Have you ever experienced the frustration of someone encroaching on your property, causing damage, and disrupting your peace? It’s a situation that can quickly escalate, leaving you feeling helpless and angry. In our next story, we delve into the tale of a man we’ll call “Stan,” who found himself caught in the midst of a perplexing predicament.
Good Fences
A man we’ll call “Stan” purchased a vast property at least five minutes from any other house when he bought it. As time passed, he noticed that people were moving closer and said it didn’t bother him much, not that he could do much about it anyway.
To access the main road easier, Stan put in a limited access that ran along his property so he wouldn’t have to drive another 15 or 20 minutes to get to the main outlet. His closest neighbors quickly noticed the access road and started using it, which didn’t bother him much.
Note of Thanks
Stan said that his neighbors started inviting family and friends over and that these guests would use his access road and park in his field, creating an almost constant inlet of people parking on his property, and never did anyone ask him if they could park there. Feeling frustrated, Stan built a stone fence around his property, cutting off the access road and the field many used to park their cars on.
The reactions he got from neighbors once the fence was up ranged from apologetic neighbors to those who told him off, usually adding colorful language to make their point.
After Effects
Stan was happy that his access road and field were once again under his control but felt bad for cutting off neighbors who didn’t cause problems and apologized for using his field and access outlet without asking.
Forum users quickly let Stan know what they thought of his situation.
Don’t Budge
One informed participant wanted Stan to know that he protected himself from more than just a torn-up field by fencing his property. “Your property, your rules. Also, if you DIDN’T do this, you could have ended up giving them a right-of-way easement without realizing it, depending on your local laws.
Don’t budge. Leave the fence. They may think in the future about asking permission instead of forgiveness.”
Legal Right of Way
Another user wanted Stan to know he could have inadvertently created a legal access point for his neighbors. “You were in danger of creating a legal right of way across your property by allowing your neighbors to use that shortcut. If you allow it for too long, you lose the right to block it off and become liable for its maintenance and any injuries or accidents that occur due to lack of it.”
Invitation
Someone suggested that Stan invite his nice neighbors for a barbecue as a friendly gesture without sacrificing his property to appease everyone else. “This was the right call. Invite the nice neighbors and their kids for a nice BBQ once it’s safe. You can find ways to be friendly without letting the crap neighbors take advantage of you or put you in a bad legal situation. Congrats on the new fence! It’ll be the best neighbor you ever have.”
Gate Keeper
One innovative person suggested installing a gate and allowing access to that locked gate to the ‘nice neighbors.’ “I’m so petty I would put a gate with a card reader or something and give cards to people I like in return for a little money for maintenance. If it’s a 15-minute difference, I would pay him hundreds a year.”
Liability
One person wanted Stan and everyone to know how liable they could be for anyone injured on their property. “All homeowners/property owners need to be aware of this. Even a broken leg by a kid doing something dumb without your knowledge, even as silly as tripping over something on your property, could make you liable for medical bills and maybe further compensation.”
Aptly Put
And as one individual so aptly put it, “No good deed goes unpunished.”
Understand
Another realist wanted Stan to know that life is just like that sometimes. “It can be challenging, especially because you don’t want everyone to suffer because of the rude people. It has to be that way sometimes. Plus, friendly people will understand.”
Play Stupid Games
A second participant said it like it is. “It’s your property; you have every right to do what you want. You were not the problem; the entitled jerks were taking advantage of your good nature. I would let everyone know who the culprits were in locking down access. Play stupid games, and win stupid prizes.”
Reality
More than one person thought this post was a bit off. “This isn’t real.
I can’t grasp how this works physically. How does your driveway, which goes from your house to a main road, result in a shortcut for neighbors when you’re on a property so spacious that you don’t even notice encroaching development?
There’s no physically reasonable way that this is true.
The stone fence is the illogical icing on the cake. You have a vast property and put up a masonry fence?!”
Sacrifice
One contributor admonished Stan to keep his fence. “Leave the stones up. They’ll get over it, and you can live peacefully. Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.”
Ownership
Whether or not this post is factual matters less than the commentary it brings up; creating a shortcut for yourself is perfect when it’s entirely on your property. But the legalities of right-of-way access can be tricky and are worth checking if you have a property like the one described in Stan’s story. And as we’ve all heard, “Good fences make good neighbors.” It’s not a ‘saying’ for nothing.
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