I’m so fed up with my neighbour hanging his pants in our garden I’ve taken him to COURT…it ruins my beautiful river view
A judge told the neighbours 'it is an unusual case' in which the court fees would be huge in relation to a 'relatively minor matter'
A WOMAN was so fed up with her neighbours hanging pants she took him to COURT.
The bitter dispute was sparked between Lotte Grant, 95, and Revd Canon Professor Richard Burridge at their apartment block in Exeter Quay.
The widow resorted to taking her biblical scholar neighbour to court over two washing lines in the communal garden they shared at Trews Weir Court.
Mrs Grant told DevonLive: “It’s the principle. It is now allowed. It is a very nice block of flats by the suspension bridge.
“All the people crossing the bridge see the washing.
“It’s not very nice. These are not cheap apartments. It is not very nice for people walking across the suspension bridge to see washing on lines,” she added.
A judge heard how it was not permitted to hang clothes out in the flat complex, where properties can cost up to £450,000.
The apartment block is owned by a management company called Trews Weir Court Management Ltd.
Exeter County Court heard the rotary washing lines went up in April last year.
Mrs Grant told a judge Revd Burridge breached the terms of his lease, but the management company argued it did not.
The 95-year-old neighbour felt so strongly about the washing line debacle she appealed the judge’s previous ruling in favour of Revd Burridge and the management company.
In light of the appeal a second judge has told the neighbours there will be a retrial if they can’t reach a settlement within three months.
Judge Walsh told the appeal hearing in Exeter “it is an unusual case” in which the court fees would be huge in relation to a “relatively minor matter”.
Mrs Grant’s barrister Jonathan Ward dubbed the original ruling was “fatally flawed”.
But Revd Burridge said Mrs Grant can’t even see the washing lines from her home.
He argued drying in the clothes inside flats caused mould.
After the hearing, Mrs Grant said: “I suppose I won. There still has to be a settlement. The judge wants a settlement.
“I have already spent a lot of money. My father was a judge and I am sure he would be on my side and would want me to carry on.”
She said she’s not hung out a single washing since moving there in 1992.
The widow pointed her finger at “three people” who hang out their clothes on the lines.
The washing lines have actually been moved but Mrs Grant is still not satisfied.
“They could move them behind the garages, away from the communal gardens and the lovely views,” she said.
How to resolve a neighbour dispute
According to Citizens Advice
Talk your neighbour
If you feel as though you can safely, you should approach your neighbour to discuss the problem first.
Take a note of the time and date you spoke to them, in case you need it for evidence later.
If you can’t speak to them face-to-face, you can write them a letter.
Tell them about the issue you would like to fix and how they can do their part.
Talk to your neighbour’s landlord
If your neighbour is a tenant, you can talk to their landlord. This could be the local council, a housing association or a private landlord.
Get support from a residents’ or tenants’ association
If there’s a residents’ or tenants’ association where you live, they might be able to offer additional support.
If more people complain, the dispute will be less personal, which may help your case.
Go though a mediation service
Mediators are independent and will listen to both sides to help you reach an agreement.
You might have to pay for mediation, but their is financial support available for those who are eligible.
Contact your local council
The local council can actually still help solve disputes between neighbours – even if the neighbours are not living in local council housing.
Contact a local councillor or MP
You can contact a local councillor or MP for help, you can find out who represents you through GOV.UK.
You can write them a letter outlining the issue, remember to keep a copy for yourself.
Contact the police
You can contact the police if a criminal offence is being committed – for example, if your neighbour is:
- being violent or harassing you
- making excessive noise – the police can visit the neighbour or issue fines to people who have failed to stop the noise after being asked to do so, or they can confiscate sound producing equipment
If you’re not sure whether what your neighbour is doing is a crime, contact your local council, phone 101, or contact your local police station for advice.
Consult a lawyer
You can send your neighbour a letter from a solicitor to show that you’re serious about your complaint.
A letter from a solicitor might help to explain the legal position in a dispute, for example if neighbours can’t agree about the position of a boundary.
Take legal action
Legal action should be a last resort after you’ve tried speaking to your neighbour and taking action through your local council.
Going to court might resolve the dispute but damage your relationship with your neighbours.
It’s also expensive unless you’re eligible for legal aid or are using the simple procedure.
