Homeowner discovers neighbor has been secretly using their outdoor water spigot to supply the landscaping crew, removes their own faucet handle to avoid paying: 'I know she was doing it on purpose'

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Jul 29, 2026 3:15 PM EDT

How far should you go to stop a neighbor from taking advantage?

Most homeowners expect to pay for their own utilities, not discover they're unknowingly covering someone else's landscaping costs. One frustrated homeowner began noticing their garden hose was repeatedly disconnected after the neighbor's landscaping crew visited. 

After taking a closer look, they realized the neighbor had removed the handle from her own outdoor spigot, leading them to believe the crew was intentionally using their water instead. Rather than escalate the situation, the homeowner is simply looking for a reliable way to lock the spigot and prevent it from happening again.

I have to admit, this is one of those neighbor disputes that sounds incredibly small at first, right up until you realize it has probably been happening over and over again. Sure, we're talking about a little water from an outdoor spigot, not thousands of dollars in damages or a property line battle. But that's exactly why it's so frustrating. The issue isn't really the water bill. It's the idea that someone feels entitled to use something that isn't theirs without even asking.

What makes the situation even stranger is the detail about the missing faucet handle. If the homeowner is right, removing the handle from the neighbor's own spigot so the landscaping crew automatically uses someone else's water doesn't exactly feel like an innocent mistake. Whether it was the neighbor's idea or simply something the landscapers started doing on their own, it's hard to imagine nobody noticed what was happening.

Personally, I don't think this is worth starting an all-out neighborhood feud over, but it is absolutely worth putting a stop to. Installing a locking spigot cover seems like a simple, drama-free solution that sends a clear message without anyone having to argue across the property line. If the neighbors ask why the water is suddenly unavailable, then there's the perfect opportunity to have an honest conversation. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem isn't with revenge or confrontation. It's by quietly removing the opportunity for the problem to continue.

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  • Homeowner watering a garden with an outdoor hose, representing the type of exterior water spigot at the center of the neighborhood dispute.
    via Unsplash+ (via Natalia Blauth)

    Homeowner watering a garden with an outdoor hose, representing the type of exterior water spigot at the center of the neighborhood dispute.

    The person shown is a model, and this image is a visual representation of the story.

  • For full context to not sound like an a hole who keeps grudges. Our neighbors to our right "were friends" with my parents but I never liked her, but not relevant here. They have landscaping
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • here. They have landscaping services every month or even twice a month because they don't do upkeep themselves. Our houses have the water spigots facing each other( out spigot is on the right side of our house and their spigot is on their left side).
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • We have noticed sometimes that when the landscaping crew leaves our hose is disconnected. I didn't know until today that my mom told me about it and idk how anybody would react but I am ped their stealing our water especially when I don't even like them.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • And today I went out to look at the spigots and she took the off her spigot so I know she was doing it on purpose to not use her water.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • I am not going to take revenge because that's ridiculous, but I am going to put a stop to her charade. Am sure this is nothing new and people have gone through this.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • So I guess what am asking is; is there any like lock I can buy so that the is locked and the water can't be turned on at all?
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • We don't mind if we have to disconnect our hose we don't have problems with stealing in our area. Not sure how a spigot lock would work, will it lock the so it can't be turned or will it be like a cover you screw onto the valve and like lock it with a key or code? Thank you for any advice that comes in
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • Close-up of an outdoor water spigot and faucet handle.
    via Unsplash+ (via Nellie Adamyan)

    Close-up of an outdoor water spigot and faucet handle.

    Image is a representation of the events described and is not an authentic photo of the property involved.

  • In the comment section, most readers agreed that there are multiple solutions for this problem, and most of them he can purchased them online. They agreed there was no point in talking to the neighbor, and also shared some similar experiences with their own neighbors.

  • bubblehead_maker Is there a shutoff valve inside your house? That's the answer, just isolate that connection when you aren't using it.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • Certain Television 768 A neighbour of ours used to turn his sprinkler on using our tap and keep it going for 8 hours straight so his kids could play on hot days. First time....told him to stop...second time...we had a shut off valve for that line installed by a buddy free of charge. He tried again.......WAS PISSD
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • Caffeine_Legend Amazon has them. My neighbor was using mine so I locked that sh up
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • Vegetable_Road8143 Have thought about telling the landscape people they are using the wrong spigot and actually stealing the water? Get a lock and when she says something to you, "Your landscapers were stealing our water so, we got a lock."
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • HamRadio_73 You need an outdoor faucet lock. Walmart and the big box hardware stores carry them or easily ordered. Edit: Thanks for the award.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • RelevantFail7799 Yes, go to home depot and buy a lock that you screw on the faucet.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • Residential outdoor watering area illustrating a homeowner maintaining their property and using their own water supply.
    via Unsplash+ (via Natalia Blauth)

    Residential outdoor watering area illustrating a homeowner maintaining their property and using their own water supply.

    This photo is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual people or home involved in the story.

  • Quick_Cow_7987 The shut off should be inside the house, right where the pipe goes through the wall to the spigot. We have a safe, quiet neighborhood but we keep ours turned off all the time unless we're actually using the water.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • TypicalAddendum5799 Added fun, put a new faucet on hers.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • No_Anxiety6159 I'm in Kentucky. I shut off the water to my daughter's outside spigot because her neighbor had connected an electric cord to her outside outlet. I installed a locking outlet cover and decided if he was stealing electricity, he'd steal water. Her bills dropped by half.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • Tigger7894 You can buy locking covers for spigots.
    via Federal-Treat4856
  • PeorgieTirebiter You can buy faucet locks which go over the handle. It's like baby proofing a door , you can't get a grip on the handle to turn it. I got one a few years ago because the landscapers hired to work in our complex were connecting to my faucet without asking for permission or reimbursing me for the water they used.
    via Federal-Treat4856

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neighbors garden homeowner Bad Neighbor water bill
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