Homeowners lash out at neighbor's entitled grandkids for repeatedly trespassing without permission, requiring them to put up pricey fence: 'What are you doing back here? We have said to stop using our property!'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Apr 24, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

No sensible person wants to start a fight with their neighbor, especially when that neighbor is a seemingly innocent old grandma.

However, we have a hunch that this elderly couple knew exactly what they were doing. After all, when they first moved into the neighborhood not too long ago, they had their property surveyed and even confirmed with the homeowners next door where their property ended and where the homeowners' property began. 

All those cards were on the table from the very beginning, so it came as a bit of a surprise to the homeowners next door when, all of a sudden, they kept finding their neighbors' grandkids frolicking in their backyard and on their private property day after day without permission. 

They tried to confront the older grandparents politely, thinking that maybe something got lost in translation during those early conversations about property boundaries. Or perhaps this kind of frequent trespassing was normal in their former neighborhood. However, when it became clear that the behavior was not going to stop any time soon, that's when the homeowners realized they were being duped the whole time.

Advertisement
  • An indignant older woman stands in her kitchen while staring offscreen.
    via Simon Abel

    An indignant older woman stands in her kitchen while staring offscreen.

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

  • Neighbors won’t stop coming on our property

    We have new neighbors to the right of us. A (younger) grandma and grandpa who have their adult children and grandchildren over often. They moved in two weeks ago.
    via StandAlone783
  • Our lots are both over half an acre. Nice wooded lots with open endless forest behind us. We have a driveway that starts at the right corner of our property before winding into our backyard, making a loop behind the house.
    via StandAlone783
  • Neighbors only have a front property driveway that starts on their left corner property but it stays upfront of the house (can still fit multiple vehicles).
    via StandAlone783
  • A group of kids plays in the grassy backyard of a neighboring homeowner.
    via Vitolda Klein

    A group of kids plays in the grassy backyard of a neighboring homeowner.

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

  • They have been using our driveway, driving on it (just the beginning of the driveway) as they use it to pull into their own driveway on their property since
    via StandAlone783
  • the two driveways start side by side with only a few weeds in between. We didn't say anything because it felt like a small issue we didn't want to make into a bigger one, if that makes sense.
    via StandAlone783
  • But now the adult children and their young children are WALKING down our property, like a long ways down our private wooded driveway, and into our backyard with their loose dog as
    via StandAlone783
  • well. Like the middle of our backyard, amongst my garden, my greenhouse, my swing, etc. They are not in the woods, they are in active use area.
    via StandAlone783
  • We also have a dog and it has scared the CR out of me to step outside my house expecting to see my garden area and woods when I run into a family with a loose pup and mine goes N S
    via StandAlone783
  • (she's a 6 month old puppy, so thankfully nos just means losing her mind with happiness but she won't listen and runs right to the strange dog and little kids, jumping on them. No dog fights, thank god)
    via StandAlone783
  • I have told them 4 times now to stop using my driveway and backyard. First conversations were nice tone, like "hey please don't use our driveway and backyard, thanks so much!".
    via StandAlone783
  • Talked to GMA in person another time as she was moving GPA's motorcycle slightly and I helped. (Editing to add, they aren't like bad motorcycle people lol, it's a retirement thing a lot of older people do around where I live.
    via StandAlone783
  • Not trying to be r e but they kind of remind of the vehicle things in WALL-E? bikes meant to handle a lot of weight?)
    via StandAlone783
  • A frustrated homeowner leans her head against her left hand as she stands outside her house.
    via Job Ferrari

    A frustrated homeowner leans her head against her left hand as she stands outside her house.

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

  • But this last time (4th time in two weeks) I snapped a bit. We just came home from town (parked up front) but walked to our backyard to let our pup play and they were there again, kids, mom and dog. I yelled "what are you doing back here?! We have said to stop using our property!"
    via StandAlone783
  • To which the mom doesn't saying anything but meanders back up the driveway and back to gma's house, like I've inconvenienced her. Her husband came out and they just stared at me from the half acre away.
    via StandAlone783
  • Technically they aren't doing anything except playing around in some grass and rocks but it's still a liability and also.... It's private property?! It's just re?
    via StandAlone783
  • After having to tell them again today, I get a text from the neighbor grandma "hi... have we done something wrong?" (When this is something we have discussed with her before).
    via StandAlone783
  • To which I replied "hi BLANK, we have asked numerous times to please stay out of our backyard and driveway. Mainly for safety and liability, especially since your family is bringing children and dogs on without asking, but also it's our private property and no matter what we don't want people here"
    via StandAlone783
  • She hasn't replied. To be clear, they know the property lines. Not only did the Zillow listing display the accurate lines, the realtor even uploaded a photo showing the exact property perimeter.
    via StandAlone783
  • Plus when they bought the house, they got their property survey. On top of that, my husband (not knowing they would trespass so much) showed them their property stakes right when they moved in because they asked about where the road
    via StandAlone783
  • easement ends. Just pure happenstance he got the ball rolling with "your property begins here" and shows them the rebar. It's also obvious when you are standing in the middle of my backyard, directly behind my house, in my garden and wrap around driveway that you are in the middle of my property. I wish I could upload a photo, but there's no mistaking you are trespassing.
    via StandAlone783
  • tic and I So this issue? It's purely.... I don't know, entitlement? The young 5 year old grandson is a know he wants to use a swing in my backyard. But they have. almost an acre of forest, I wish they would leave my stuff alone and focus on their property.
    via StandAlone783
  • We are now going to put up a gate and also a fence down the side of our property. It's just money we don't really have, but also what choice do we have? My parents might be able to help us out which is the only way we are getting it done. Thanks for letting me rant. Hopefully no errors.
    via StandAlone783

  • There are a few viable options that these homeowners should consider moving forward. First of all, if the behavior continues, they should get someone with authority involved. This might be one of those rare instances in which an HOA board member could actually become useful for once. Second, the homeowners could speak to the elderly couple's adult children, who were closer in age to them and therefore could potentially help find some common ground. 

    Finally, if all else fails, then it's time to take the gloves off. Document and capture evidence of the trespassing and use it as leverage. Either they'll stop right there, or they could risk legal action! Hey, maybe they could even use that evidence to get the elderly couple to help front the costs for this expensive fence. After all, the homeowners never would have felt such a need for this fence were it not for the constant trespassing. Keep scrolling below for an update from one of the homeowners, in which she clarifies her original post with further details.

  • I'd like to add this but please keep in mind this is only my speculation. I think this is an entitlement issue because mom has an a tic son who (I think) wants to use my swing in the backyard and instead of denying
    via StandAlone783
  • him (which would cause a meltdown) I think she just brings him over. I haven't seen him on it though. When I caught them in my backyard before, they were all in a garden area and he was pointing at the swing while the other kids and mom stood in the flowers.
    via StandAlone783
  • I only guess there might be a tantrum because there's been other issues this last week of him screaming and crying while trying to access our front yard/porch because he saw our puppy there.
    via StandAlone783
  • They kept having to come on the property to drag him back. I don't count this as "trespassing" since they were more chasing down an enraged kiddo lol. But I really wonder if mom just doesn't care
    via StandAlone783
  • anymore and brings him over so she doesn't have to deal with the screaming? I could be wrong. I suppose it doesn't really matter in the end, I told them to stop and they haven't and that's the core issue. Again, I could be completely wrong. They literally
    via StandAlone783
  • might not care at all, nothing to do with kiddo, just want to stroll my property. When I have caught them, that's what they are doing, leisurely walking around the backyard and driveway with their dog, not a care in the world.
    via StandAlone783

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

Tags

family drama hoa dogs grandkids neighborhood homeowner grandparents trespassing
Scroll Down For The Next Article