Entitled Newcomer Expects Neighbor To Shovel Their Driveway, Blames Him For Missing Work Due To Snow
A confused man turned to the AITA community on Reddit to find out if he was wrong to not snow blow his neighbor’s driveway.
The Redditor Tazookeeper explained that it all started when the new neighbors moved in. During the neighbor greeting, the author noticed that they didn’t have any lawn mowers or snow blower.
“We told them that they should get those things sooner rather than later since we typically start getting snow in November,” Tazookeeper recounted. But the neighbor not only didn’t listen to the author’s advice, he kept requesting that he take care of his lawn and driveway, depending on the season.
Read on below to see how the whole situation evolved, and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments!
A man wonders if he was wrong to refuse to snow blow his new neighbor’s driveway after he missed work during a snowstorm
Image credits: Jeremy T. Hetzel (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Alex Bellink (not the actual photo)
Image credits: tazookeeper
While doing an occasional favor and shoveling our neighbors’ snow is an act of goodness we should all practice more, it doesn’t mean we have to do that. After all, the burdens and costs of winter upkeep are generally dictated by state laws, and more often than not, it goes to the property owner.
Bruce Mohr, senior investment advisor and credit consultant at Fair Credit, argues that many states, including Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, make it clear that the property owner is responsible for snow removal and only has a certain amount of time to do so.
“Normally, the owner of a building, or place of business, that is adjacent to a public walkway or sidewalk is responsible for keeping the walkway free of snow and ice. These regulations set deadlines for when snow needs to be cleared, and breaking them will cost you money.”
Sometimes, it may come down to the homeowners’ association (HOA) who take care of the roads and sidewalks if they’ve already agreed to. “As far as fences go, whoever has the back of the fence facing their yard (the side with horizontal panels across the boards) is responsible for any repairs,” David Lewis, owner and financial expert at Monegenix, explained.
Many people slammed the entitled neighbor and said that the author did nothing wrong
When you live in places that get a lot of snow you have to be prepared to deal with it. In Wyoming we help each other out every winter. If you are an entitled jerk, ALL of your neighbors will stop helping. I would have pushed a shovel at this guy and slammed the door.
Or even better, shove a Lowe's or Home Depot catalog at him. And then of course, slam the door.
I think this is more about taking advantage of a kind, passive person than anything else. The fact he's gone online to actually ask if HE is in the wrong to not clear the neighbours snow, proves how much of a push over he is. I hate it when nice people like this get taken advantage of. It just stinks. It's like entitled a******s always seek out kinder people and sponge off them.
Sounds like his wife likely takes advantage of his passivity to some degree as well. I feel for the dude.
If this scenario were real, which I don't think it is, he should just say taking care of his OWN property is a big enough risk on his heart!! Because that's true!!!!
So you don't think this is real? That there are no families like these new comers who grossly take advantage of the kindness, and good manners of a particular type of person who was raised to help others such as the OP. What an amazing world you live in.... where no one is a shady scumbag having 24/7 Karen moments of entitlement? So lucky.
When dealing with neighbors like these, the first question is- is this their first home? It's amazing how many people who have lived in apartments all their lives don't realize what buying a home entails. They don't realize that being a homeowner means that they are not only 'The Landlord,' buy maintenance, and grounds keeper.
Since I met a girl at uni who was astonished she had to pay rent every month, I'm prerry sure some people have just no clue.
That actually sounds MORE plausible than the the neighbors demanding to be "snowblown". A young, naive student might have no idea about what things cost and think it was a one time or yearly payment like tuition.
Spending 20 years working for a large college, I can verify that some students are clueless. After living with mommy and daddy all they're life, not doing any chores, they don't know how to do anything themselves. Can't pay their own bills, can't do their own laundry, can't cook, etc. I've never seen a bigger pigsty that a sorority bedroom. Lol. College is a harsh reality for many of them.
Pls excuse those typos.
Yep got neighbors exactly like this, one side learned after the first winter that ya need to buy some stuff and we help each other, the other side waits it out hoping we'd help but never bothered to get equipment even after years. So we don't offer anymore. And if anything because of age and family size and disability we should be the ones getting the help. So when we see able bodied people who won't lift a finger to help themselves much less someone else, it's not my problem anymore.
Still better than a hoa, their maintenance suck and keep going up. Better to be able to do it yourself or hire someone else
When you live in places that get a lot of snow you have to be prepared to deal with it. In Wyoming we help each other out every winter. If you are an entitled jerk, ALL of your neighbors will stop helping. I would have pushed a shovel at this guy and slammed the door.
Or even better, shove a Lowe's or Home Depot catalog at him. And then of course, slam the door.
I think this is more about taking advantage of a kind, passive person than anything else. The fact he's gone online to actually ask if HE is in the wrong to not clear the neighbours snow, proves how much of a push over he is. I hate it when nice people like this get taken advantage of. It just stinks. It's like entitled a******s always seek out kinder people and sponge off them.
Sounds like his wife likely takes advantage of his passivity to some degree as well. I feel for the dude.
If this scenario were real, which I don't think it is, he should just say taking care of his OWN property is a big enough risk on his heart!! Because that's true!!!!
So you don't think this is real? That there are no families like these new comers who grossly take advantage of the kindness, and good manners of a particular type of person who was raised to help others such as the OP. What an amazing world you live in.... where no one is a shady scumbag having 24/7 Karen moments of entitlement? So lucky.
When dealing with neighbors like these, the first question is- is this their first home? It's amazing how many people who have lived in apartments all their lives don't realize what buying a home entails. They don't realize that being a homeowner means that they are not only 'The Landlord,' buy maintenance, and grounds keeper.
Since I met a girl at uni who was astonished she had to pay rent every month, I'm prerry sure some people have just no clue.
That actually sounds MORE plausible than the the neighbors demanding to be "snowblown". A young, naive student might have no idea about what things cost and think it was a one time or yearly payment like tuition.
Spending 20 years working for a large college, I can verify that some students are clueless. After living with mommy and daddy all they're life, not doing any chores, they don't know how to do anything themselves. Can't pay their own bills, can't do their own laundry, can't cook, etc. I've never seen a bigger pigsty that a sorority bedroom. Lol. College is a harsh reality for many of them.
Pls excuse those typos.
Yep got neighbors exactly like this, one side learned after the first winter that ya need to buy some stuff and we help each other, the other side waits it out hoping we'd help but never bothered to get equipment even after years. So we don't offer anymore. And if anything because of age and family size and disability we should be the ones getting the help. So when we see able bodied people who won't lift a finger to help themselves much less someone else, it's not my problem anymore.
Still better than a hoa, their maintenance suck and keep going up. Better to be able to do it yourself or hire someone else