Neighbour's Builders Littering in My Yard

sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 17:36

So have found myself in a situation I'm not sure whether I should take action with or not…

Scenario: Have finished building a house and got the keys and am currently waiting on getting the driveway done. The neighbours next door to us have only recently started building a few months ago. While getting a quote during a weekday (took the day off work) I noticed the neighbour's builders having their tools plugged into my house's alfresco area power outlet. I was a bit annoyed as really they should be using their own/the residents'.

I got to thinking that they've probably been doing this for a while as no one is really at the house since we havent moved in yet. As i dont believe i should have to rack up THEIR electricity costs i turned off the power at the box and locked it up. Also turned off the water and locked that up too for good measure. Since then when i've popped by for more quotes ive noticed rubbish being littered at the house a few times (kfc boxes, gatorade bottles etc) in the alfresco + backyard. I feel like these builders probably didnt take what i did too well and are now doing this on purpose. Is this something worth chatting to them/their site manager about?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • thatonethere on 29/07/2017 - 17:58
    +38

    Find out who the project manager or licensed builder is and complain. Look for any unsafe practices and report them to Worksafe etc.

    • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 22:28
      +2

      They strangely don't even have a poster of builder details, contact details etc on their fence. I might just need to pop around during the weekday again to try run into the site manager

      • gimli on 30/07/2017 - 20:16
        +51

        Build a wall around your house and make the builders pay for it.

        And make your house great again!

        • drprox on 31/07/2017 - 10:40
          +1

          almost sounds like a slogan.. "make OP's house great again"

        • wtfnodeal on 01/08/2017 - 19:52

          "Wall", "great".. "Great Wall"!

    • gitl on 31/07/2017 - 12:42
      +3

      Actually, just on that (practices), I would get one of those XiaoFang cameras that keeps popping up on this site every now and again, mount it up high and have proof of what they are doing. At the very least they can be named and shamed on the internet lol.

  • supnigs super skids on 29/07/2017 - 18:08
    +15

    Chuck their shit back in their trailer

    • gimli on 31/07/2017 - 19:53
      +1

      that might make them angrier. then who knows what they will chuck

  • airal3rt on 29/07/2017 - 18:11
    +11

    Just throw it back onto their property with interest, if you confront them or their manager they will be more likely to fu*k with you further.

    • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 22:30

      Yes that's what I'm worried about… I don't want to come around and see a broken window one day

      • gimli on 31/07/2017 - 19:54
        -2

        install shutters on your windows then chuck the rubbish back

  • sparkles on 29/07/2017 - 18:12
    +4

    How are they accessing your property? Do you have a fence? They are essentially trespassing.

    • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 22:36

      Our builders took down our temp fencing after we got the keys. Next doors builders only put up 3 fence sides if that makes sense (as our fence was already separating our block from theirs). Since ours has been taken down there now isn't any fence on our shared side…

      • gguu on 30/07/2017 - 20:18
        +1

        So they have a building site not fenced? Sounds not safe to me. Try contacting the building supervisor, ask tradies, they should know, it's the one who hired them.

  • whooah1979 on 29/07/2017 - 18:36
    +59

    Me thinks you should turn the power and water back on. Then go there one day on your sick day. Wait for them to use the corded power tools, walk pass the cord, trip over the cord, hit the ground, grab your knee or ankle and shout out. Then limp to the foreman/manager and tell them you're going to the doc to have it looked and hope that their public liability insurance is up to date.

    • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 22:44

      Lol this is great. Though it might open a whole other can of worms with them

  • fruit on 29/07/2017 - 18:49
    +3

    Bikies

    • subywagon on 29/07/2017 - 20:25
      +7

      Bickies.

    • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 22:44
      +9

      Can you PM me their number

      • samcro on 30/07/2017 - 11:23
        +21

        1800 ARNOTTS

    • cdaddy on 30/07/2017 - 14:12
      +12

      Brickies

    • Baysew on 31/07/2017 - 15:43
      -1

      Crikey.

    • ankor on 31/07/2017 - 20:04

      The tradies are probably the bikies..

  • nubzy on 29/07/2017 - 18:54
    +8

    Not acceptable. I'd pick it up and put it back in their ute tray. They need to find their own power source and learn some basic manners. I'd probably be inclined to leave a negative review for their business on Google as well.

  • coxjon on 29/07/2017 - 19:08

    Possibly it'sjust blowing there from the wind? I'm in the same situation and had 30 door handle boxes blowing up and down the drive, just checked them back over the fence. The meat pie wrappers fly a long way around our development and end up getting trapped at the end of our drive (battle axe block).

    • montorola on 29/07/2017 - 20:44
      +6

      Lol what a coincidence, OP cuts off the power and water and all of a sudden the wind picks up and dumps litter on the lawn lol

      • coxjon on 29/07/2017 - 20:50
        +1

        I don't the know op described one event leading to the other, it's just negligence, the builders don't care whose property their choc chill cartons land on

        • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 22:52
          +2

          I feel like its definitely on purpose as have never seen that much rubbish conveniently piled up in the corner of our lot and sometimes alfresco since only recently after i turned everything off.. and these guys have been building for probably 2-3 months now. They have a rubbish pile at the front of their house too so they could have just put it all there if not wanting to ruffle any feathers

        • Slippery Fish on 31/07/2017 - 07:59
          +1

          @sarahx0x: if it's on your property you can keep it until you allow them to collect it by law (at least in qld). I know of a fella who wouldn't give some shonky guys their tractor back till they cleaned up his property properly after they grew tomato's.

          The other option is turn off power then mow your lawn over the cord :p

    • Sigiriya on 31/07/2017 - 06:42

      I am with you. Was in the same situation 3 years back. Builders plugging in to the power and water, rubbish blowing to our block. (we were the first to build). I have unplugged the plug and said pls talk to their builder and organise there own which they did. When the tradies changed they try to do the same and I told them the same. Some offered money for using power. I said it is not about money and my privacy is more important. There are the repercussions of being the first in the block.

  • subywagon on 29/07/2017 - 20:27
    +11

    lol I'd go off my frigging head. If I'd found their tools plugged in on my property, I'd pack them up and keep them. Or else cut the cords. Chuck the rubbish back in their yard.

    • Slippery Fish on 31/07/2017 - 08:01

      Damaging the equipment makes you liable. It's the equivalent of "he stole my bikkeys so I broke his teeth to stop him!"

      • geoffellis on 31/07/2017 - 21:10
        +1

        I don't know what bikkeys are, but if they're on your property stealing them, i'd say breaking their teeth to prevent it isn't completely unreasonable.

        • gimli on 31/07/2017 - 21:36

          then op would have to clean up broken teeth from his property

  • Davo1111 on 29/07/2017 - 21:17
    -1

    Do you have a fence? have you told them to stay off your property?

    my bet is no to both.

    • whooah1979 on 29/07/2017 - 22:13
      +8

      Do you have a fence? have you told them to stay off your property?

      op shouldn't have to tell them to not enter the property and use the electricity. a decent person with manners knows not to do this regardless of any fences. the tradies that op describes sounds like those shonky ones on aca/tt.

      • Davo1111 on 31/07/2017 - 20:14

        He shouldn't have to, but now it has occurred he needs to.

        • gimli on 31/07/2017 - 21:36

          would you tell a thief to stop stealing from you because they have now stolen from you?

        • Davo1111 on 01/08/2017 - 15:41

          @Gimli: yes I would. "Next time I catch you stealing from me I'll…."

    • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 23:01

      Part of our fence is scheduled in for the next few weeks as our other neighbours have just finished up their build too. We'll probably hold off putting a fence up on the side of the littering builders until they're done as would rather not get into any beef if damage was to occur to it.

      I personally don't feel like I need to be told to stay off others property but maybe I'll have to do just that to them if it continues.

      • Slippery Fish on 31/07/2017 - 08:03
        +5

        Get em back, build the fence 30cm onto their land then in 10 years adversely posess it. It's all about the long game.

        • Domingo on 01/08/2017 - 14:54

          Someone attempted that on my parents' block. A surveyor figured it out and now they're up for the costs of moving their fence which has electric gates attached to it.

        • Slippery Fish on 01/08/2017 - 19:19

          @Domingo: lol my grandparents did it when the new neighbour complained after they owned it for 25 years, and the fence was up before that…

    • gimli on 31/07/2017 - 19:56

      would you tell a thief to stop stealing from you?

  • capslock on 29/07/2017 - 21:34
    +1

    Maybe build a fence?

    • sarahx0x on 29/07/2017 - 23:02

      in the works

  • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 09:34
    +13

    The fact that they are builders leaves them with more liability than a random squatter.

    They're littering, trespassing and stealing electricity. I'd document with a hidden camera, and send them to the appropriate body as a formal complaint. I wouldn't bother trying to negotiate with goons.

    Let them take the hit to their livelihoods. They know what they're doing and they wouldnt give two shits that you're living in their filth and paying their way.

  • PropertyPig on 30/07/2017 - 09:38
    +8

    I'd buy a wireless security camera, put some in your house, (put a sign at Somewhere that your house is being monitored) and see if you can catch what they're doing. Put up a no trespassing sign too. They could be doing way worse stuff that you don't know. If they're just leaving rubbish, i'd contact the builders, if it's something worse, damage etc, i'd go to the police.

    Edit: just spoke to my partner (property developer) says legally they have to have signage up. It's illegal to not have it. You can call the council, dob them in for that. With their DA, the council should be able to find out the registers builder name and details.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 09:55
    -8

    Name checks out

  • itsdougie on 30/07/2017 - 11:23
    +3

    Next time you have a day off and they are there using your electricity.
    Get a jerry can, get a hose and siphon their fuel from their ute or car.
    if they get angry you tell them call it fair trade.

  • Plug on 30/07/2017 - 12:29
    +10

    Using your utilities without your permission is theft. Plain and simple.

      • infinite on 30/07/2017 - 14:27
        +20

        Yes.

  • laupito on 30/07/2017 - 13:51
    +14

    I had the same situation with the builders next door helping themselves to my power.
    I contacted the builders franchise and asked why their builders had trespassed on to my property and were stealing from me which garnered enough of a response for them to give me the contact details for the site foreman.
    The site foreman, to his credit, was very accomodating and had the tradesman who was using my power stop instantly and assured me that it was a single incident (later backed up by checking my power bill). A week later he dropped off a $100 Bunnings voucher too as a good will gesture and compensation.
    Only thing that left me annoyed was the tradesman who had trespassed was suppose to come and apologise in person but he never did.

  • TheBilly on 30/07/2017 - 15:53
    +11

    I wouldnt take it as some passive aggressive attack on you. To be honest I am working with tradies daily, a large majority of them are in-considerate and ignorant and probably too stupid to realise the impact their actions have on others around them. Just because their carpenters or plumbers etc and people think they earn alot. it doesnt mean they are all the cream of the crop rich smart business owners, who are just great managers with social ettiqute, 90% are just dumbasses that get told what to do, earn shit money and are no different to a labourer, mostly not qualified either. Try and contact the builder, if no luck, contact council they can atleast either take action for you or prod you in the right direction as to who the builder is. Dont approach yourself, not your headache. Either push council or push the builder.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 18:27
    +2

    Had a similar issue like the OP and I cut there hose in 4 placed and then proceeded to threaten the workers….. when you know where they live they shut up pretty quickly.

    • jlogic on 30/07/2017 - 18:40

      You a bikie?

      • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 18:53

        Bikie tendancies.

        • subywagon on 31/07/2017 - 00:06
          +3

          Have you got any bickies?

        • [Deactivated] on 31/07/2017 - 08:58
          +3

          @subywagon: yes choc chunky chip.

          They are ok.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2017 - 18:45
    +1

    Grow a pair and talk to them. FFS, it's really not that hard.

    • D6C1 on 31/07/2017 - 22:32

      I think its a chick going by the name Sarahx0x… sooo growing a pair is impossible

      • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2017 - 05:29
        -1

        Figure of speech….

        • D6C1 on 01/08/2017 - 08:17
          +2

          Oh I wouldn't have figured

        • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2017 - 18:29
          -2

          @D6C1:
          Sound a little triggered there??

      • thefud on 01/08/2017 - 11:21

        Did you just assume that snagseb assumed OP's gender?

        • D6C1 on 01/08/2017 - 14:34

          What do you think?

  • Randxyz123 on 30/07/2017 - 19:04
    +1

    The foreman's number should be listed on the sign on the property… Call them and ask about the power cables. I mean if the property they're working on has no power /water just tell them they can pay you for whatever the cost is at the end of the month. You should be able to check online.

  • onlyletters on 30/07/2017 - 19:57

    It's easy throw it all back and tell them to pay for the power or f off

  • JimmyF on 30/07/2017 - 21:50
    +1

    Toss that crap back over the fence. Move on.

  • nobarginsarehere on 30/07/2017 - 22:39
    +1

    Unplug the power tools / ext lead and cut it

    • tomleonhart on 02/08/2017 - 07:35

      3 comments attacking OP, you're not the builder in question, are you?

      • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2017 - 23:45

        Do you need a quote?

  • maximum on 31/07/2017 - 00:25

    contact council they need a fence for building regulations. The tradies will change from week to week depending what stage they are up to so you need to get the builders details. They need to make it clear it's not on leaving rubbish trespassing etc.

    When I had an issue with a neighbours builder parking across our driveway I raised it directly with him politely (my kids had to cross the road dangerously to get to the school bus)and got a mouthful of attitude.

    A call to workcover about the lack of a fence shut them down for a fortnight while it was organised and checked. (Don't worry about my new neighbours they were a***holes).I made sure the builder knew which tradesman pushed my buttons and he forced him to come and apologise. Most building sites have work cover violations and no building company wants an inspection if it can be avoided.

  • drfuzzy on 31/07/2017 - 01:09
    +1

    My builder is using my neighbour's power and agreed to pay her entire electricity bills for the duration of construction.

    • Donaldhump on 31/07/2017 - 08:24
      +1

      Yeh but I'm guessing you informed your neighbour

      • drfuzzy on 31/07/2017 - 13:53
        -1

        We didn't inform her. We asked her permission.
        We are using a fraction of her electricity but paying 100% of the bill.
        If a neighbour offered to do this for me I would be jumping for joy.

        • Donaldhump on 31/07/2017 - 14:30
          +1

          asking permission, and her replying "ok", is informing her.

          the current person hasn't been informed.

          different kettle of fish

        • jorf on 31/07/2017 - 15:39

          It's actually very good for the people who need the power too - temporary pole, plus disconnect ($330 if required), plus a reconnect (another $330), plus a sparky to run cabling to the property is well in excess of what most people would spend on 9+ months of power.

        • drfuzzy on 01/08/2017 - 17:47

          @unclesnake:

          I think you've missed the point. I'm trying to point out how it should be done.

      • drfuzzy on 31/07/2017 - 13:54

        Did you ask your neighbour to pay your electricty bill? What did he or she say?

    • D6C1 on 31/07/2017 - 22:31

      Really? Written? Verbal stands no chance if they pulled a shifty

  • nautic on 31/07/2017 - 07:33
    +4

    the bogan will think the world owes him everything and will do as he pleases, until he gets what he deserves.

  • Donaldhump on 31/07/2017 - 08:24
    +1

    Buy a Rottweiler and tie him up to your porch

    • kungfupanda on 31/07/2017 - 10:03

      OP hasn't moved in yet… the Rottweiler will just get "kidnapped" and possibly sold for $$$

  • [Deactivated] on 31/07/2017 - 10:04
    +8

    Builders are scum. You'll never win with them.

    • drfuzzy on 31/07/2017 - 19:54

      That's a bit harsh.

      <insert occupation here> are scum.

      N.B. I'm not a builder or in the building industry.

      • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2017 - 08:44
        +4

        Read the examples in this thread.

        My assertion is based on bitter experience. I stand by it.

  • h0mbre on 31/07/2017 - 12:43

    Call Council.
    You'll never win trying to sort it out yourself.

  • EnALup on 31/07/2017 - 14:44
    +2

    I have similar situation where neighbour builder has to use our front ( countil area after the footpath) to park their vehicles as they are too close to a round about. I understood their situations, but asked builder if they will rebuild that area. They gave verbal yes, but I asked for written. They never replied.
    After months of waiting, I raised it with the council who told me that as it is with Private Certifier, I need to raise it with them. Got their details from council and Private certifier looked at my pictures and issued a asked the builder and then escalated it to council. Builder didnt have nay soil and sediment control, was dumping dirt near our common fence, etc. Keep taking pictures to back your case. It will be a bit slow, but they will learn.

  • Godric on 31/07/2017 - 17:32
    -1

    Bikies?

  • clement1986 on 31/07/2017 - 21:33

    Put a camera and get it to the relevant authorities(council, police, building body, bikies, etc). Or post the behaviour online, send to channel 7, so much you can do…

  • bjinco on 31/07/2017 - 23:14

    take a picture for evidence then submit to their office via email.

  • cantstanzya on 01/08/2017 - 18:54

    Contact the building company or estate developer via email (for record keeping). The guys who are causing you trouble will be the contractors. These are not the people who will pay the fines ect for the issues you have been describing.
    Tell the real people in charge the story so far. Give them the opportunity to take action. If they don't then contact council. You can also contact qbcc for advice.

  • CheapskateJake on 01/08/2017 - 21:13
    -1

    Chat with them and say you can't let them use your electricity but after that, let it go. They're only going to be there for a few more weeks. Once you have a fence up you won't have the problem anymore. I get random garbage flying onto my yard from time to time, a kfc box and some gatorade bottles are not a big deal. You can maybe even pull your bin to where the rubbush is and leave it there so they have somewhere to chuck their stuff. I'm sure they'll understand if you give it to them straight. They might not like it, but they'll understand.

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