New neighbors ruining a nice family neighborhood. What can we do?

Question

My family lives in a very quiet, close-knit neighborhood (everyone in the cul-de-sac has lived here for over 15 years). These new neighbors moved into a house recently, and to put it lightly, they are neighbors from hell. Young punk kids, parties all the time, trash in my yard, our friends' yards, in the street. Beer cans everywhere. Motorcycles, loud cars with annoying mufflers or lack thereof. I'm sick of it, and so are my neighbors. We don't feel safe having our children outside anymore because of these dirt bags who feel it is necessary to drive 45 in their cars and on their bikes into the cul de sac. It sickens me. Is there anything we can do to get them to forcibly move? I am seriously at a snapping point, and if it weren't for my wife and our young boy, I'd have no problem physically smashing their junk and getting physical with these jerks. If anyone knows of anything civil we can do (neighborhood petition, etc.), please let me know before I lose my self control.

Answer 1

First of all, do you know if they purchased the home or if they are renting? If they are renting, you and all of the long-term residents can begin putting pressure on the landlord/owner.

That being said, I would start with the police. Go as a united force (all of the long-term residents) and give them detailed, consistent accounts of what is going on. Provide photos. Provide times, dates and details. Lay out the physical danger to your children.

After making your case, suggest they redouble their efforts to patrol the neighborhood. If they balk, if they claim they don't have enough officers, etc., keep pushing them on the physical danger issue with your kids.

And if you believe they are renting, ask the police to get a hold of the owner ASAP and have them pressure him to get on it.

Hope this helps. Best to you.

Answer 2

Some great suggestions from the other who answered... I would advise a little caution and anonymity in dealing with these buffoons as they seldom listen to reason and sound like the type to retaliate. Make certain that EVERYONE who doesn't like them, is united and clear on that point. Follow up with a petition for more Police patrols and if you do not already have one, try to create a Homeowner's Association. Many HA's have and can enforce neighborhood quality standards as minute as whether or not you can have a bottle of shampoo in your bathroom window. I would advise that you create a HA with the help of a real estate attorney and create a schedule of dues and maintenence that seems unreasonable to them. (This is your ploy to ditch them, so go big!!!) Specify the maximum length that the grass can grow, how many years in between repainting the exterior of the houses. Purchasing new siding, select the model/style and MANDATE it in writing. This is the property value of YOUR home, the safety of your children and I agree, you don't have to take this from them!!! Also check to see if your Municipality has a standard for noise levels. Another thing to goad them into leaving is to specify when and what time you can use power tools, lawnmowers, etc. You can specify how many cars can be parked in the driveway at one time, how many cars may be parked on the street..... the list goes on and on.

Oooh, ooh, almost forgot, try to have this be retro-active for the past ten years to stay on stable ground, or just create a new one and hope that the time and expense will be too much for them.

Hope the idea of mental warfare helps :-)

Answer 3

You should first try the neighborhood petitioning method by forming a group of like minded, peace loving citizens and go and make an appeal without any raised voices or reprimands. Try to win them over with praise for some good qualities which I am sure they must have. However evil a person there will be some good in the person. Tell them you'll wish to have a neighborhood social gathering and you seek their participation. Make them feel accepted and wanted. Appeal to their good sense. All this may seem difficult but give it a try it could work and bring the desired good results.

If all this fails, your new formed forum must petition the authorities to take lawful action to maintain peace in the neighborhood. Even eviction may be sought if the unruliness does not stop. Good luck.

Answer 4

You need to contact an attorney to find out all your options. You can call the police and start a cascade of things that will get ugly. People of this type are usually up when you are not, do you have eyes in the back of your head? You think it's bad now, it could get a lot worse. Go ahead and be Mr. Macho ( you write big talk ), then you go to jail while they are left behind to comfort your family. You need to look at the overall situation, ramifications of all actions, and only then take action. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Don't let your neighbors talk you into being Mr. Mean to these people while they lay back. Good Luck.

Answer 5

By chance do you live in my neighborhood? Seriously, all of us homeowners have one of these types - Yes, the loud music, loud motorcycles, constant drinking and terrible language - then they tacky up their yard and make it so afwul to even look at their house. ( A harley davidson sign on the garage) It is by far one of the most frustrating things that homeowners can deal with. Honestly, you want to judge them and think that it won't be long before they have their home foreclosed on - but these types always find a way to hang around like a bad cold. If the noise level is too loud, call the police. Start keeping a written record of every incident you deem as bad for your neighborhood. If for nothing else, for yourself. If they are trashing the place up, take pictures - go to a homeowners meeting with your proof and DEMAND something be done. (that is if you have a homeowners association) They can start fining them daily if necessary. I wish I had better news. We had to move from our neighborhood b/c of our group of undesireables. Good luck

Answer 6

Unfortunately you can't do anything to force people to move just because they're assholes. Fair housing laws and all. And you really can't call the cops on them all the time because they'll just stop responding eventually and your neighbors will probably become MORE obnoxious.

The one thing you CAN do is try making them an offer they can't refuse. If there are enough of you who are like minded and literally want them out at all costs, go ahead and tell them to their faces how obnoxious they are and offer to pay them to move. Seriously. See how much your neighbors are willing to pitch in, do a neighborhood garage sale, have a "help us get rid of our crappy neighbors" fundraiser bake sale. Tell them if they move you'll pay for movers, a U-haul, and closing costs on a new home. They may just take you up on it.

Here's a really wacky idea, if enough people in your neighborhood are willing, go in together with several people to offer to buy the house from them above market value. Once they move out you can resell it and recoup most of your money. If you have some handy people on your block you may even be able to put some sweat equity in and sell it for what you paid.

I know these are pretty extreme ideas but there are very few ways you can legally oust them if they aren't doing anything illegal, and usually even if they are.

Answer 7

Have you ever heard of the concept of the social contract? It's not what you're thinking it is.

Specifically the idea is that each of us voluntarily relinquishes specific rights and reactions to the government, which can do a better job collectively than can any individual or group in which each individual is acting on it's own. That's why you have a police force. Call them. That's why you have a justice system. Use it to get restraining orders against your neighbours. This is not just about your wife, your son and yourself. This is for the public good.

Answer 8

You can trap them into doing something the police must take action for I had neighbors who were using the lane beside my house illegally and said you are old you cant afford to go to court Ill do whatever I like I waited and when he was in the lane I called him over to a window and had a friend up the end take his picture and told the police he was a Peeping Tom he was fined and sold out not long after good luck

Answer 9

Get a good video camera and record them doing the things you described. Try to catch them in the act of littering you and your neighbor's yards. I don't know about your state, but illegal dumping and littering carry fines of $1,000 and up to a year in jail in mine. Their driving sounds more serious than speeding. I say it approaches reckless driving and possibly D.U.I., which would at least mean a hefty fine, and possible license suspension. Also if their house is a trashy as you say it is, that would be a code violation. Lots of cities have nuisance laws, that can lead to property seizure. In my city they use these laws to board up homes being used for meth manufacturing and other illegal activities. Look into your local laws, and consider going in with your neighbors to hire an attorney.

So get a good video camera, and use it. They can't lie if they are caught on tape.

Answer 10

I suggest calling the police to observe their antics. If they are speeding, that can be solved with police. The police can also get them for parties, loud music, and trash. That is disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, beer to a minor, and littering. These offenses will have them in trouble for some time. They will eventually get tired of having to obey the laws and will probably move, if not, you can keep them inside by calling the police everytime they do something crazy. This will work more effectively than physically doing harm to them or their belongings.