Complaining Neighbour

[RupertB]

Not sure if anyone can offer any advice here.

My daughter and her fiancé bought a semi detached house 2 years ago - quiet cut-de-sac. They are not (seriously) party animals - both quiet not big drinkers etc at all.
Anyway since they have moved in they have had some bits done to the house - nothing structural - just new doors, plastering and decorating. Every time they have a contractor working there the old bag (I guess she's around 70) complains to the guy who harangues them. She stopped one of the young girls from my office when she went to use their fridge as an emergency. She has never said anything to me when i've been working there though.
On the once occasion they were having a New Year's eve party- they knocked and advised her only to be met with "How long will it go on' etc etc and you had people round the other night. These are not party guys - little bit nerdy if anything.

To our mind, she is trying to bully them as they are young (and look young too) - they were fortunate enough to inherit money to buy the house. Turns out she used to hassle the previous owner (they were a lovely couple) - banging on the wall etc. Is she jealous, bitter ? I don't know - never seems to have visitors but I am not going to tolerate this bullying.
I am tempted to speak to her and let her know that we will not allow this to continue and if she persists in haranguing contractors and or my daughter and her fiancé we will take it further.

Any thoughts ? They have an engagement party next week (which I advised them to invite her to) so goodness knows what she will say.

Thank you

[Alices Aunt]

She could be lonely and haranguing them her entertainment. Also maybe she needs her hearing checking if she thinks that they are having parties they aren’t having.

Good luck

[Guest]

It's difficult,nothing worse than being kept awake by neighbours,maybe she is very sensitive to noise.I don't think referring to her as old bag is the way though.It doesn't need to be a full on party for noise to annoy people.I don't think you can call this bullying,have you tried just talking to her nicely?

[RupertB]

She has knocked and complained to the guy fitting the carpet in one room today. My daughter and her fiancé have gone out of their way to be polite, courteous and even the old chap (86) on the other side complained about her.
I really want to nip this in the bud.

[novocastrian]

was their mention of the neighbour problems in the buyers pack or whatever its called

im under the impression you have to declare any such issues?

not sure i understand the fridge bit mind?

[RupertB]

From what the other neighbours have said, she complained about any works being done to any of the houses and the elderly chap on their other side - 86 and and absolute diamond - has had a run in with her on more than once occasion too.
On the very rare occasions the guys have had a party (count them on one hand) she has spoken to them like small children, as if she were a headmistress ! She's lucky they are so quiet - out all day - have a gardener to keep the place up to spec. I don't think she will see reason from what we have heard but why should these guys have to worry about having any work done, visitors or people parking.

[taylaboo]

I would have a quiet word and tell her to mind her own business. She probably has nothing else to do.

[RupertB]

i think you're right - as they are young, she probably thinks she can 'get away with' it and 'I was here first' - appears to have no visitors ever and never seems to be any sign of life in the house.
I think i may just calmly tell her that that's life and they or their contractors will undertake works during the appropriate times (which they have done anyway) and like it or lump it ! See you next Saturday for a bevvie and a boogie !

[Guest]

Personally If I was them I'd go to her door with a nice bunch of flowers or chocolates and apologise for any noise whilst they've been having work done(I know they shouldn't need to)and just befriend her,better to have her thinking how friendly her young neighbours are.Being nice is a good start to seeing how she then reacts.Your first post sounded quite threatening,how do you intend to take things further?

[Jules32]

I'm in the same boat with my neighbour unfortunately, when we first bought our house she was fine we got along nicely, I looked out for her being older and my kids were always nothing but polite to her, we started having work done to our house, new garden , kitchen etc nothing major and the house is detached so shouldn't affect her at all. She gave my work men such grief they almost refused to come back ( she said dust from the paving they were cutting was going on her car) fair enough not a lot they can do about that other than offer to have it valeted at the end of the job which took 4 days since that day she has bene absolutely awful to use, making snide comments telling anyone who will listen we rent our house ( we don't not that that should be an issue anyway) tried knocking on her door several times but she doesn't answer. I wouldn't mind but for 4 years we have had to put up with her yapping dog constantly and we have never so much as mentioned it to her.

My advice to you would be to get your daughter to go round herself and just ask what the problem is ( in a nice way) if that doesn't work there's not much you can do i'm afraid, maybe she is lonely ? no excuse I know but loneliness is awful.