My neighbor keeps mowing the lawn without permission, then complains about "having" to

K

KayEm

New member
do it. What do I do? I live in a two-family apartment and have an agreement with the people downstairs to take turns every 2 or 3 weeks to mow the grass out back (we like the grass at that cushy 4-5" height). However, we never get the chance -- the neighbor next door is obsessive compulsive about lawn care and mows our lawn at least once a week without permission, never allowing it to grow more than 1.5" before he's back.

The kicker is that then he comes over and complains about "having" to do it. He's been asked (and told) several times to stop, and we've explained that we will do it, but he never gives us the chance! I have no idea what to do.
 
I would just tell him thank you. You did a nice job on the yard, but I would rather that my grass grow a little more the next time before you cut it. Thank again for a nice job. Then look at it like this hey your getting your grass cut for free.
 
if you have an agreement for every 2 to 3 weeks then ignore him. hes just what u said, obsessive complusive & he HAS to act on the way that he feels, he cant ignore it. u cant just jump in there and mow it every half week or something. he'll probably keep complaining about it cuz he doesnt WANT to do it, he just cant help himself. none of this is your fault. and on the plus side keeping the grass so short will make for less bugs & vermen. he needs to get on some medication....theres nothing you can really do except speak to the landlord and let him handle the situation between two neighbors where no ones right and no ones wrong =/
 
Have the landlord speak with him about this. If the agreement you and the downstairs people have with the landlord that not mowing every week is ok, it is up to the landlord to prevent this trespass of his property. If worse comes to worst, take out a restraining order against this person preventing him from entering the property.
 
Tell him a bit more forcefully.
Say you'll call the cops if he does it again, ... and do it.
(4-5" is really not healthy for the lawn, but you can make a good case that 1 1/2" is too short for your tastes.)

Alternately, you might buy some 3" hardened concrete
nails and 'plant' them in the grass at about 2".
They will destroy his mower blade.
He's already a bit crazy, this will drive him
right over the edge. (Do be sure you can 'take' him.)
 
Do nothing. Let him mow the lawn. You aren't going to stop him. People like to complain. Your job is to listen and say, "How awful for you."
 
Your neighbour sounds like a nut. Next time he complains about having to mow your lawn, I think I would explain quite forcefully that he doesn't have to mow anyone's lawn but his, and therefore you aren't going to listen to his complaints. Tell him that if he thinks your lawn is long enough to be unsightly, that he should please call the city and make a formal complaint about that. They might be able to set him straight a little. And then the next time he comes over to mow the lawn, I'd stand right in front of the damn mower and tell him to get off my property(if you rent, it's your property to some degree) or I'll call the police and have him charged with trespassing. This sounds like a place where a fence is a really good idea.
 
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