Homeowner confronts neighbor who told contractor to use their fenced garden to fix her plumbing because hers is overgrown: ‘She said that the work was “only” expected to last about three weeks’

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Sep 22, 2026 11:15 AM EDT

When did an overgrown yard become the neighbor's problem?

Right when I thought that neighbors couldn't get more entitled… this happens. There's always a big problem with neighbourhoods and fenced gardens: although there's a clear property limitation, some entitled people feel that they own every single bit of the neighborhood and don't care that other people live there as well.

In this case, a homeowner confronted her neighbor because she had some plumbing work to do at her home and suggested to the contractor that he should go by the homeowner's property, driveway, and backyard to fix the problem. Meaning: she is allowing a stranger to access someone else's property, not her own, to fix an issue that's on her home. 

Now, you may be asking why she would do this. What does the homeowner have to do with her plumbing problems?

Well, apparently, the homeowner is very delicate with his backyard and is always mowing the lawn. That includes a little strip that is located between his fence and the lady's house. She is not very interested in having her yard look tidy, so it's always full of weeds and huge plants that are very overgrown.  As a consequence, the contractor finds it impossible to access the tubes and plumbing through her yard, so that's why she suggested he could use the homeowner's one.

In situations like this, the thing that really struck me is not the entitlement, really: it is the fact that she would rather have someone traspasses other's property that having her own lawn mowed… So breaking the law, without asking, by the way, is now more correct than clearing your property so the contractor can have normal access to her house.

I was actually relieved when this man confronted her and told her she may not do this. And the worst part? Is that she diminished the situation by telling him that it would only last three weeks' worth of construction. As if that made things better! Three weeks of having people park on your driveway, step into your lawn to access this lady's home, and we don't know what else…

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  • Homeowner has worked to maintain their lawn, even tending to the small strip of property between their fence and the neighbor's house.
    via Unsplash+ (via Ahment Kurt)

    Homeowner has worked to maintain their lawn, even tending to the small strip of property between their fence and the neighbor's house.

    Image for illustrative purposes.

  • This rant could be the first in what could be many many posts about this neighbour. My back yard is fenced in a way that I have a side yard that is fully open. My fence starts near the back of my house.
    via crazymom1978
  • My neighbour has a small section of property between her house and my fence as is normal. I take care of that little strip because she doesn't. Her back yard is currently chest high with weeds.
    via crazymom1978
  • She also let her front hedge become so overgrown that it has blocked her access to that strip from the front too.
    via crazymom1978
  • This neighbour now needs to have plumbing work done on her house. Her water goes into her house on the side that faces my house. Last night, I looked up to see her walking up my driveway
    via crazymom1978
  • with someone. They then crossed into my side yard, and walked along my sidewalk to my fence, where they walked across my lawn towards her house. They went to where the water goes into her house. I didn't say
    via crazymom1978
  • anything in the moment because she only did it once (so I thought it was going to be). Rather than clean up her own yard, and allow access through her own property, I heard her telling the guy that
    via crazymom1978
  • she was hiring to park at my house, use my driveway and property, and just completely use my property to access hers. When I confronted her, she said that the work was "only" expected to last about three weeks.
    via crazymom1978
  • We used to let this woman use our property to access hers, but had to stop it when she was actually causing damage to our property. We let it go the first time, because her damage didn't
    via crazymom1978
  • bar access for me, but the second time, it took three months for me to be able to use our back yard again (I have a physical dis lity, so need even ground to be able to walk). We are still dealing with
    via crazymom1978
  • that five years later, because we had to rip our most of our grass in order to level the ground again. Since we have dogs, it is MUCH harder to grow new grass
    via crazymom1978
  • than it is to maintain an already established lawn, so we still have several bare spots where the dogs like to play the most.
    via crazymom1978
  • The neighbor's backyard had become chest-high with weeds.
    via Unsplash+ (via Ries Bosch)

    The neighbor's backyard had become chest-high with weeds. 

    Stock photo unrelated.

  • derpplerp Warn the plumber that you are quick to call a tow.
    via crazymom1978
  • rpaul9578 Fence off your property.
    via crazymom1978
  • PixieStyx8 Report her to the city. Sounds like she's gonna get fined for not maintaining her lawn
    via crazymom1978
  • Witty_Candle_3448 You can put up a temporary fence with tall garden stakes and bright orange or green mesh. Home Depot sells it at a very reasonable price.
    via crazymom1978
  • Contractor reviewing the plumbing work to be done on the neighbor's house.
    via Unsplash+ (via JBS Co.)

    Contractor reviewing the plumbing work to be done on the neighbor's house. 

    Model portrayal.

  • Wishiwasinalaska Just let the plumber know he can't use your property, that she does sh like this all the time. They will understand.
    via crazymom1978
  • Big-Youth-7918 Just say no, and if you can, put up a temporary fence. I hope you already have cameras up; if not install asap. Unfortunately, because you were nice before you are now expected to comply. Correct this now and be firm. Good Luck and make sure your cameras record 24/7.
    via crazymom1978
  • Ok_Future6486 A day or maybe 2 is one thing but THREE WEEKS!?!?! WTH? Hard NO
    via crazymom1978
  • IZCOMMANDO I hope you told her that they absolutely cannot use your driveway or property to access her yard and that she needs to get her yard cleaned up and they can access her property through her yard only. Then get the rest of your property fenced and gated. Block her access to your property.
    via crazymom1978
  • Ansible90 Doesn't your town have laws about maintaining the height of grass and weeds? Report the neighbor to the town.
    via crazymom1978

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neighbors fenced garden homeowner plumbing neighborhood-drama
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