Neighbor tries to guilt-trip next-door homeowner into letting him pave a trail through their backyard, homeowner stands their ground: ‘This wasn't going to work’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Dec 3, 2025 6:00 PM EST

One thing that somebody, somewhere will always have? The audacity. We live in a world riddled with entitlement and arrogance, and this is most clearly seen when you live in close proximity to them. All it takes is one "No, I'd rather not" to set them off. Be like the homeowner in this story—be as up front as possible, as soon as possible. This homeowner might have avoided any dissonance with their next-door neighbor if they hadn't been passive with him in the first place, though…

As one commenter states: "Fences are your friend." When a next-door neighbor suggests they dig up your land to benefit themselves and solely themselves, you tell them that it's your property, not theirs. We must all set the tone for the life we want and the relationships that we expect to have with others, and in this story's case, the tone wasn't set quite soon enough. The next-door neighbor here asks if they can make a trail through the back of the homeowner's yard so they can easily get into the back woods, and the homeowner passively and confusingly responds affirmatively, but later takes it back. What do they get from the neighbor in return? A "sullen" look that only the most entitled individuals display once they realize that the world doesn't exist solely for them. Scroll to keep reading.

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  • 01
    a man digging in the dirt with a shovel
    via Ales Krivec For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    "Neighbors not Understanding why you don't want to Share your Property like it's some Community space."

    I have the neighbor who likes to pretend like there's no property lines-drop whatever yard crap, pool drainage pipe, and firewood on our land, so I had our property surveyed, because this wasnt the only neighbor who seemed to feel like our property is up for grabs, because our lot is significantly wider than theirs.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 03
    Then because life is fun, the house on the other side of me goes up for sale, and guess who moves in on the other side of me.?
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 04
    The wood dropping, propane tank pushing neighbor's daughter, and son in law. Now, her daughter is a sweetheart, but her son in law after talking to him for no more than 10 minutes, I don't even know this guy.....
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 05
    asked me if he could cut through my back property to "make a trail, so his daughter can visit Grammy and enjoy the woods".
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 06
    Me-?. Umm, well okaay?. Later, after collected myself, I knew this wasn't going to work.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 07
    So, I kindly mentioned, "Look, nothing personal- honestly, but that really doesnt work on my end.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 08
    it's dangerous back there, there's a ton of poison ivy, II and what I didn't say was "and I really don't want you trapesing through my property because first it will be you, then it will be everyone because "she doesnt care, go ahead", and people trampling the fauna and foliage.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 09
    poison ivy growing from the ground
    via MV Vacation for Unsplash
  • 10
    Next thing you know they'll be bikes, and dogs, juice boxes, plastic bottles, dog poop, and noise......this is how it starts.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 11
    This same person "Zack" did mention in a sullen, sort of irritated tone, "Oh, yeah I see you had the land surveyed, saw the survey posts, (exasperation, sigh) ".
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 12
    Like I'm so inconsiderate to not want people on my land? I don't get it? You know, this actually happened in reverse, to me one time.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 13
    I was walking my Dog on what I thought was open land. I don't know how I could be so clueless, because it was clearly the back lot to someone's property in a neighborhood.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 14
    But I wasnt' thinking. And here I am,, Gee this is cool, look a trail! and I came upon two people, who were like 'Oh hey!" and I honestly wasnt even thinking, and they very casually mentioned, "Oh, yes, well this is our property, we live in X house," and they were really friendly about it, and then it hit me.....
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 15
    "Oh!" And I was super embarrassed, because they clearly didn't want me there. Thank God, I had, had my property just surveyed the summer before, JUST for that reason.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 16
    Because I felt like this was a thing. People wanting to think of your land as "Free Open space", because our property goes back 250 yards into deep woods.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 17
    We plan on moving anyway. I'll never buy another house with neighbors that live this close in proximity.
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 18
    I blame myself. I can't believe I'm a "stay off of my Lawn, " sort of person, but why should I have to say that?
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 19
    Is it me, or is this a thing where if you live in close proximity to others property lines, and it's not clearly marked, Your supposed to be so chill that your like "whatever, take whatever land you need, cut through my backyard, take a few trees on the way if you want, I have plenty to share".....?
    via D**d_Reckoning95
  • 20
    Gloomy_Leopard_9026 Fences are your friend.
    via Gloomy_Leopard_9026
  • 21
    Weekly-Tension-9346 THIS. First thing I did when my family bought our current home was to make sure the fence was completely, functionally intact.
    via Weekly-Tension-9346
  • 22
    Heavy-Resist-6526 So a neighbor asked 1 time if they could use my hose. Theirs split after the granddaughter drove over it. Sure, you can use. They use the hose once, twice, three times. At first, they unhook then hook it back up. Next, they stop returning it. Finally, we come home one day only to find, they're just using the hose and now my water. You cannot assume anyone's going to respect your stuff. You're better off saying no from the beginning.
    via Heavy-Resist-6526
  • 23
    MoistGoblina Honestly your hose story is the perfect example of why OP's right to shut the trail idea down. If you give an inch, some neighbors take the whole backyard.
    via MoistGoblina

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ask reddit feud neighbors neighborhood neighborhood-drama bad neighbors neighborhood-stories reddit story terrible neighbors uncomfortable entitled reddit thread Bad Neighbor r-entitled Reddit weird strange behavior entitled people neighbor conflict
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