Hello dear members,
I discovered your lovely forum thanks to Google. Unfortunately, as is often the case, a problem has brought me here.
We are building an extension onto an existing semi-detached house in Baden-Württemberg.
We are building on a slab foundation. The friendly neighbor built his half with a basement.
We live 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) away from the construction site.
Therefore, with both of us working and having two children, we cannot be at the site all the time.
Yesterday morning, the workers began setting the formwork for the slab foundation.
When I arrived at the site yesterday, my friendly neighbor was already there waiting for me.
He yelled at me quite loudly and was extremely angry.
He said that the slab foundation towards his side was insulated only with Styrodur (extruded polystyrene).
One of the workers tried to explain that in addition to the Styrodur, a 4 cm (1.6 inch) soundproofing wall would be installed along the house.
Still, he did not calm down.
He just kept yelling. He said he would take pictures and that he would refuse to pay.
We have no intention of demanding any money from him.
I was really shocked!!!
Actually, he should be worried, since he built 3 cm (1.2 inches) of his house’s total length over our property boundary.
What is the legal situation here?
I told my husband about it.
He wanted to see a lawyer right away.
For me, maintaining peace with the neighbor is more important.
Please excuse my spelling mistakes and my lack of knowledge. I have two children and need to keep them happy at the same time.
Thank you,
Sandra
I discovered your lovely forum thanks to Google. Unfortunately, as is often the case, a problem has brought me here.
We are building an extension onto an existing semi-detached house in Baden-Württemberg.
We are building on a slab foundation. The friendly neighbor built his half with a basement.
We live 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) away from the construction site.
Therefore, with both of us working and having two children, we cannot be at the site all the time.
Yesterday morning, the workers began setting the formwork for the slab foundation.
When I arrived at the site yesterday, my friendly neighbor was already there waiting for me.
He yelled at me quite loudly and was extremely angry.
He said that the slab foundation towards his side was insulated only with Styrodur (extruded polystyrene).
One of the workers tried to explain that in addition to the Styrodur, a 4 cm (1.6 inch) soundproofing wall would be installed along the house.
Still, he did not calm down.
He just kept yelling. He said he would take pictures and that he would refuse to pay.
We have no intention of demanding any money from him.
I was really shocked!!!
Actually, he should be worried, since he built 3 cm (1.2 inches) of his house’s total length over our property boundary.
What is the legal situation here?
I told my husband about it.
He wanted to see a lawyer right away.
For me, maintaining peace with the neighbor is more important.
Please excuse my spelling mistakes and my lack of knowledge. I have two children and need to keep them happy at the same time.
Thank you,
Sandra
D
Deichwart29 Apr 2021 00:13Steven schrieb:
Hello
That’s often the case.
Of course, it’s understandable that parents no longer notice the noise and are happy when their children can play outside. That’s where the potential for conflict arises.
A long time ago, I had a second home (for work) in a city far away. Several apartment blocks were grouped around a courtyard. The courtyard was paved. Three sets of parents had discovered this refuge for their children. The kids could play unsupervised, which they did extensively. The worst were the tricycles with plastic wheels. Incredibly loud. When I asked the parents to replace the plastic wheels with rubber ones (which I found to be easily possible in my research), they firmly refused for cost reasons. I then looked for another apartment. Also, the communication among the parents and with the little rascals was shouting from balcony to balcony.
StevenAnd that behavior from these parents isn’t antisocial? Strange.Those who can afford to simply move apartments or sell their house are lucky. Generally, I would avoid such apartment blocks if necessary, as the potential for conflict is almost guaranteed.
Those who can’t must remind troublesome neighbors of their responsibilities. Period.
When you get new neighbors like this as an owner, conflict is almost guaranteed.
Not always, but more often.
This has nothing to do with being uptight or short-tempered, but because living closely together requires behavior that doesn’t always need to be corrected—like with toddlers (usually the result of poor parenting). Nowadays, some parents are so foolish that you can ONLY address them directly, because any subtle hints or facial expressions have little effect.
Most hot-tempered neighbors just expect self-reflection, not the individualism* and provocation that ALWAYS ends up in lawyers’ offices and courts.
The fact is: there is no right or law permitting noise and disturbance that reduces others’ quality of life. My freedom ends where it permanently disturbs others. I expect the same from others. Period. Courts rule that way about 90% of the time.
* Anyone who wants individualism and literally to “let loose” needs to find property or rental homes that can accommodate noise and space accordingly.
What I want and what I can do are two different things. Then, living with neighbors works.
Deichwart schrieb:
And this behavior from these parents is not antisocial? Strange.
Those who can afford to move quickly or sell their house are lucky. In general, I would avoid such apartment buildings if necessary, as the potential for conflict is practically guaranteed.
Those who cannot afford that have to remind annoying neighbors of their responsibilities. Period.
When you, as a property owner, get new neighbors like that, conflict is almost inevitable.
Not always, but increasingly often.
This has nothing to do with being narrow-minded or hot-tempered, but with the fact that living closely together requires behavior that doesn't have to be repeatedly pointed out—like with small children (usually due to poor parenting). Nowadays, some parents are so clueless that you can only get through to them directly, because even the clearest hints—judging by their facial expressions—have little effect.
Most short-tempered neighbors just want self-reflection, not individualism* or provocation that ALMOST ALWAYS ends up with lawyers and courts.
The fact is: there is no right or law allowing noise and disturbance of other people’s quality of life. My freedom ends where it could permanently disturb others. I expect the same from others. Period. This is how 90% of court rulings end as well.
* Those who want to express individualism and, figuratively speaking, “make as much noise as they want,” need to find property or rental units that allow that kind of noise and space.
What I want and what I can do are two different things. That’s how it works with neighbors. Aha, I see, well then, okay, first post in the forum on an old topic, sounds like “here I come,” fed the troll enough, and so on and so forth... goodbye.