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“Sorry, Pumpkin”: Homeowner At Her Wit’s End After Enduring The Most Infuriating Neighbor
To most people, acting neighborly means being friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Need to borrow a cup of sugar? I’ve got you. Need someone to keep an eye on your car while you’re on vacation? Easy. Thank you, here are some freshly baked brownies I made, enjoy!
But we can’t all be best friends with our neighbors. And it’s definitely better to live next to strangers who don’t acknowledge your existence than to be stuck with neighbors who never leave you alone.
One homeowner recently posted on the ‘Entitled People’ subreddit detailing how her next-door neighbor started driving her crazy after turning her home into a rambunctious party house.
Below, you’ll find the full story, as well as some of the reactions from invested readers.
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Whether you live in an apartment building or a home in a residential neighborhood, there’s a good chance you’ve had an issue with one of your neighbors before. In fact, a survey from LendingTree found that 73% of Americans dislike at least one of their neighbors.
As far as why Americans decide that they aren’t fans of their neighbors, the top reasons cited were: giving off a “weird vibe,” making too much noise, being rude, having disruptive pets, being nosy or a busybody, failing to maintain the exterior of their home, having loud or unruly children, stealing parking spots, smoking, having differing political views, and using their home as a short-term rental property.
The neighbors in this story seem to check off at least two of those boxes! Apparently, noise complaints often come along with Airbnbs, IGMS notes on its site. This often leads to complaints, but the issue can quickly escalate.
For example, neighbors might check whether the Airbnb violates any municipal or community laws or regulations, in which case, the hosts might be fined or have to shut down the rental property. At the same time, disgruntled neighbors can report the property to Airbnb, which can lead to an investigation.
And if things really get out of hand, neighbors might call law enforcement or even file a lawsuit against the homeowners running a short-term rental property. Legal action is typically a last resort, as it can be an exhausting and expensive process for all involved. But it’s still wise for Airbnb hosts to take precautions and be considerate towards neighbors to minimize issues.
It’s an Airbnb host’s responsibility to make sure that their rental doesn’t wreak havoc on the entire neighborhood
Image credits: Curtis Adams/Pexels (not the actual photo)
IGMS recommends communicating with nearby residents and keeping them in the loop before hosting short-term guests. Answer any questions they have, provide them with a small token of appreciation, such as a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates, to be neighborly, and provide them with a form of communication to reach you in case issues ever arise.
It’s also a good idea to invest in software and tools to manage noise before guests arrive, as it’s much easier to prevent issues than to resolve them later. Hosts can also screen potential guests before accepting their requests by reading their previous reviews. It’s not worth it to have someone in your home who’s been known to make lots of noise and leave a mess if it means they might damage your property and your relationships with neighbors.
Finally, hosts should provide clear instructions for guests. Tell them exactly where to park (and where not to park), and give detailed directions for getting to the property and into the property. Make it clear that parties and loud events are prohibited, and ask them to kindly respect your neighbors. And if necessary, alert them of any penalties they may face for failing to abide by the rules.
Conflicts with neighbors are inevitable, whether you live in a suburb full of quiet families or a building packed with college students. So it’s important for everyone to know how to keep the peace and mitigate or minimize conflicts. After all, your home is where you should feel most comfortable. You shouldn’t have to worry about having awkward run-ins with the couple next door or fear that you’ll find an aggressive note on your car’s windshield when you leave for work in the morning.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. How would you respond to an issue like this with a neighbor? Feel free to share, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article featuring drama between neighbors, look no further than right here!
Readers shared their reactions to the story, including suggestions for what the homeowner can do next, and she joined in on the conversation
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What do you think ?
Con O Cuinn 1 month ago
That was such an unsatisfying read. OP really acting like "I showed her" when she had already done months of free labour for her.
Tabitha 1 month ago (edited)
I used to work in resort real estate rentals—-in Maryland. We HATED it when the effing sales agents would lie to buyers of beach properties by telling them the weekly summer rental income will pay their mortgage. IT WILL NOT! You do not pocket 100% of the weekly rent. The collected rent money pays to have it managed locally, as well as cleaned between renters, to have a maintenance vendor do repairs, and replace whatever wears out or breaks—-and believe me, some properties have some age on them and their floors, walls, fixtures, and appliances date from when they were built decades ago. They’re already worn out, and now you’re going to rent them out to people who are going to accelerate that wear and tear. Oh yeah, and you have to pay to PROPERLY winterize them because the beach in Maryland is freezing cold and susceptible to nor’easters (basically winter hurricanes that can stick around for days—-and multiple high tides) in winter, and you don’t want to risk your pipes bursting or roof caving in. In other words, you only keep a fraction of the collected rent after paying all the expenses, and considering how expensive beach real estate is, it will NEVER pay the mortgage for you. That c**p was the crooked norm before the real estate bubble broke and so many people’s mortgages were underwater. Those beach properties, not being their actual homes, were immediately put up for sale to try to get out from under those additional underwater mortgages. Do NOT buy a vacation home if you cannot afford it, ffs! If any sales agent tries to tell you that, RUN!
Pferdchen 1 month ago
I have questions. To my knowledge, Florida law prohibits local jurisdictions from having any regulations restricting short-term rentals; note that HOAs are not considered local jurisdictions. They can, however, require out-of-state short-term rental owners to have a local agent that can be contacted when there are problems. As for noise ordinances, those are enforced just about as strictly as prohibitions on fireworks.
Gabby M 1 month ago
Many towns and cities all over the country are clamping down on STR. I work for a single client in my town (very touristy in the summer) She is super on top of things. And I get paid for all my work! People just need to find a local who needs work. No management co. needed. Of course, if you can afford it hire one.
Load More Replies...
Con O Cuinn 1 month ago
That was such an unsatisfying read. OP really acting like "I showed her" when she had already done months of free labour for her.
Tabitha 1 month ago (edited)
I used to work in resort real estate rentals—-in Maryland. We HATED it when the effing sales agents would lie to buyers of beach properties by telling them the weekly summer rental income will pay their mortgage. IT WILL NOT! You do not pocket 100% of the weekly rent. The collected rent money pays to have it managed locally, as well as cleaned between renters, to have a maintenance vendor do repairs, and replace whatever wears out or breaks—-and believe me, some properties have some age on them and their floors, walls, fixtures, and appliances date from when they were built decades ago. They’re already worn out, and now you’re going to rent them out to people who are going to accelerate that wear and tear. Oh yeah, and you have to pay to PROPERLY winterize them because the beach in Maryland is freezing cold and susceptible to nor’easters (basically winter hurricanes that can stick around for days—-and multiple high tides) in winter, and you don’t want to risk your pipes bursting or roof caving in. In other words, you only keep a fraction of the collected rent after paying all the expenses, and considering how expensive beach real estate is, it will NEVER pay the mortgage for you. That c**p was the crooked norm before the real estate bubble broke and so many people’s mortgages were underwater. Those beach properties, not being their actual homes, were immediately put up for sale to try to get out from under those additional underwater mortgages. Do NOT buy a vacation home if you cannot afford it, ffs! If any sales agent tries to tell you that, RUN!
Pferdchen 1 month ago
I have questions. To my knowledge, Florida law prohibits local jurisdictions from having any regulations restricting short-term rentals; note that HOAs are not considered local jurisdictions. They can, however, require out-of-state short-term rental owners to have a local agent that can be contacted when there are problems. As for noise ordinances, those are enforced just about as strictly as prohibitions on fireworks.
Gabby M 1 month ago
Many towns and cities all over the country are clamping down on STR. I work for a single client in my town (very touristy in the summer) She is super on top of things. And I get paid for all my work! People just need to find a local who needs work. No management co. needed. Of course, if you can afford it hire one.
Load More Replies...
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