'Can you go now? I'm having company!!!': New residents feud with entitled neighbors over denying them access to their pool whenever they want

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 9, 2025 4:00 PM EST

Clearly, these folks need to get their own pools and stop mooching off of one that doesn't belong to them. Whatever happened to people staying on their own property, respecting boundaries, and leaving one another alone? 

Typically, when we come across stories of neighborhood drama, the HOA board members are often at fault. In this instance, however, we're not even dealing with an HOA neighborhood, which only goes to show that entitled, annoying community members will always find a way to disturb the neighborly peace regardless of whether or not there is an institution like an HOA involved.

What's remarkable about this story is the audacity of the entitled neighbors not to treat the new residents like human beings; instead, they have been treated like the means to an end or guards to a prized possession. That prized possession would be a pool in the new residents' backyard.

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  • 01
    IGANT
    via Eric Nopanem

  • These new residents had no idea prior to their move that the previous owners of their home treated their backyard pool as open to all the other residents in the neighborhood and their kids. This was, of course, not written in any contract, but it was rather an informal agreement. In other words, the new residents did not need to inherit this rule by any means, and yet, everyone else in the neighborhood seemed to think otherwise!

  • 02
    My spouse (45) and I (46) bought a house on February with a pool. It's a non HOA single family home. We keep for ourselves. Have friends over occasionally and we enjoyed having people over for food, drinks, and of course swimming pool parties now that the weather allows for it.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 03
    We fit in the neighborhood or so we thought until neighbors from 3 surrounding homes and us got into a weird conversation around their expectations to access the pool for weekend and holidays pool parties.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10452274432
    via Jakob Owens
  • 05
    Apparently, the owners before us had kids and were friends with the neighborhood kids I. The neighborhood kids and adults would use the pool when they wanted to. The gate was always open and they even had their inflatables near by and had arranged paying for the maintenance of the pool.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 06
    We told them that we're fairly private people and enjoy our privacy and don't see ourselves letting neighbors having access to our backyard whenever they want. Each time any of us are
    via No_Material_4161
  • 07
    wandering around outside, they just ask over and over and try to sell the idea of having access to it. They offer money and sharing the maintenance fees and such.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 08
    I was trying to enjoy gardening and was cornered once again. I just really firmly told them that they really need to stop talking about the pool each time they see us, stood up and left. As I
    via No_Material_4161
  • 09
    was walking back towards the gate to the backyard (within our property line), they were following me talking my ears off. One of the lady/mom was STILL
    via No_Material_4161
  • 10
    going on and on because 'she asked nicely and offers to pay for the maintenance and that she really didn't understand why I was so against it". I turned around and asked them to leave now and never follow me on my property ever again.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 11
    We politely decline over and over. And we are seriously getting tired of the nagging and the pool and their access to it being the only thing they want to connect with us about. It's not like we created a bond or anything. All convos are about the pool.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 12
    We had a party yesterday evening and as I was showing the front yard to my friend, my neighbor popped up and was talking about how it must be nice to be invited to enjoy the pool. And I said to her "Can you go now? I'm having company!!!!".
    via No_Material_4161

  • Several members of the community chimed in with their hot takes about whether or not the new residents were at fault here. Take a look at what they had to say!

  • 13
    AITA for not wanting neighbors to have access to my property and seriously losing my patience with their expectations?
    via No_Material_4161
  • 14
    Electronic_Active638 NTA those are some entitled persistent neighbors. Also the liability of having an open gate for everyone's access. What if a kid wandered and drowned? That will be on you. Stand your ground, I would do the same. Good luck!
    via No_Material_4161
  • 15
    acool_username NTA that's some annoying neighbors you got....can't believe there are people out there with so little shame. They don't need to "understand why you are against it" you are against it and that's it
    via No_Material_4161
  • 16
    If they want a pool so bad they should move into a house with pool
    via No_Material_4161
  • 17
    gnarled_gnat NTA and giving unrestricted access to your pool is a huge liability. That the previous owner took that risk in no way obligates you to do the same.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 18
    TrelanaSakuyo NTA and if it continues, you can call the nonemergency police number for harassment. You are not required to share your property with anyone,
    via No_Material_4161
  • 19
    regardless of the previous owner's agreements. Obviously, they had them. because their kids were friends. You have made no mention of having kids yourself, so why would this
    via No_Material_4161
  • 20
    happen? Especially since the parents of the neighborhood kids have made no effort to be friends with you?
    via No_Material_4161
  • 21
    No means no. People need to understand and respect that.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 22
    BeckyVan NTA, you are the new owners of the property and told them politely that you will not be honoring the old agreement.
    via No_Material_4161

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hoa aita neighbors bad neighbors terrible neighbors pool entitled people karma entitled people
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