Cheeky New Neighbour

[Smowball]

This sounds really daft considering how confident I am.....
Ok so about 6 weeks ago a single guy bought the house next door. He hasn’t moved in yet as he is doing some work to it but is over most evenings and weekends.
The day he first turned up he came to door with two bottles of wine and a beaming smile. What a lovely man we both thought.
Two days later he txt me(we had all swapped numbers) to say a builder was turning up next day and if he dropped keys off that eve could I pls let him in and keep eye on him. Erm, ok..... this happened about 3 separate days.
3 weeks ago he went on holiday for 2 weeks and again he knocked on my door and asked if I could let a contractor in. I said ok but I’m in and out all day so I can’t just stay in. If I’m out I’ll have to leave keys in my porch . Fine he said . He left. That eve I get a txt from him akin to War and Peace with a list of FIVE workmen on 5 diff dates who ended up knocking on my door at all hours, to collect keys, drop keys off etc etc, by this time he’s already jetted off on holiday!
He gets back and knocks on my door straight away. I make a tongue in cheek comment about paying me for being site manager and it just went over his head. This was Friday.
He has now txt me at 6.15 this morning asking if I could be on on 1st of October as he has arranged for 2 new sofas to be delivered and can I wait in to let them in! I don’t want to fall out with a new neighbour but he is taking the Mickey now and I don’t really know how to reply without being rude!

[Cloverjo]

The man is unbelievable. Tell him you can't. You've got too much work on. And then delete his texts immediately they come in.

Get your husband to text him telling him to leave you alone.

[Eleena]

Smow,
tell him you're not always there, you have a life .. like him.
Tell him the wine was lovely, but you can't commit yourself to multiple favours. Yeah, o.k, it's alright for me to say I know. Write down all the things he's asked of you, throw it back at him and ask him, would you find that reasonable? Put it this way Smow, this man has played on his cheeky chappy ways all his life, because probably most of the time he's gotten away with it. This type go for nice people, he already weighed you up on first meeting with the wine.

[weecalf]

Bet this posting ends up as a plot in a well know soap .

[pastafreak]

What I wrote should read... "You CAN'T let this continue."

[DTCwordfan]

Oh, free material for a soap.....yes please.

Now, if only Mrs O was here.....

As to October 1, smow, you have won a six hour shop starting at xx.00 at the Furniture Shope outlet, 70% off.......

[tonyav]

I bet he'll be even more fun when he finally moves in, Smow !.

[DTCwordfan]

A cup of sugar, a pint of milk, a pack of spaghetti, a tea bag -, Lady Grey please, a glass of wine, an Olive Oil, not Popeye's but the extra virgin one, can I borrow your car.....I have four mates coming to stay....???? Can I use your attic to grow funny herbs - oh and I could dig a good 7ftx3ftx6ft hole in your lawn????

[Cloverjo]

Exactly, DTC. Got to stop him now, Smow.

[andy-hughes]

I think this guy is taking advantage, but some people don't do that deliberately, they simply lack the awareness of social etiquette that would prevent them presuming on your good nature.


Wars of attrition with neighbours are utterly horrible, and to be avoided at all costs, so the best approach is subtlety - simply be completely unavailable at the times he requires, with a smile and an apology.

Because he is unaware he is doing anything wrong, trying to 'teach him a lesson' or 'give the same back' would be futile, you only want to act in a way that is going to have a positive result for you, and avoid any direct conflict.

Hope you get it sorted.

[douglas9401]

Is this 'asbestos man'?

[silliemillie]

Just politely say no you can't, you're out, you're busy, whatever he asks, he may start knocking at the neighbours the other side if you're lucky.

[waterboatman]

He's extracting the weewee smow. Say No, sorry, no can do. If you don't, when he moves in he will be on your case for ever.

[waterboatman]

smow you have to point out to him that he is taking advantage of your kind nature.