Amenity placed outside house by neighbours

Tell me how

donkeykong5 wrote: »

I feel very sorry for you. I agree with the posters who have advised you to arrange for it to be removed completely some night. I think your neighbours are extremely uncaring and selfish. The constant worry of your cars been damaged is unacceptable and not been able to watch TV in your own front room because of the constant thud of the ball is rudiculous. Why should you and your wife have to move. That's tantamount to bullying . Just get a couple of friends and get rid of it asap.

You are suggesting that kids having a basketball hoop located across the road from the OP's house is bullying?
And you are suggesting doing something illegal as an appropriate reaction?

Ursus Horribilis

iamwhoiam wrote: »

A few hours is enough to drive you mad

I lived in an estate where a neighbour nearly did go mad from the constant thump thump against his wall. He was ordinarily a very reasonable man but this really got under his skin. In the summer months, his wall got a LOT of thumps.

Tell me how

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I lived in an estate where a neighbour nearly did go mad from the constant thump thump against his wall. He was ordinarily a very reasonable man but this really got under his skin. In the summer months, his wall got a LOT of thumps.

That's different, that was directly against his property.
In this instance, the hoop is located across the road from the OP's property and the general direction balls will be thrown in will be away from his house.

Ursus Horribilis

Tell me how wrote: »

That's different, that was directly against his property.
In this instance, the hoop is located across the road from the OP's property and the general direction balls will be thrown in will be away from his house.

I see.

donkeykong5

Tell me how wrote: »

donkeykong5 wrote: »

I feel very sorry for you. I agree with the posters who have advised you to arrange for it to be removed completely some night. I think your neighbours are extremely uncaring and selfish. The constant worry of your cars been damaged is unacceptable and not been able to watch TV in your own front room because of the constant thud of the ball is rudiculous. Why should you and your wife have to move. That's tantamount to bullying . Just get a couple of friends and get rid of it asap.

You are suggesting that kids having a basketball hoop located across the road from the OP's house is bullying?
And you are suggesting doing something illegal as an appropriate reaction?

What's illegal about removing equipment that wasnt there when the poster and his wife bought their house. Its causing them upset. End of !

Spanish Eyes

I think it would drive me bonkers TBH. Especially given the cavalier attitude of the parents who really don't seem to appreciate how difficult it is for you. Parents don't hear their own kids, and they are delighted to see them from their front window, but it is you that is being driven crackers with the constant thump, thump.

Anyway, keep trying to get the neighbours on board, if you make a formal complaint, or escalate it you may have to divulge that if you ever sell.

In the meantime, if you haven't already got them, very good quality noise cancelling headphones are god's gift.

Tell me how

donkeykong5 wrote: »

What's illegal about removing equipment that wasnt there when the poster and his wife bought their house. Its causing them upset. End of !

Do you really need an answer to that?

Pkiernan

bladespin wrote: »

Are they actually disturbing anyone or just playing on a public street? The street belongs to them every bit as much as it does to anyone.

Yeah sure why not have a few horses tied up there too and a mini quad bike ramp?

Tell me how

OP, I do empathise with you feeling uncomfortable.
I would expect that this is a passing fad.

You mentioned that ye have just bought and are considering if this is your forever location. I don't know your circumstance or plans but maybe in a few years your children could benefit from living in a place where someone is kind enough to put out a hoop like this.

Live and let live is my opinion.

I'm out.

jay48

Unfortunately I think it's going to be how it is op. I used to live in an estate that was mostly young families and like you, I was the last house in the cul de sac beside a parking / turn around area. The kids were always playing there, balls going over the wall etc and they were jumping over to get it which I didn't mind. As I was away a lot of the time the jumping over the walls turned in to playing in the back garden which the next door neighbour put me on to. I ended up having to put grease on the walls after I heard teens were jumping over and drinking!
I looked out one day and the lad across the road was playing football with the kids and he set up two coats for a goal on the foot path about 6ft in front of the bonnet of my car, so basically if he scored he hit the car. Another day I came home and there were two tents set up in my front garden. The neighbours would call the kids away when they seen me pull in but it was a free for all when I wasn't there and like your case, I never seen them hanging around in any of their gardens.
The easiest option is to just put up with it or park your car in the way the odd day to give you a break. As you can see from this thread there's not much middle ground, it's either leave them alone they're kids, what's the problem to solicitors letters and destroying the basketball ring. Common sense would be for your neighbour to tell the kids to give you a break the odd day but the trouble with common sense is it's not common enough.

Tigerandahalf

Del2005 wrote: »

The insurance for a play ground is massive compared to general public liability. The development next to me had a playground installed by contractors in the wrong development, its been sitting rusting away as the complex can't afford the insurance. So how will these complexes with mandatory play areas get cover? The councils are now forcing people to pay massive management fees to cover the fact that they aren't supplying public amenities.

I was wondering the same. I see some new developments with play areas/astro turf type surface and you wonder who is responsible for its maintenance. Is the council going to take it over once the developer finishes the estate?

Caranica

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I was wondering the same. I see some new developments with play areas/astro turf type surface and you wonder who is responsible for its maintenance. Is the council going to take it over once the developer finishes the estate?

We have one and it's a nightmare (managed development). Insurance is sky high and some kids are out there 6am to 10pm at weekends and during holidays, why would a parent mind their own children when the neighbours can watch them instead? Like the OP I can't use my front rooms during daylight hours. But I can't do anything about it, it's not going to be removed.

The op can get this hoop removed one way or another. It's on a public road therefore is either an obstruction or litter. People cannot unilaterally erect street furniture.

Tigerandahalf

@Caranica

Who pays the insurance at the moment?

I was in a public playground recently, a lovely place with an astro pitch. I gave a walk in and numerous patches of it have been burnt out. I am not sure if people are using those disposable barbecues on them or just setting fire to the surface.

These playgrounds in estates are going to cost a lot to maintain.

lawred2

Tell me how wrote: »

How likely is hours on end though? They are in school most of the time (no surprise this has come up during easter break). And yes, in summer it could be more but, as the OP said himself, there were football posts put in the green and they grew tired of them after a while.

I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up with the hoop gone and some of the kids chatting outside the house every evening aimlessly bouncing a basketball over and over and over because they know why it was removed. Now, that would be head wrecking.

So what if they are in school during the winter? It's late evenings and weekends during the summer when everyone is home (usually trying to relax) that matter...

the_syco

mrmanire wrote: »

our next door neighbours placed a mobile basketball hoop about 4 metres directly in front of our drive in a car turning area.

Move it into their driveway.

Tell me how wrote: »

Not to mention they do spend most of the day in school most of the year.

It's a cul-de-sac away from their parents; when summer holidays hit, it'll be every day.

Tell me how wrote: »

it takes like an extra 6 seconds to drive past.

The kids playing there will mean that they won't get out of the way, and the OP has to take great care reversing in or out of the driveway for kids that will not be in his line of sight.

Tell me how wrote: »

She says she loves the sound of children playing, it makes her feel good.

Yes, you feel it is an inconvenience, but it is likely the majority in the estate like the idea of a community such as that.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. it smells like victory. But what I like, and what the neighbours like can be two different things.

Tell me how wrote: »

And I'd also expect to hear the sound of kids laughing and chatting while playing. All good.

At 1am? Because once the good weather hits, and if the place is well lit, the teenagers will congregate there and play until very late at night.

bladespin

Pkiernan wrote:

Yeah sure why not have a few horses tied up there too and a mini quad bike ramp?

Lol, are you seriously comparing a bunch of kids playing basketball to that???? Wow.
Kids playing is just that, portraying it as antisocial behavior is bonkers.
Take the game away and I wonder what they would resort to to entertain themselves, I'd considet a hoop a pretyy good compromise.

iamwhoiam

bladespin wrote: »

Lol, are you seriously comparing a bunch of kids playing basketball to that???? Wow.
Kids playing is just that, portraying it as antisocial behavior is bonkers.
Take the game away and I wonder what they would resort to to entertain themselves, I'd considet a hoop a pretyy good compromise.

Yes but not outside your house I am guessing . The hoop is not the problem its the thumping of the basketball

mikemac2

The estate will have other turnaround areas. Rotate it around the estate every week

Of course the other residents love it but it’s not outside their house! I see the OPs neighbors are not keen as they want it close so they can watch. But they can still watch even if it’s further up the estate.

I think the OP should push this again

Rubberchikken

whoever thought it was a good idea in the first place didnt think it through.

not toi many people would put up with it outside their property tbh.
the council mightnt be too happy with it either. if it falls over on someone or something that a law suit just waiting.
tbh i wouldnt be too bothered about 'falling out' with others. if they cant see how inconsiderate it is they're not good neighbours in the first place.

bladespin

iamwhoiam wrote:

Yes but not outside your house I am guessing . The hoop is not the problem its the thumping of the basketball

Actually, the road outside our house is often full of kids playing headeds and vollies over the cables that cross the street, doesn't bother me, I did it myself as a kid. No horses or quads here.

anewme

I came home about two weeks ago and down the end of the the road (it is the road backing onto mine but I can see it from afar) I heard shouting and roaring. There are 2 basketball hoops on the main road. Turned out one of the hoops was in front of a neighbours house and he was sick of the thump thump all weekend as well as the ball hitting his new car and new front door. Well he really just snapped. I am a good bit away and I could hear him.im not sure if he was shouting at the teenagers or a parent. But he was at his wits end. Sounded like it could end in fisticuffs.

These things on the access road have to be an insurance issue and a compo claim waiting to happen.

I’d lose the plot if it was put outside my house. It’d not stay there long. Don’t care what sort of crank they said I was.

AulWan

bladespin wrote: »

Kids playing is just that, portraying it as antisocial behavior is bonkers.

Any behaviour which causes another harm or distress can be classed as anti-social behaviour. The OP has mentioned that his wife is very distressed over this.

South Dublin County Council categorises noise disturbance as anti-social behaviour.

bladespin

AulWan wrote:

Any behaviour which causes another harm or distress can be classed as anti-social behaviour. The OP has mentioned that his wife is very distressed over this.

AulWan wrote:

South Dublin County Council categorises noise disturbance as anti-social behaviour.

I could put lawn mowing or home improvements in there too but I don't.

Caranica

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

@Caranica

Who pays the insurance at the moment?

Management fees, we're a managed development. Insurance is at least 25% of our annual budget.

iamwhoiam

bladespin wrote: »

Actually, the road outside our house is often full of kids playing headeds and vollies over the cables that cross the street, doesn't bother me, I did it myself as a kid. No horses or quads here.

No horses or quads here either but thankfully sensible respectful parents mostly . They would know how annoying a thumping noise is I suppose

AulWan

bladespin wrote: »

I could put lawn mowing or home improvements in there too but I don't.

Lawn mowing or home improvements don't usually go on for prolonged hours every day.

In an effort to be seen as trying to come to a compromise, I would make one final attempt to talk with the owner of the hoop.

I would suggest that the hoop go out no earlier then 12 noon and be taken back in no later then 6pm, with Sunday as a day off. That should give his kids adequate time to practice, and will prevent other kids and teenagers from congregating and hanging around outside the OPs house late into the evening.

Jurgen Klopp

The worst of this is the OP has stated these neighbors fell out with their neighbours to teh other side over privacy issues due to kids playing right outside their house

But yet it's ok for them do the same to teh OP, says a lot about them

OP any mates with an old banger? It would be a right shame if they accidentally reversed into the stand part of the hoop and mangled it and even worse again if they were such terrible drivers they managed to hit any new stand the neighbors replaced it with

Diceicle

Tell me how wrote: »

Yes, and I would expect the majority of residents are happy to see the children of the estate being able to play outside.

Translation: "I'm alright, Jack."

anewme

AulWan wrote: »

Lawn mowing or home improvements don't usually go on for prolonged hours every day.

In an effort to be seen as trying to come to a compromise, I would make one final attempt to talk with the owner of the hoop.

I would suggest that the hoop go out no earlier then 12 noon and be taken back in no later then 6pm, with Sunday as a day off. That should give his kids adequate time to practice, and will prevent other kids and teenagers from congregating and hanging around outside the OPs house late into the evening.

There’s no way I’d entertain a basketball hoop outside my house from 12-6 sux days a week. In fact, I’d not entertain it outside my own house at all. If kids start kicking balls on the road outside my house, I tell them to “go on and play on the green”

The goalpost was angled on the green outside my house but a good bit away. When the kids kept kicking for goal from a certain angle, it kept coming into my garden and hitting the car. after one fairly bad whack off the car, I knocked onto the parents who bought the goalpost and said Id be getting the car checked out and I’d letting them know if there was any damage to the car.. Goalpost was gone within an hour down to their end of the green. it’s stayed away too.

Pkiernan

bladespin wrote: »

Lol, are you seriously comparing a bunch of kids playing basketball to that???? Wow.
Kids playing is just that, portraying it as antisocial behavior is bonkers.
Take the game away and I wonder what they would resort to to entertain themselves, I'd considet a hoop a pretyy good compromise.

What's wrong with my kids having horses?

Wildly Boaring

anewme wrote: »

There’s no way I’d entertain a basketball hoop outside my house from 12-6 sux days a week. In fact, I’d not entertain it outside my own house at all. If kids start kicking balls on the road outside my house, I tell them to “go on and play on the green”

The goalpost was angled on the green outside my house but a good bit away. When the kids kept kicking for goal from a certain angle, it kept coming into my garden and hitting the car. after one fairly bad whack off the car, I knocked onto the parents who bought the goalpost and said Id be getting the car checked out and I’d letting them know if there was any damage to the car.. Goalpost was gone within an hour down to their end of the green. it’s stayed away too.

Might be worth a shot OP

If they're that inconsiderate. Park outside house. Ball hits car. Straight in to hoop owner with warning that any bill is coming their way.

I reckon they'll be bored of b ball soon and onto football on the green. Grass was wet till today. When's Wimbledon? I reckon outside yours may be the tennis court in June.

bladespin

Pkiernan wrote:

What's wrong with my kids having horses?

Absolutely nothing, mine have motorbikes!

corks finest

corks finest wrote: »

Del2005 wrote: »

Inform your neighbour of the amount they'll have to pay out if anyone even scratches themselves on it. There's a reason why play grounds are extremely rare in private estates. That way you are not the annoying neighbour complaining about the basketball net but the helpful neighbour keeping them safe from the solicitors.

We had it for nigh on 5/6 years,cul de sac,8 foot wall ,ball constantly going off the wall ,in our garden ,off the car etc etc,noise was horrendous ,then when they weren't kicking ball etc, hanging around ( up to )from 10/15 years old, mother diagonally across from us didn't give a ****,it's a cluid housing association small estate 24 houses- last 2 housing officers were useless,latest one v pro active,wrote to each tenant,put up signs no ball playing/ congregation ,sounds draconian but honest it was awfullllll,her youngest best has now flown the nest as in out on the street with another few ,stones have started etc, trying to move,reason I ended up here is a divorce,and as I've my smallie since he was 2/ half we were lucky to get somewhere, originally from a normal area bishoptown,where kids behave in general,drug parties are rare and parents are responsible,this particular neighbour is from another sinkhole ,so began with her years ago

Tell me how wrote: »

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Anyone who is saying its just kids let them play have not experienced the THUMP THUMP THUMP of a basketball for hours on end . It is a head wrecker and I would definitely have words with the neigbour who thinks thats ok

How likely is hours on end though? They are in school most of the time (no surprise this has come up during easter break). And yes, in summer it could be more but, as the OP said himself, there were football posts put in the green and they grew tired of them after a while.

I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up with the hoop gone and some of the kids chatting outside the house every evening aimlessly bouncing a basketball over and over and over because they know why it was removed. Now, that would be head wrecking.

It was hours on end in the summer, evenings,and all weekends,,,I'm a granda of 12have a grown up family also,so I'm not a grumpy old bastard,but seriously it was hell,make matters worse there's a green 20/30 metres away and they dont use it

SirChenjin

OP, you have my sympathies. Something like that very quickly becomes soul destroying. It might be worth having a word with the council. I presume nothing is supposed to sit in a turning circle, be it a car, or a basketball yoke.

I noticed here, for a while, a similar set up, not particularly near, but if I was outside the front of the house, i would hear the thud thud thud, and a basketball hoop had been set up where there is a dead end, in the estate.

It didn't last very long, I have no idea what happened, but I used to wonder how the occupants of the houses near it put up with it.

I hope you can get it resolved. The fact that the parents complained about other neighbours, while seeing nothing wrong with this set up doesn't bode well, IMO.
'Do as I say and not as I do'...

Diceicle

Tell me how wrote: »

How likely is hours on end though? They are in school most of the time (no surprise this has come up during easter break). And yes, in summer it could be more but, as the OP said himself, there were football posts put in the green and they grew tired of them after a while.

I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up with the hoop gone and some of the kids chatting outside the house every evening aimlessly bouncing a basketball over and over and over because they know why it was removed. Now, that would be head wrecking.

I've had and have the football and basketball situations as I live VERY close to the road in a cul-de-sac on an estate.
I've had games of football going on for 6 hours with little break in that time. I'm not talking real games of football mind, just pouding a ball against a wall as hard as they can and screaming. For. hours.
That group of lads have grown up now and thankfully have moved on to other interests but it went on for 3 years or so. Had to go out to them at all hours too. By and large they were and are nice lads but just inconsiderate teens being thick and inconsiderate of their neighbours.

Diceicle

Had the same situation as the OP for a while - so I sympathize.
I live in a cul-de-sac. I don't have a driveway so the front of my house opens onto a public path and then theres the road.
A family across the road from us were gifted a basktetball hoop. Their kids used it for a couple of days then forgot about it mostly.
Then lads from other parts of the estate started using it. The noise is unreal. Its genuinely like someone banging a drum outside your home.
Any reasonable person expects a certain level of noise outside their home on ocassion when they live in and estate - as I type this I can hear kids outside running and shouting in the distance, and more power to em - but having the front of your home turned into the local basketball court for all the local kids - thats not on.

I think part of the anxiety around these things (for me anyway) is you dont know if this game will go on 30 minutes or for 4 hours.

seanl77

Diceicle wrote: »

Had the same situation as the OP for a while - so I sympathize.
I live in a cul-de-sac. I done have a driveway so the front of my house opens onto a public path and then theres the road.
A family across the road from us were gifted a basktetball hoop. Their kids used it for a couple of days then forgot about it mostly.
Then lads from other parts of the estate started using it. The noise is unreal. Its genuinely like someone banging a drum outside your home.
Any reasonable person expects a certain level of noise outside their home on ocassion when they live in and estate - as I type this I can hear kids outside running and shouting in the distance, and more power to em - but having the front of your home turned into the local basketball court for all the local kids - thats not on.

I think part of the anxiety around these things (for me anyway) is you dont know if this game will go on 30 minutes or for 4 hours.

Very well put, I moved into a estate years ago after living in a rural area for twenty plus years. I originally couldn't believe the noise levels that was considered normal, I often let a shout at screaming children outside my door. As for some posters comparing lawn cutting in a estate to a day long basketball game outside the front door...... get real

bladespin

seanl77 wrote:

As for some posters comparing lawn cutting in a estate to a day long basketball game outside the front door...... get real

Try holding a conference call while your neighbour decides to run over their lawn for the third time straight, everyone has their own definition of annoying.
Personally I didn't get bent out of shape over a couple of hours of noise during the day, we all have our stuff to do.

seanl77

bladespin wrote: »

Try holding a conference call while your neighbour decides to run over their lawn for the third time straight, everyone has their own definition of annoying.
Personally I didn't get bent out of shape over a couple of hours of noise during the day, we all have our stuff to do.

Must be some serious grass growth.... or maybe that didn't really happen.

Wildly Boaring

I was sitting in the sun having a beer while both kids napped.

Had a 30min window.

Jimmy next door starts a fecking chainsaw.

I live in the middle of nowhere and I still got done!!

Generally though I'd hate to put up with this type of thing in an estate

bladespin

seanl77 wrote:

Must be some serious grass growth.... or maybe that didn't really happen.

Sure does, every year, for the past 17 years, first cut, he likes to drop the mower a step at a time, even advised me to do it.

ZX7R

How about a picture of the offending hoop,say takin from your front door.
Looking at your map it doesn't really look to be close at all.

mdebets

I can understand the OP to a certain extent. But, if you are successful in any way, to get the basketball hoop removed, you will always be remembered as the old crank, who took the fun away in the estate and might be targeted by the kids who loved to play basketball, which could be even more annoying.
A better option would be, to incentivise the kids away from the basketball hoop, to play in another part of the estate. Did they play football before the basketball hoop appeared, then you could consider putting up two goals at the green. Or you could get them two better basketball hoops and place them in another part of the estate.

Diceicle

mdebets wrote: »

I can understand the OP to a certain extent. But, if you are successful in any way, to get the basketball hoop removed, you will always be remembered as the old crank, who took the fun away in the estate and might be targeted by the kids who loved to play basketball, which could be even more annoying.
A better option would be, to incentivise the kids away from the basketball hoop, to play in another part of the estate. Did they play football before the basketball hoop appeared, then you could consider putting up two goals at the green. Or you could get them two better basketball hoops and place them in another part of the estate.

I think its genuinely impossible to appreciate the impact and stress this type of nuisance noise can have on a person.
My situations is definitely improved but still, after getting home from a long day, and a long week, with kids already at the estate end wall pounding the ball as hard as they can. I get home at 5. They'll be there til 8 (maybe 9).
When the older ones used to play it was louder. They were also more vocal.
GOOOOOAAAAAL.

FINISH IIIIIT!!


OOOOOOOOOOOOH.

Imagine someone standing in your front garden and yelling these phrases at the top of their lungs, while sporadically banging a drum. for. four. hours...... thats what its like.

With my basketball hoop sitation that I outlined above, Mother nature took care of that.
The hoop was never brought in. In the storms the last few months it repeatedly blew down, eventually cracking the board, busting the hoop and warping the base. When it blew over recently it was on its face for a long time. Someone took the bolts that were holding up the board.

Then someone else removed the board altogether. Right now I've got a 8ft black pole dumped near my home and no one is taking ownership of it.

Just remembered this was actually the 2nd such hoop that was abondoned in my part of the estate. Think someone ran over the 1st one.

Jaster Rogue

What about an ultrasonic noise device mounted outside your house, if anyone complains tell them about the "rodent problem" you're trying to fix.

Jaster Rogue

What about an ultrasonic noise device mounted outside your house, if anyone complains tell them about the "rodent problem" you're trying to fix.

irish horse

What you do is stay in your night attire .dont brush your hair.run out the front door grap the basket ball drive a big knife into it and tell them all to fcuk off.you will have a nice quite summer after that....

Tigerandahalf

mdebets wrote: »

A better option would be, to incentivise the kids away from the basketball hoop, to play in another part of the estate. Did they play football before the basketball hoop appeared, then you could consider putting up two goals at the green. Or you could get them two better basketball hoops and place them in another part of the estate.

Don't do this as you could be liable for anything that happens if a goal posts falls on anyone. You also don't own the common areas and thus have no right to put anything on them.

Even if there is a residents' association collecting a few bob to pay for the cutting of the grass they may not have a final say on what gets put on the green areas. Who actually owns the common areas?

In some cases the council takes over an estate but I'd imagine it has to be a finished estate. Do the council actually take ownership of the green areas or just the road in or just the lighting.
I hear a lot of people during snow events say that the council is not responsible for clearing snow so that implies they don't own the road.

You would wonder why people pay a property tax when the council don't cover these basic functions.

backspin.

mdebets wrote: »

I can understand the OP to a certain extent. But, if you are successful in any way, to get the basketball hoop removed, you will always be remembered as the old crank, who took the fun away in the estate.

Who cares, seriously who cares if they are known as an old crank, by neighbours who probably don't speak much to him anyway. It's better than being tormented by noise for potentially years on end.

mvl

moved to an estate a year ago: it would defo bother me.

for insurance purposes ... does OP have a CCTV camera installed ?