to fix their fence with a gate or move it in enough to have room for the trashcans. Simple. Its not that expensive and you could DIY.

It sounds like the best option for OP is to have the trash in front of the house. OP is going to need to draw a damn diagram for us to understand. But as I read OP's message, it seems to me that his side and back fences are perpendicular to other rowhouses' backyards, thus no alley access.

[Anonymous]

If the original post was "the neighbors keep putting their trash cans in my yard" how many here would be telling her to just suck it up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This is the most entertaining thread ever, with nuggets of very helpful insights. Thanks, DCUM forum. The odd thing is we had no idea this new neighbor existed until months after he moved in, and the previous resident didn't mind us leaving them there. We didn't know there was a new occupant in that house.

We can't modify the fence because--and this is tough to explain in text--the sides and back of the fence are indeed shared with two other houses. The fence predates our arrival. If the three of us had the cash, maybe we'd collectively tear it down and start over. We all are affected by this new neighbor's position (it's not just our trash cans). He has his property deed on his side, and none of us dispute that. As for generating the good will of his new neighbors, well, that's another story...

Hold on: how do you get your trash into your garbage cans if you can't access the alley from your backyard?

By this, it sounds like multiple neighbors put their trash cans twice a week (probably all day) in the other neighbors yard. I'd be pissed to. Each neighbor needs to fix their fence with a gate or move it in enough to have room for the trashcans. Simple. Its not that expensive and you could DIY.

It sounds like the best option for OP is to have the trash in front of the house. OP is going to need to draw a damn diagram for us to understand. But as I read OP's message, it seems to me that his side and back fences are perpendicular to other rowhouses' backyards, thus no alley access.

Sounds like you will have get the fence changed. You do not have to replace the fence...just add a gate. You just have to put to post in the ground and hang a gate.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We had no idea this was private property; it's a strip of grass outside his fenced-in back yard. We saw cans there the first time we put out our trash out 10+ years ago, as well as cans on other similar patches of grass up and down the alley. It's been the convention on the block that these patches of land outside of fenced-in yards are where cans get picked up on trash day. Anywhere from 1 to 3 houses' cans are on a given patch. It wasn't until this new neighbor told me that this patch outside his fence is his private property that it occurred to us: technically, these patches aren't all part of the alley's communal space (at least, not according to this neighbor).

No one is questioning that he has the right to dictate whether and how his property is used by others. He's just not generating any good will here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We had no idea this was private property; it's a strip of grass outside his fenced-in back yard. We saw cans there the first time we put out our trash out 10+ years ago, as well as cans on other similar patches of grass up and down the alley. It's been the convention on the block that these patches of land outside of fenced-in yards are where cans get picked up on trash day. Anywhere from 1 to 3 houses' cans are on a given patch. It wasn't until this new neighbor told me that this patch outside his fence is his private property that it occurred to us: technically, these patches aren't all part of the alley's communal space (at least, not according to this neighbor).

No one is questioning that he has the right to dictate whether and how his property is used by others. He's just not generating any good will here.

He seems to think he can survive without goodwill, which he has the right to do.

You will have to find another spot on your own property. This stinks as it doesn’t appear you had any intent to trespass, but this is your problem to solve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We had no idea this was private property; it's a strip of grass outside his fenced-in back yard. We saw cans there the first time we put out our trash out 10+ years ago, as well as cans on other similar patches of grass up and down the alley. It's been the convention on the block that these patches of land outside of fenced-in yards are where cans get picked up on trash day. Anywhere from 1 to 3 houses' cans are on a given patch. It wasn't until this new neighbor told me that this patch outside his fence is his private property that it occurred to us: technically, these patches aren't all part of the alley's communal space (at least, not according to this neighbor).

No one is questioning that he has the right to dictate whether and how his property is used by others. He's just not generating any good will here.

What have you done to generate good will with this neighbor? Community goes both ways.

[Anonymous]

If there is no gate, how do they access the cans to fill them?

[Anonymous]

This solution seems so obvious here- it’s a prisoner’s dilemma. You both lose (presumably) if you don’t cooperate but act within your rights. You put your cans in the alley on trash collection day and your neighbor (and everyone else) has to maneuver around them. It’s likely that your neighbor will soon figure out that it’s better to allow people to put their trash can on the patch of grass. If the neighbor prefers to maneuver instead of sharing a patch of grass outside fencing, then you’re both acting within your rights and you’re in a new alley reality.

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to make nice with your neighbor. Seriously, how old are you and how many pages did this thread go on?

The neighbor may be awful. I have had awful neighbors and they are not fun. Buck up and have a conversation. Otherwise stop it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We had no idea this was private property; it's a strip of grass outside his fenced-in back yard. We saw cans there the first time we put out our trash out 10+ years ago, as well as cans on other similar patches of grass up and down the alley. It's been the convention on the block that these patches of land outside of fenced-in yards are where cans get picked up on trash day. Anywhere from 1 to 3 houses' cans are on a given patch. It wasn't until this new neighbor told me that this patch outside his fence is his private property that it occurred to us: technically, these patches aren't all part of the alley's communal space (at least, not according to this neighbor).

No one is questioning that he has the right to dictate whether and how his property is used by others. He's just not generating any good will here.

Can the neighbor move his fence out and fence in this grassy patch? If that is the case, you can move your outer fence back too and create a spot for your next door neighbors to park their cans as well.

If the grassy patch is on the other side of the street from his fence, then he is being an ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there is no gate, how do they access the cans to fill them?

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We had no idea this was private property; it's a strip of grass outside his fenced-in back yard. We saw cans there the first time we put out our trash out 10+ years ago, as well as cans on other similar patches of grass up and down the alley. It's been the convention on the block that these patches of land outside of fenced-in yards are where cans get picked up on trash day. Anywhere from 1 to 3 houses' cans are on a given patch. It wasn't until this new neighbor told me that this patch outside his fence is his private property that it occurred to us: technically, these patches aren't all part of the alley's communal space (at least, not according to this neighbor).

No one is questioning that he has the right to dictate whether and how his property is used by others. He's just not generating any good will here.

Ok, so what is your point. Neighbor had the common sense to build his fence with room for cans. That does not give you the automatic use without permission. Move your fence or build a gate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to make nice with your neighbor. Seriously, how old are you and how many pages did this thread go on?

The neighbor may be awful. I have had awful neighbors and they are not fun. Buck up and have a conversation. Otherwise stop it.

I have a neighbor like OP who continually demand use of our property for various things. Its exhausting and they make us look bad when we say no but our yard is not an extension o your yard. You have your own yard. We are not friends, you are not friendly to us so why should I allow it. OP is very entitled to just use someone's property without asking, especially if it is a new neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We had no idea this was private property; it's a strip of grass outside his fenced-in back yard. We saw cans there the first time we put out our trash out 10+ years ago, as well as cans on other similar patches of grass up and down the alley. It's been the convention on the block that these patches of land outside of fenced-in yards are where cans get picked up on trash day. Anywhere from 1 to 3 houses' cans are on a given patch. It wasn't until this new neighbor told me that this patch outside his fence is his private property that it occurred to us: technically, these patches aren't all part of the alley's communal space (at least, not according to this neighbor).

No one is questioning that he has the right to dictate whether and how his property is used by others. He's just not generating any good will here.

This is the convention in our alley as well. The alley has a narrow part and a wider part -- any cans in the narrow part would block all cars (and the trash truck). Neighbors cluster their cans on certain unused strips that are most likely on the lots of certain houses but unused. Nobody seems to have an issue with it, for obvious reasons. Sorry that you had a newcomer ruin it! Hopefully you can move your cans to another spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to make nice with your neighbor. Seriously, how old are you and how many pages did this thread go on?

The neighbor may be awful. I have had awful neighbors and they are not fun. Buck up and have a conversation. Otherwise stop it.

I have a neighbor like OP who continually demand use of our property for various things. Its exhausting and they make us look bad when we say no but our yard is not an extension o your yard. You have your own yard. We are not friends, you are not friendly to us so why should I allow it. OP is very entitled to just use someone's property without asking, especially if it is a new neighbor.

What kind of things? If a neighbor of mine needs to cross over my property I always let them. All the other neighbors let me do so as well (except one jerk neighbor).