Homeowners discover their neighbors have been hosting unauthorized 4th of July pool party celebrations at their house for years while they're away on holiday: 'Now do we confront the neighbors'

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    ww TEAM BEYC
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    Our neighbors have been having pool parties at our pool while we are not home for years. M A few years ago my husband and I purchased a house with a pool. Now we are acquainted with most of our neighbors but definitely not close friends with any of them. They all seem nice but well just don't have much in common other where we live. Nextdoor to the right is a family of six, twin daughters attending the local university, high school age son and a young elementary school age daughter maybe first o
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    Now normally we open the pool in early May and leave it keep it open until the end of October. But this year our weather was off and we had a very cool and very wet month of May and then June went straight to 100+ temperatures. I am currently on a medication that makes it difficult for me to tolerate being in the sun and heat for an extended time. Plus we have been helping two extended family members who are having health issues. So because of this we haven't had our pool. opened yet this year.
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    Normally we go to the family lake house for a week during each of the three major holidays, but we didn't go for Memorial Day because there was flooding around the lake this year, and because a family member was just discharged from the hospital yesterday and July 4th being a Thursday this year we decided to stay home this week and be available to help this family member.
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    Now several times in June the little girl nextdoor has seen either my husband or myself outside and she has asked when we are opening the pool. We first told her maybe later, but the last time (yesterday) she asked and I said we are probably just not going to open it this year, and she started crying. Now we have never had any of the neighbors over to use our pool so I didn't understand why she was crying over us not opening our pool.
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    Well I spoke with the neighbor on the left later and apparently our neighbors on the right have been having a small family party at our pool every 4th of July when we are gone. They have always cleaned up really well afterwards and because we have scheduled pool maintenance and weekly yard service occasionally things are moved around in our yard and we never thought much about it.
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    or toys The neighbor on the left thought we had given the other neighbors permission to use our pool. We did give them permission to retrieve any that ended up in our yard, but never permission to use our pool especially when we are not at home. We have a special latch on the gate and my husband did show the neighbor how to open the gate to retrieve his kids toys.
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    So now my husband, who loves gadgets, is going to have several more cameras installed around the exterior of our house, covering the gate and pool area. And have the gate latch made where we can grant remote access for the pool service and yardmen. Luckily we have a friend who does cameras and home automation systems.
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    I'm annoyed our neighbors have been using our pool without permission, but my husband is happy I am letting him get more gadgets around the house. Now do we confront the neighbors and let them know we know they have been using our pool, or just wait and see if they say anything about our new security cameras?
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    • neophenx 3 hr. ago I don't know what would be more fun.... to tell them up front to not use the pool, or to not say anything and next time you find them on cameral using your pool, just calling the police for trespassers on your property to surprise them.
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    invertedcottonwoodut. 3 hr. ago Definitely more fun to call the cops and it - establishes non-liability right?
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    CaliPirate 3 hr. ago • Lawyer here, though not yours. You need to put up "no trespassing" signs, tell your neighbors they are not allowed on your property without explicit permission and change the lock to the gate. Now that you know, you are on notice and could be held liable if they are injured visiting your pool. ' but it will be much less trouble than a lawsuit.
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    NX-01forever · 2 hr. ago • Jeeze, if anyone had been injured while using your pool. it would screw you over in terms of insurance, especially as you're out of town at that time. Definitely take measures to prevent this from continuing, the neighbor kids are also probably getting to an age they might try to swim unsupervised and that's so dangerous!
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    Trick_Parsley_3077.2 hr. ago I would also suggest you place "No Trespassing" Signage on your gate and around the fence. Then watch your cameras. This way you can call authorities when you see them enter your property on camera. maybe even a "Smile you are on Camera" And if the neighbor asks if they can come on your property to use your pool because their daughter really looks forward to it! You can hit
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    them back with "Oh NO" we Do Not want to be liable for Any Injuries that may occur! Tell them they can certainly get their own pool if it is that important for their family. I use to have a pool and the upkeep and chemicals are Not Cheap! The Entitlement of some people... Wow!
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    Frozefoots 2 hr. ago . edited 1 hr. ago Put up "no trespassing" signs and tell the neighbours they're no longer allowed to use the pool at all. Change the gate latch. They try after that then call the police for trespassers. Edit: Not allowed* - they were never actually given permission as pointed out. They just helped themselves.
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    stjoe56 1 hr. ago I had this problem. When I left town I put up a warning sign that stated the pool was being chemically treated and it was dangerous. Of course I did no such thing. All I did was put up a sign. One day I got a call from an ER because someone snuck into the pool and claimed they injured by the chemicals. I told the doc they were faking it as the only thing I put up was the sign.
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    Pretzelmamma 2 hr. ago I'm so petty I'd open the pool, hide the cars so they'd think I was gone then lurk hidden near the pool ready to step and ask what the they think they're doing when they stroll in for their party. I'd embarrass them in front of their guests so hard. But you have to live next door to these people so probably best not to do that.
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    LingonberryLoud7512 2 hr. ago . edited 2 hr. ago Yeah, this is one of the most entitled posts I have read. Your neighbors that are using your pool without permission. ARE ENTITLED and so is the little girl. I don't care how much she cries crocodile tears either.'
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    PetraphobicDruid · 2 hr. ago Or the old movie gag of adding blue dye to the pool and update your no trespassing signage and if they violate it make them internet famous, then send a bill for pool cleaning.

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