My partner (49) and I (49) live in a desirable neighborhood in our city. When our neighbors “Mark” and “Emily” moved in 3-4 years ago, they immediately did a major renovation – gutting the entire home and shifting structural components. The house looks completely different from the listing photos. None of it is permitted.
The problems started immediately:
hey altered parts within/on our property and installed their own landscaping after explicitly being told no
* We had our property professionally surveyed due to these issues. The survey confirmed our understanding
* They send neighborhood emails about things like music being too loud (it was 6:30pm on a Friday), and publicly shaming neighbors about trash placement, using phrases like “our neighborhood standards.”
* They’re continuing their renovation and now there are exposed gas lines in their backyard
* A contractor they hired recently attached lattice to our shared fence – the nails came through to our side. When I hammered them flush, their lattice fell off because it was so poorly attached
If their contractors can’t even attach decorative lattice properly, what did they do with gas lines and electrical?
We asked a neighbor for advice and they were extremely concerned when we mentioned the gas lines so they filed an anonymous enforcement complaint for the gas lines. They were also upset because the new owners have removed trees and also trim their street tree poorly.
But they did ask if I was okay with it and I said we 100% agree and we’ve been concerned but because we live next door we have been afraid because we want to keep the peace and the general consensus in the neighborhood about Mark is that he’s a “Control Freak” and he thinks he’s “HOA President of a neighborhood that doesn’t have an HOA” One time I was in my front yard and a neighbor stopped by and asked me if I ever see Emily from the compound!
Our neighbor who filed informed us the complaint is now under investigation and an inspector is visiting tomorrow. I’m nervous because:
We have a history of property disputes with them;
We live right next door so we’re obvious suspects;
The timing of me hammering the lattice fence nails might make them suspicious
Am I the asshole for not telling them directly and supporting our neighbor who filed a code enforcement complaint?
NTA. You have legitimate safety concerns.
NTA and you should be submitting your own complaints. If enough speak up they can’t target one.
NTA, stand your ground against these arseholes, if you give them an inch they’ll take far more than a mile
Exposed gas lines are dangerous. Major renovations require permits for a reason. NTA. You’ve already tried having discussions with them to no avail. Reporting them is the logical next step. If they get fined, it’s their own fault for cutting corners.
NTA. Based on your description of them, I don’t think talking to them would’ve made a difference. These are not the kind of people you can keep the peace with. Calling and reporting it was the right thing to do for the safety of the neighborhood. Codes exist for a reason.
It’s fairly safe to assume that they weren’t going to reverse all of their renovations because you questioned them.
If everything is okay and above board they won’t have an issue.
NTA
ESH
Except for the guy who actually finally got this thing reported.
You’ve got exposed gas lines next door and your biggest concern is whether or not your neighbor thinks you’re the one who reported this?!?
Seriously. OP needs to call the gas company and report this nonsense. I’m sure they’ll be very interested in depth standards being willingly broken, especially if they never called 811.
NTA
If I understood your question, you wonder if owed telling Mark and Emily that someone was filing a complaint against them. hmm. NO, you did not.
Do you owe not outing the neighbor who filed the complaint. Yes, you do.
That neighbor did you and your street a solid. Yes, you are the most likely suspect (for Mark), but that’s the beauty of your neighbor’s decision to file a complaint. You can honestly answer that you did not file the complaint, but you are glad it was filed if Mark and Emily are doing something against regulations. If they ask if you know who did file the complaint, you can say, “It doesn’t matter who filed it. The question that matters is whether you are violating city codes. You should focus on that.”
You seem to lean toward “keep the peace” and “don’t want anyone to be mad at me”. I think you have put up with far too much (if they have changed your own property). You were unlucky in the neighbor lottery, and it’s no fun (and a lot of stress) to deal with a neighbor like Mark. But you aren’t being vindictive or petty at all. You are standing up for your own rights. The one thing you can let go of worrying about is whether you’ve offended Mark. He doesn’t care if he offends or tramples over anyone. IF you offend Mark, you still have the support of city codes and all your other neighbors.
My parents renovated a staircase that led from the deck to the pool. It was inspected 3 times. Three. Times.
They should be having multiple inspections all along.
Who cares if they think it was you? They are breaking the law.
Never be afraid to report exposed gas lines. If he damages them and there’s an exploding, it could damage your home.
YTA for not filing a complaint with the building department immediately when they started doing “renovations” without a permit. Building codes are there for a reason. People are assholes and try to build 3rd stories that block neighbors views and then ask for forgiveness later (that is IF the addition or original building was properly designed and constructed in the first place). They need a permit just to do demolition. Things can get very dangerous very fast. There are gas lines, electrical, and risk of structural collapse. They should have had multiple inspections for the various projects going on.
ESH but YTA for being so passive aggressive. Suck it up and back up your neighbor who filed a complaint and tell the new neighbors with your whole chest that what they are doing is dangerous and illegal
NTA…I would be calling the local bylaw office instantly. When people don’t get permits, it’s not just a neighbourly issue, it’s also a safety issue. People who build without following the rules could easily burn their house down, along with their neighbour’s. I’ve seen it happen and it’s devistating.
They are working with gas lines. Them being offended is the least of your worries.