'No, Karen. My pool is not a community center': Entitled neighbor keeps trespassing into resident's backyard to use their pool without permission, believes it's her right

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 3, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

The idea of swimming in the pool on a hot summer's day can apparently bring out the worst in people. Look, if I lived in the suburbs and my neighbor had a pool that I wanted to use occasionally, I would certainly go out of my way to befriend that neighbor. I would try to see if there was anything I could provide for them that might reciprocate my desire to swim in their pool. 

Of course, most folks with pools that I have encountered are generous enough to extend the occasional invite. However, any decent person knows that they are not required to do so. It's within their own jurisdiction. Unfortunately, this author's next-door neighbor did not understand that concept. She also didn't seem to comprehend the concepts of boundaries and trespassing.

When she tried to invade her neighbor's backyard so she could let her kids use their pool without permission, that was the final straw for the author. Keep scrolling below for the full low-down.

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    IGANT
    via Eric Nopanen

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • As several folks in the online community pointed out, the author could easily explain that this is a liability. If they were absent while this lady's kids were using their pool, it would be a disaster if one of them got injured. One person in the comments section suggested that the author should put up a scary sign explaining this fact. Perhaps that would finally scare her away. An alarm could also do the trick!

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    "My neighbor thinks my backyard pool is a 'neighborhood amenity.'"

    We moved into our house 6 months ago. It's nothing fancy, but it came with a small above- ground pool that my kids love. A
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    few weeks ago, a neighbor I barely know (let's call her Karen) knocked on my door and asked if her kids could use the pool while I was at work. I politely said no,
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    it's not a public pool, and I'm not comfortable with unsupervised kids on my property.
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    She rolled her eyes and said, "Well, it's kind of ride to have a pool in the neighborhood and not share."
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    Since then, she's been making snide comments every time we're outside. Things like, "Must be nice to keep all that water to yourselves," or, "Other neighborhoods have friendly neighbors."
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    Yesterday, I caught her trying to open my locked gate while I was home. When I asked what she was doing, she said her kids "deserve some summer fun" and accused me of being selfish.
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    No, Karen. My pool is not a community center. Buy your own or go to a public pool.
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    drkpnthr 15m ago . If you don't have security cameras on the pool and gate, you should get them. If
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    Karen's kids jump the fence and drown or damage your pool you want to make sure you have video evidence they broke in and were trespassing. Consider
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    getting an inner lock for the gate in addition to whatever outside lock you have for yard service access, so that
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    you can keep the gate sealed except on days you are having your yard service come.
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    Cheezburger Image 10537246976
    via Bruno Soares

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    burnoutspice • 13m ago Please set up a camera on that gate if it's the only access to the pool. She sounds like the type to sue if
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    her children get hurt or god forbid dr ed. Sorry your neighbor sks so bad, I'd hate to live next to my mortal enemy.
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    YNABDisciple • 12m ago I'd make the same comments back but about her bathroom and bed and kitchen and underwear...she would never be able to open
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    her mouth about me in any way shape or form without being met with a calm retort. That was after me warning her of legal repercussions for breaking and entering.
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    Cheap_Commerci... 11m ago . Wonder why she can not take her kids to the public pool.
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    DocMadCow • 12m ago . Would hurt to put up some liability disclaimers. If she ends up using it without your permission and a child is injured or dr ns you don't want a lawsuit for something for forbid.
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    . e_sparrows 10m ago Start recording and filing police reports for trespassing. People like this need a wake up call. It's unfortunate af that she's a parent jfc.
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    Witty_Detail_2573 · 4m ago Do not let anyone in your pool. Lock the gate, buy a no trespassing sign and a security camera. If, heavens forbid, any idiot neighbours
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    go and use your pool and they can just walk in, if there is an accident- you can guarantee there will be a lawsuit. Lock them out, lockable gates, high fences and warning signs.
    via CarpenterAble2633

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Tags

neighbors neighborhood summer neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories petty revenge pool petty entitled people karma swimming pool karens in the wild karen entitled people
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