‘Grouchy’ neighbor repeatedly reports homeowner for their basketball net and sports-playing, despite other homeowners on the street doing the same things: ‘I'm seriously fed up’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
May 17, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

The best thing about owning a home… is that you own your home. Anything you decide to do on your property is nobody else's business but yours (unless you're harming someone or something, obviously). It's important to always be mindful of your neighbors as well, but having some harmless fun on your property should not warrant a neighbor deciding to report you. For what? Playing basketball on your property?

In this next story, that's exactly what happens to a homeowner who is simply trying to have some fun as the weather warms up for the summer. The homeowner describes their neighbor as a "miserable grump" and, well… they're not wrong. When you decide to live in a neighborhood or cul-de-sac, especially one with families who have children, you're signing up to see folks playing on their property and sometimes, in the street. It's all in good fun, until it isn't, and you're the one looking like a Karen because a basketball hoop was hanging slightly over the curb. Scroll to read.

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  • Sure, maybe you don't want to have to watch out for adults playing hockey in the street every day, but the homeowner in this story explains that they're not an inconvenience, or, at the very least, not one that warrants reporting to those in charge of the neighborhood bylaws…

  • "This guy is just a miserable grump who wants to ruin everything."
    via Jack Babcock for Unsplash

  • "My grouchy neighbor keeps calling bylaw on us for dumb reasons. I’m done."

    We have a basketball net in our driveway, and the rim overhangs the road by just a few inches- literally so the ball can bounce on
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • the concrete instead of the grass. Our neighbor lives across the street, and somehow he says this tiny overhang is "in his way." He
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • called bylaw on us over it, and apparently it's technically illegal in Ottawa for anything to overhang the road-even a few inches.
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • Fine. But here's the thing: literally everyone else on our street has the same setup, and nobody's had issues. He just always targets us.
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • This isn't the first time either. One time, we were just playing basketball and the ball touched the curb and rolled maybe an
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • inch onto his grass. He actually walked across the street, onto our property, and knocked on our door asking to speak to an adult.
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • ilson
    via gibblesmash asdf for Unsplash
  • Another time, we tried playing hockey on the road, and he literally moved his car there just to block us, then went inside and left it there so we couldn't play.
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • This guy is just a miserable grump who wants to ruin everything. He watches us like a hawk, and the second we're having fun, he tries to shut it down. He's constantly calling bylaw over the smallest things.
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • I'm seriously fed up. I know I can't do anything illegal, but it's getting hard not to want revenge. Any ideas on how to deal with this guy or make his life equally annoying-legally?
    via therealsourpancakes3
  • SpaldingPenrodthe3rd First step, sign him up for all kinds of junk mail. And who knows somehow some way he got signed up to get a visit from the Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses.
    via SpaldingPenrodthe3rd
  • NO FREE NEWSPAPERS OR JUNK MAIL If you are thinking about selling or letting your property or require professional market advice, please contact us. H ONILLONורר / BANKA
    via the blowup for Unsplash
  • Chequered_Career Don't get revenge. He has dedicated his life to watching yours. He will be onto you, and he'll find his own counter- revenge. Just try to live your life without letting him get under your skin.
    via Chequered_Career
  • Some of what you're doing is obviously fine, but some may not be. Playing hockey on the road? That's dangerous and inconsiderate. (His moving his car onto the road is petty, of course.)
    via Chequered_Career
  • Your "revenge" is in the good you can spread and the joy you find in the day-to-day, while he makes his own life smaller and more miserable.
    via Chequered_Career
  • Lisa_Knows Best Honestly, just keep having fun. Living your best life is your best revenge. His bitter, cranky, lonely a can just watch as you're all smiles having the time of your life. Let him call the police (bylaw?), what are they going to do, arrest you for laughing.
    via Lisa_Knows_Best
  • NullRazor Every time you are all outside enjoying your time, walk over, ring his bell and invite him to join in the fun. Try to adopt him. He seems to have forgotten what family is like.
    via NullRazor

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