what rights to my childrens footballs if they go over neighbours fence he wont give them back?

Question

if my sons balls go over his fence he keeps them in bin bags for months

Answer 1

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23365571-details/Father+arrested+for+refusing+to+give+back+boys'+ball/article.do

Show him this article. This bloke was arrested for refusing to give kids their ball back!

Answer 2

If it's his property then he can keep them. He is probably just a lonely old man and maybe a bit grouchy. There are two things you could do.

1. Ask your children to stop kicking it over his fence.

2. Make friends with him. I mean genuinely get to know your neighbour. Not just to get the footballs back. Building this relationship will most likely get them back but you will also gain harmony with your neighbour and the rewards of this relationship will keep on giving. For example, someone breaks into his home or your home, you look out for each other.

3. The other option is to continue as is and keep buying new footballs but that isn't really a course of action, is it?

Hey, did you ever hear that song by Jim Noir "If you don't give my football back?"

Answer 3

If you want a petty dispute to cost thousands, take forever, and cause bad feeling and prevent you from selling your house, then go ahead with a legal dispute. Any solicitor will tell you this. Just put up your own fence as close as possible to the boundary, maybe formally telling the neighbour this does not change the boundary. This new fence would be yours to maintain. I am not saying this is ideal, or that he should get away with not meeting his responsibilities, but this solution is practical and cheap compared to the alternatives, and you will feel much better with the new fence there.

Answer 4

He is being a bit naughty, but then you are being an irritation by allowing your children to kick the balls over the fence.

I do not think their is a time limit for him keeping the balls but they always belong to your children. He can not sell them or give them away without your permission.

How about approaching him with a suggestion of say a net higher than your children normally kick the ball to be paid for by you (your children are actually the pain in the b-- ) but he returns the balls as and when they go over on request. He may or may not be happy to agree but if he does not agree I don't see what you can do about it.except murdering the kids.

Answer 5

Your sons don't have the right to trespass on his property, and if this is such a common occurrence, I don't really blame him for confiscating the items - the kids should learn that there are consequences to their carelessness.

That being said, I don't think he has any real right to hold property when he knows who the rightful owners are. He should be willing to release the items.

Go over to his house and apologize for the inconvenience your sons have caused. Assure him that you've spoken with your sons, and have taken reasonable steps to insure that the footballs won't end up on his property again - or at least not so often. Instruct your kids to play on the other side of the yard, or go to the park. Your sons are old enough to start learning respect for other people's property and to monitor their actions accordingly.

Answer 6

As a point of law the neighbour has no rights to keep the footballs. They are not his property to keep. However, having said that, I would suspect your neighbour is fed up with footballs landing on his plants and possibly causing damage/nuisance. It would be much better if you could talk to your children and explain to them the nuisance that their balls landing in a neighbour's garden causes. Maybe you could take them to a local park or field where they can kick the ball to their hearts content.

Answer 7

I understand that you can demand the balls are returned as soon as possible, however there is nothing to stop him from putting a knife through the ball before returning it and saying it was damaged when he picked it up from his garden. I suggest you have a very polite word with the neighbour and apologise for any inconvenience and could he oblige by throwing the balls back the show the children that people can be very kind really.

Answer 8

Nothing, unfortunately. However, if anything of his ever comes onto your land and he wants it back, refuse until he gives back your kids footballs.

However, remind your kids that, although you know it is an accident, they should try not to kick it so hight they go over the fence, etc.

Answer 9

lol. forgot her name at this late date, but she lived on the corner and it was mainly softballs she collected.

you could make a court case if you wanted. probably get thrown out, but hey $75 to file in small claims if you want it back. and of course, what is a used football worth? still, a good possiblity you win by default when the neighbor fails to come to court. but, then there's the collection issue. you would need to hire a collection agency. that's if he failed to sho up. then again the neighbor migh counter sue for all the damage done to his property and it end up costing you.

maybe just discipline your kids a bit.

Answer 10

Revenge, you could put a paint bomb in one of the balls, than when it explodes he will be to blame for not giving the ball back.

When I used to get balls over gardens I would just sneak over there and get it so I didnt disturb whoever lives there too much. If you kids do that and he stops them then you could get him arrested depending on how old your kids are

Answer 11

Children must be taught boundaries either by their parents or by the neighbors. Children should be taught by their parents that they need to make a special effort to keep their toys in their own yard, and that purposely throwing something in another person's yard is like throwing that thing away.

Once the neighbor sees that you and the children are trying to keep the toys in your yard he may soften. You should also train your children to approach the neighbor with respect ---"excuse me Mr./Ms. neighbor, our ball accidentally landed in your yard. Can we go on your property to get the ball? I promise it won't happen again."