New homeowners tell off entitled neighbors after they claim they have a right to the couple's pool: 'Can you go now? I'm having company!'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 17, 2026 8:00 AM EST

Imagine moving into your new home, only to discover that your next-door neighbors believe they are entitled to use your private backyard pool whenever they want.

Of course, the neighbors have absolutely no legitimate claim to recreational use of a pool that they do not own. Their only semi-valid defense here is that they previously had a verbal agreement with the former owners of the home, though nothing was ever officially written in a contractual agreement. 

The next-door neighbors' children had been close pals with the kids of the former owners. Naturally, they had many an impromptu play date in that backyard pool, which is how the informality of this arrangement was born. Still, when the former owners moved out, they failed to mention any of this to the new owners. Furthermore, none of the real estate agents disclosed this so-called "agreement" to the new homeowners either. Therefore, they had absolutely no obligation to honor an informal arrangement that they did not agree to from the get-go.

If these neighbors genuinely wanted to be able to use this pool whenever they wanted, they should have considered moving into that home when it was for sale or building a pool of their own. Of course, both of these options require considerable financial decisions. An inability to make those commitments is completely understandable, but it does mean that these folks need to forgo any sense of entitlement to that pool that they think they somehow have.

As for the new homeowners, they are well within their rights to decide if they are open to having these strangers play in their pool. The constant annoyances and questions about pool usage probably got old very quickly and likely contributed to their desire to keep these people off of their property. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from several members of this online community. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement

  • We must say that it is a nice touch for this couple to throw recreational pool parties after all of this drama. Hey, they are certainly entitled to do so. After all, it's their pool and no one else's. 

    Still, it must have been infuriating for the next-door neighbors to check to see where all the laughter and enjoyment was coming from, only to discover that an adult pool party was happening in the space they so wanted to have access to. If only they had developed a genuine relationship with these homeowners from the start, rather than claiming ownership to a pool that wasn't theirs! 

  • A woman stands in front of a pool with other adults leisurely hanging out in the water.
    via Unsplash+ (Natalia Blauth)

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

  • "[Am I wrong] for not letting my neighbors access our pool?"

    My spouse (45) and I (46) bought a house on February with a pool. It's a non HOA single family home.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 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
  • 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.
    via No_Material_4161
  • Each time any of us are wandering around outside, they just ask over and over and try to sell the idea of having access to it.
    via No_Material_4161
  • They offer money and sharing the maintenance fees and such. I was trying to enjoy gardening and was cornered once again.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 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.
    via No_Material_4161
  • As I was walking back towards the gate to the backyard (within our property line), they were following me talking my ears off.
    via No_Material_4161
  • One of the lady/mom was STILL 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".
    via No_Material_4161
  • I turned around and asked them to leave now and never follow me on my property ever again.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 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.
    via No_Material_4161
  • It's not like we created a bond or anything. All convos are about the pool. 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.
    via No_Material_4161
  • And I said to her "Can you go now? I'm having company!!!!". AITA for not wanting neighbors to have access to my property and seriously losing my patience with their expectations?
    via No_Material_4161
  • [deleted] 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 If they want a pool so bad they should move into a house with pool
    via No_Material_4161
  • No_Material_4161 Original Poster's Reply Thankfully the backyard is all fenced with over 8ft hedging bushes. The pool itself is also gated 4ft and has an automatic cover thing. We also have motion detector cameras for all the gates and one for the sliding windows. overlooking the backyard and pool.
    via No_Material_4161
  • TrelanaSakuyo NTA and if it continues, you can call the nonemergency police number for h ment. You are not required to share your property with anyone, 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 happen? Especially since the parents of the neighborhood kids have made no effort to be friends with you? No means no. People need to understand and respect that.
    via No_Material_4161
  • A woman stands next to a pool with other adults leisurely hanging out behind her.
    via Unsplash+ (Natalia Blauth)

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

  • No_Material_4161 Original Poster's Reply We don't have kids.
    via No_Material_4161
  • del901 Set up cameras to make sure they aren't coming over when you aren't home. And put up a no trespassing sign at your gate. Then report anyone who comes on your property and uses your pool. NTA. You are entitled to use your property on peace.
    via No_Material_4161
  • No_Material_4161 Original Poster's Reply I don't have a no trespassing sign yet. That's a good idea! We definitely have cameras!
    via No_Material_4161
  • damishkers NTA. Very entitled neighbors but worse, most cities will fine you for not having a lock to a pool and if something were to happen to one of them they can sue you. Give their attitude, I have no doubt they would.
    via No_Material_4161
  • No_Material_4161 Original Poster's Reply The city definitely requires a fence around the pool and it is compliant. It also is covered when we don't use it. We have installed cameras for all gates and sliding doors and can see the pool on camera at all time. We alo plan on installing gate locks with code for each time of the backyard gates.
    via No_Material_4161
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • PRMinx NTA. We had this very same issue over our pond. We eventually had to put up no trespassing signs everywhere. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt and you get sued.
    via No_Material_4161
  • aussietex NTA. our neighbors of 25 years let us swim in their pool. We rarely did, but it was nice on occasion. They have sold the house and we know our pool access is finished. I would never ask the new owners. (Now, the avocados that roll onto our driveway are another story!)
    via No_Material_4161
  • blablamcbla Nta. Get pamphlets from local building firms that does pools and hand them to anyone asking about the pool.
    via No_Material_4161
  • A woman stands in front of a pool with other adults leisurely hanging out behind her.
    via Unsplash+ (Natalia Blauth)

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

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

aita neighborhood-drama pool party bad neighbors neighborhood-stories entitled people karma swimming pool entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article