In many people’s neighborhoods, families can build close relationships with neighbors. Sometimes, it’ll be through children playing together, other times it can be through block parties and other events. Knowing your neighbors can be a helpful and useful relationship throughout your time living in a home.
Most neighbors have cordial and kind relationships with each other, especially in suburban areas where individuals have kids and yards. Sometimes, things happen where one family needs to grab something that flew over a fence, like a ball or a kite. Most families don’t mind letting their next-door neighbor into their yard to grab their stuff.
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However, one family never expected things to take a turn and to be completely taken advantage of — without them even knowing.
One couple found out the hard way
Reddit user Robyn_withaY shared that she and her husband own a home with a pool. While they live in a nice neighborhood, they’re not very close to many neighbors. While they don’t have much in common with everyone, they do have friendly acquaintances.
Next door is a family of six — parents with two college-aged girls, a high school-aged son, and an elementary school-aged daughter. The children shared that they’re friendly and often allow the parents to retrieve balls or other things from their yard when needed.
Usually, they open their pool from May to October
They keep their pool open all summer and into early fall along with the usual pool season. However, they didn’t open their pool this year due to medical issues. The Reddit user said that this, combined with the abnormally cool weather in May, led them to the decision to keep the pool closed this season.
They also shared that they didn’t take their usual summer trips to visit family due to flooding and needing to be close to home to help a family member. The couple usually travels on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day weekend.
In June, the Reddit user was approached by the neighbor’s daughter
She had come up to the Reddit user several times asking when she was going to open her pool. They had told her “maybe later” for some time, but once they decided to keep the pool closed, they delivered the news to the girl — who proceeded to cry.
They were both very confused, as they had never let their neighbors use the pool before. So, they were unsure why this little girl was so upset by the news.
They decided to ask their other neighbor
They approached the neighbor who lives on the other side of them asking if they had any idea why the little girl would be so upset. As it turns out, the family of six who lives next door has been using the couple’s pool every year on July 4th to have a small family party.
Apparently, their other neighbor was under the impression that the couple had given the family permission to use their pool.
This, however, was not the case
The Reddit user said that they only allowed the parents into their yard to retrieve their kids’ toys that had gotten over their fence.
“We have a special latch on the gate and my husband did show the neighbor how to open the gate to retrieve his kids toys,” she said. In a later updated post, she shared that they do have cameras around their property, as well, as her husband enjoys technology and “toys” like this, but it had never picked up the family before.
When July 4th came around, the neighbor had the audacity to ask if they were “still going away”
The Reddit user said that the week before July 4th, the father of the family approached her and asked if they were “getting a late start on their lake trip,” as they usually leave earlier every year. She shared that they were not going away this summer. The father then asked if they’d be home “the entire weekend,” to which she said yes.
He quickly left and did not say anything further about their canceled trip.
People online were shocked
Many people were shocked that an entire family had the nerve to use a home that is not theirs without any permission. Others said they would have tried to catch them in the act.
“I’m so petty I’d open the pool, hide the cars so they’d think I was gone then lurk hidden near the pool ready to step and ask what the hell they think they’re doing when they stroll in for their party. I’d embarrass them in front of their guests so hard,” Pretzelmamma shared.
Others pointed out how dangerous this is
“There is more to it than the fact that they are on your property without permission. You are vulnerable to lawsuits if someone gets hurt or dies. Especially if they think you have given them permission,” wrote ImprovementFar5054.
People said that this couple needs a “no trespassing” sign and should even inform the local police.
Instead of causing problems, the couple was diplomatic
Instead of causing a scene, the couple decided to add more security cameras to their home and buy a drone so they could use it whenever they went away. They even called their insurance broker to come see all of the new equipment so that they could catch a discount on their homeowner’s insurance, with new security additions to their yard.
Other neighbors saw the”add-ons” and came outside to inquire what it was about
It turns out, that more neighbors in their community saw the older children from the family of six use their pool multiple times — with friends, too — throughout the years.
“One neighbor even asked the girls and they claimed that we let them come over all the time and use our pool,” the Reddit user wrote.
They decided to talk to the family, as well
The Reddit user said her husband went to speak to the family’s husband and wife and said they could no longer enter their yard if they were not home.
“And we will be sending a registered letter stating this as requested by our insurance. Husband never accused them or their children of using our pool but said we had reason to believe that in the past our pool had been used without our permission. He did say that we had reason to believe that their older children might be friends with someone who has been in our pool,” she wrote.
Despite this, they never admitted it
The couple exchanged some “looks” between them, but neither admitted to using the pool. They thanked the couple for the heads up but never came clean about using the pool or their kids using it.
The Reddit user said she hopes that the new security measures and the warning will “end” the saga of their neighbors taking advantage of their homes.
Many people admired how they handled this situation
Reddit users said that the couple handled this with maturity and grace, and they would not have done so — or been so kind.
“I love how you and your husband handled this. They have to have an idea that you know it was them after your husband mentioned the kids’ friends but there’s still space to allow for a decent relationship,” ShoppingRunner wrote.
Others said that the family is lucky.
“I hope your neighbors appreciated how gracefully they were dealt with. Freeloaders. The world’s full of them. Bravo on your solutions! Well done,” shared DuchessOfAquitaine.
Would you have handled this situation with such maturity?
