My neighbor (who just happens to be the mayor of the very small town we live in) uses my yard as a shortcut several times a day. In the eary morning I like to sit in the yard and have my coffee (sometimes in my PJ's) and on several occasions he has startled me. If if was just every once in a while I do not think it would bother me, but he does all through out the day. We can even be having a family BBQ and here comes the mayor cutting through my yard. How would you handle the situation.
2007-08-09 08:54:10 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Can't put up fence because we rent the house.
2007-08-09 09:00:17 · update #1
Start using his yard as a shortcut.
If & when he approaches you about it tell him that as he always cuts through your yard you just assumed that it was some sort of public right of way.
Tell him that if he stops you will stop.
Or
Get a dog with a nasty bark.
Or
Next time he walks through when you are outside scream as loudly as you can to draw attention to the fact that he is in your yard and startling you. Really exagerate and go overboard with the screaming and maybe he will get the messsage.
2007-08-09 09:05:52 · answer #1 · answered by angie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
YOU CAN put up a fence...you'd just have to pay for it.
I don't know what state you live in, but in california, any additions/improvements that the tenant makes to a rental property becomes an owned improvement of the landlord upon execution.
So ya you can...but it would be your own investment. It wouldn't hurt to ask the landlord and see if they would chip in for the cost...
And the easiest way to handle this is to talk to the mayor. Tell him that you rent the entire property, and when you moved in, your lease didn't specify that you had to leave your private property accessable to the public as a short cut, so your considering putting up a fence...see what he says to that.
Tell him that you enjoy very much being his neighbor, but that he really has no business being in your yard without an invitation, that really is considered trespassing.
**If you do put up a fence, make sure that you refer to a parcel map of your rental property, so that you don't encroach onto anyone else's land...that'd be a fight you want no part of.
**Also your "Fence" can be a "plant fence" ...Bamboo is dirt cheap, grows almost anywhere and grows FAST...you could surround your property with those and have a "fence" in no time.
Good Luck.
2007-08-09 09:10:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask him if he wouldn't mind walking around like a normal person, if he objects go to the police and get a restraining order. Years ago, when I first moved to Sacramento the mayor instituted a leash law that was overwhelmingly passed. Although the mayor himself let his dog run free all over the neighborhood. One day he came home and found that his dog was hanging skinned from the clothesline next door. The Vietnamese neighbors figured it was a free-ranging dog and were going to fix it for dinner. He sued his neighbors and lost, because the leash law was for everyone. His dog was not above the law and neither was he. It seems that to the Vietnamese if the dog was a loose dog it was a food staple, which they were used to in their way of life. If the mayor cannot conform to the laws of the land against trespassing whenever he feels like it, he should be arrested just like any other offender. In my opinion.
2007-08-09 09:06:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the best thing to do is to stop him and talk to him, tell him not to go threw your place. if that does not work...
in a small town.try letting every one in your town know about what he is doing. he will not be mayor that much longer.
for legal action: It does not matter if he is the mayor, or the President of the United States. they have to also go by the laws of the state. being mayor does not give him the rights to write his own laws. put it on the Television, newspaper. just let everyone know.
Remember,he was voted in. he can be removed.
2007-08-11 19:22:40 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him some cookies or brownies or something and tell him it bothers you--or that you feel uncomfortable--when he walks across your yard all the time. Explain why--like it's an invasion of privacy..etc. Politely ask him to stop or find a different way to get to where he's going. If he refuses then contact your landlord and explain what's going on and get their permission to put up a fence. Some landlords will give you a break on the rent if you do improvements to the property.
2007-08-09 09:05:29 · answer #5 · answered by Nicky C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell him 2 stop using your yard as a shortcut, doesn't matter if he's the mayor of your town or the pope if u don't like some 1 walkin on your yard tell him 2 stop. simple as that. :) hope it works out
2007-08-09 11:32:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That wouldn't really bother me,
but that's me and it sound like it's bothering you.
You should let Mr. Mayor know that he needs to find a different route to work or wherever he may be going. That just because he is in power that this is your property and your rules. Tell him clearly and firmly how you feel about his "shortcuts" and make you point get across, then see what he thinks about all this.
2007-08-09 09:06:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact the land lord. This individual just might have an easement on the land. This means that he or members of his family have been taking that route for years and that they have a right - often recorded in the town hall - to take that route. You need to know for sure.
If he has no business being on your property, then have the land lord tell him to stay clear and also call the police.
2007-08-09 09:19:06 · answer #8 · answered by Think.for.your.self 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depending of the person if he is nice , I would not mind and make friends with him - one never knows what he could do for me one day in need
if I don't like him I would just tell him politely to stop using my yard as a short cut and if he continues send him a letter then if he still doesn't stop send him my lawyer if I am in my rights .after asking my landlord if I have the right to go legally.
have a great day....
2007-08-09 09:13:47 · answer #9 · answered by nnnn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
make a mock up of a toddler, (like an effigy) and stratigically position it so that the mayor flattens it as he takes his shortcut accross YOUR property... apart from shocking him, i would also hope that you could use this as a starting point to request that he no longer drives over YOUR property.
failing this, try the fence approach or 2) speak to him directly and request that he no longer drives over YOUR property...
the mayor or not... i would be having words with this tresspasser !!!
all the best
2007-08-09 09:05:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋