'I absolutely know I’m in the legal right': Woman closes gate to lake access on her private property, entitled neighbors impersonate fake HOA to intimidate

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jan 30, 2024 7:00 PM EST

When you purchase a property, do you intend to follow all the unwritten rules that other neighbors feel "grandfathered" into? What if those rules get your car dinged up or your dog loose? The entitlement to your own private property can be intimidating. And if your good old-fashioned neighborly intimidation tactics don't work, then some extremely entitled neighbors might take it too far. Perhaps even going against the law. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    SA
    via Carolina Almeida via Pexels
  • 02
    AITA for moving in and up the neighborhood by fencing and closing my property? Not the This started over the summer, is continuing, so sourcing some insight. I don't need legal advice, I have an attorney. I purchased an estate property. By the time the owners passed they hadn't lived on site for almost a decade. The property is wooded with lake access from the back of the lot, and was overgrown.
    via u/ThrowRAmainemadness
  • 03
    Because of the woods and the distance between lots, I didn't expect to see my neighbors but at first I had people stopping by telling me how great it was I was cleaning up and renovating the property. I work from home so it was nice to meet the people living nearby. So all fine until the last steps, pouring a concrete pad for my van and finishing the fencing. I hadn't moved in yet, but once the extra driveway and pad were added, I parked my van. When I returned for the final move in, there was a
    via u/ThrowRAmainemadness
  • 04
    Anyway, moved myself and my dog in, and because of the dog and the incident with the van, I closed my gates. In doing so, I closed access to the lake through my property. I learned immediately the neighbors have been using my driveway to get to the water for awhile, as the old owners were either never here or didn't care. I started getting notes and knocks on the door about the problem I caused. I don't mind the occasional neighborhood kid knocking, but this was nonstop - three to four groups a
    via u/ThrowRAmainemadness
  • 05
    was asked to move my van and vehicles so people could back boats down the drive (I'm now assuming that's how my van got gouged). I explained the dog and reasons for having a fence, but have been met with criticism that I'm changing how things "have always worked around here." Last straw was people opening the gate on their own and then getting upset my dog was "loose." I acted by putting up a no trespassing sign, a sign indicating a dog on site, cameras, locks, and an intercom by my door so when
    via u/ThrowRAmainemadness
  • 06
    Even though the summer season is over, I'm still getting notes and voicemails telling me that access to the lake is "grandfathered in" as the previous owners allowed it and it's been going on "forever." These are coming from two houses (a woman in her 50s and a couple about the same age) who claim they represent the homeowners association (although when I purchased there wasn't a single thing about neighborhood covenants or an actual, organized, homeowners
    via u/ThrowRAmainemadness
  • 07
    association). Sometimes the communication takes on a more formal approach, other times it's informing me how bad of a person I am for "ruining the neighborhood." My attorney assures me this neighbor proclaimed easement is absolutely not a thing (he's done the legwork), but these are people I'll presumably be living nearby for a long time, and I'd prefer to be cordial. AITA for changing up the neighborhood vibe? ETA: I absolutely know I'm in the legal right, this is not that, rather an ask from a
    via u/ThrowRAmainemadness
  • 08
    ladyteruki 20h ago Professor Emeritass [74] NTA. The property is wooded with lake access from the back of the lot I have a hard time believing your property is the only access to AN ENTIRE LAKE ! Surely you haven't bought the whole area (but good for you if you did), and there are other ways to enjoy a day at the lake. They're not owed access to your property, as your lawyer pointed out, and the entitlement they demonstrated, damaging your car, blaming your dog and so on, makes them very much th
    via u/ladyteruki
  • 09
    ThrowRAmainemadness OP • 19h ago It's definitely not the only access, there's a public park and boat launch a few miles down the road. It didn't escalate tooooooo quickly, the fence and the gate and some of the cameras were already there, I just locked the gate, added to the number of cameras and posted signage.
    via u/ThrowRAmainemadness
  • 10
    Samarkand457 • 17h ago Partassipant [4] The second someone gouges the out out my personal vehicle is the second my property becomes Fort Knox. 491 Reply More replies emwestfall23. 17h ago also, OP could potentially be liable if anyone got injured or died on his property near the lake. best not to let anyone use it. 4 165 Share Reply carolshopson • 18h ago Police are for these situations 43 43 Share Reply Share ...
    via u/Samarkand
  • 11
    justanotheracct33 13h ago Also: These are coming from two houses (a woman in her 50s and a couple about the same age) who claim they represent the homeowners association (although when I purchased there wasn't a single thing about neighborhood covenants or an actual, organized, homeowners association). This is not okay. OP, I would ask my attorney if these people could get in legal trouble for impersonating an HOA. Then send a cease and desist stating that you will report their fraud if they don
    via u/justanotheracct33
  • 12
    johnnydlive 19h ago Enthusiast [5] NTA, you did ruin the vibe of the neighborhood; fortunately, the vibe was created by entitled A- holes, and it was ripe for the ruining. 41.3K Reply ↑ Share ThrowRAmainemadness OP. 19h ago Hahaha that made me laugh a little. Reply ↑ Share 386 + More replies 4orust 16h ago You just ruined the vibe of their entitlement. 473 ↓ Reply ↑ Share ...
    via u/johnnydlive
  • 13
    FormerRunnerAgain 18h ago Turn it around. Next time someone complains, show them the van. Tell them the person who did this and didn't even have the courtesy to tell you, never mind pay for repairs is the reason you shut your gate. Tell them to figure out who is the coward and take it up with them.
    via u/FormerRunnerAgain
  • 14
    lawfox32 15h ago Partassipant [3] Yep, this. "I closed the gates because someone damaged my car pulling their boat down there and didn't even let me know so we could deal with it through insurance. People also continued to open the gate and let my dog out even when there were signs. I can't keep paying for repairs due to others' carelessness, let alone risk my dog's safety. Unfortunately, some people have been extremely entitled and disrespectful even before I moved in, so the gate is now stayin
    via u/lawfox32
  • 15
    scarbnianlgc. 16h ago Love this approach. Coalition build especially when you're right. I'd even throw in how you're being constantly harassed by two homes and how you bought this house to make it a home and feel like entitled people are trying to run you out of your home that you're improving. You have a dog and someone trashed your car before you moved in now you're being constantly harassed.
    via u/scarbnianlgc
  • 16
    Commercial-Cut5362 20h ago Partassipant [2] NTA. Your neighbors are entitled and . They can all band together and fund a new driveway to the lake if it means that much to them. It's your property, you paid for it. They don't have any rights over how you manage your property.
    via u/Commercial-Cut5362
  • 17
    AdOne8433 • 19h ago Colo-rectal Surgeon [33] NTA. Your entitled neighbors should never be allowed on your property. They are incapable of respecting anything except their own wants. They entered your property, damaged your van, took no responsibility, and blamed you for parking your van on your property. Your potential liability here is huge. Those demanding access would be the first to sue you if they got hurt on your property. And none of them would allow you unlimited access to their property
    via u/AdOne8433
  • 18
    It sounds like you have a great piece of property. As the owner, you are the steward of this property. It is your duty to protect and nurture it. The first step is to protect it from the most dangerous and destructive species on the planet, humans. Keep your fences and cameras and prosecute anyone who violates your little slice of heaven.
    via u/AdOne8433

  • This woman bought a property that had been basically vacant for the past decade. When she moved in, she quickly realized that the locals used her driveway as an access point to the nearby lake. At first, it didn't really bother her, but then it was more than just a couple of people here and there. All of a sudden, it's every neighbor nearby. The final straw was when someone dinged up her van and didn't even leave their information. After that technically hit-and-run, she closed her gates. Most of the neighbors were bummed but understood. It's not their property, after all. However, two older couples were furious. They started harassing her, leaving notes, constantly ringing her doorbell, and even trying to just open the gate anyways and let themselves in. They said they were “grandfathered in” to using her driveway and that she's “ruining the vibe of the neighborhood.” They even went as far as impersonating an HOA and trying to intimidate her that way, even though she knows for a fact that there is no HOA (she even had her lawyer check). Can you believe this level of entitlement? What would you do? 

    You think that's entitled? Read about this mooching boyfriend who is now, obviously, an ex-boyfriend. 

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

karens hoa hoa stories hoa scandal community drama reddit karen karens in the wild hoa drama entitled karen karma r-entitled Reddit karen story karen entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article