Neighbours having fires every night, what can I do?

Posted by Betht1998@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 40 comments

Hi, my next door neighbours have been having fires in their fire pit every night. My house is a council house but they own theirs. It's been almost every night this week and the smell of the smoke is getting into all the rooms in my house. I have a bird and it's not good for him at all.

Is there anything I can do??

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PastLanguage4066@reddit

Let the bird go free?

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Betht1998@reddit (OP)

He's a domestic bird. The crows would eat him in 5 minutes. Plus he couldn't survive without his nightly cuddles

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twonaq@reddit

Youd probably be doing it a favour then.

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Character_Silver4285@reddit

Use your words and talk to them. Is it that hard?

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fredster2004@reddit

Do you really think the sort of people who would selfishly burn fires in a residential area every night would be amenable to a neighbour having words with them?

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Whatsanegg@reddit

Somebody is enjoying a fire pit in their own garden when the weather allows and they're "the sort of selfish people"?

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quite_acceptable_man@reddit

Yes when they live close to other people who may want to enjoy their gardens.

Just because you own a property, doesn't mean you get to do what you want when it affects the people around you.

Same as the people who put speakers in their gardens and subject everyone around them to their music.

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Whatsanegg@reddit

So because you also have a garden, I can never use a firepit in my garden?

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quite_acceptable_man@reddit

Because many people close you have gardens, you should consider using a firepit a pretty selfish thing to do.

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Whatsanegg@reddit

So once again, you're saying because I can't afford to live in a detached house with 5 acres of land I can never use a firepit in my garden?

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quite_acceptable_man@reddit

Correct. Why should your neighbours have to put up with your smoke and smell just because you want to burn stuff. Same as playing music in your garden.

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Whatsanegg@reddit

So let me get this straight, you want everything to be perfect for you at the cost of other people's freedom?

I can't make any noise or BBQ or have a firepit in my own backgarden because you want all your windows open and no noise?

Smells and noises are a part of life mate, shut your windows and get some headphones if it bothers you.

Sounds like you're the problem, not the person enjoying their own garden.

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quite_acceptable_man@reddit

So as long as you're enjoying your garden, fuck everyone else who can't enjoy theirs because you've filled it with smoke and shit music?

People like you are why plenty of housing estates have bylaws and covenants on burning stuff and making noise.

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Whatsanegg@reddit

Absolutely nothing stopping them from using their own garden pal.

The person having a firepit in their garden is using their OWN garden, they ain't using yours, they're not masters of the wind or soundwaves.

I don't even have a garden, but your argument is a rediculous authoritarian pipedream.

You gonna stand outside and shout at all the cars making noise on the road?

People like you are out of touch NIMBY boomers that feel entitled to dictate to everyone around you.

Stay salty pal

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quite_acceptable_man@reddit

They are using my garden. They are filling it full of smoke and smells.

It's probably a good thing that you don't have a garden, you don't seem mature enough to be able to live near other people, although I'm sure you're a nightmare for your neighbours in whatever block of flats you live in. I expect they have to put up with you blasting music, because you think you have a right to do it in your own home.

And I'm nowhere near old enough to be a boomer.

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Whatsanegg@reddit

Ahahaha I don't blast music buddy, but if you wanna make stuff up to make yourself feel better go for it.

If there was a natural fire somewhere and the smoke was blowing into your garden, would you say it's using your garden lmao

Absolutely delirious

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ChristyCloud@reddit

There were some kids shouting in my neighbours garden last night.

Based off this thread I've summarily executed the offenders for them impinging on my quiet enjoyment.

Later that night my other neighbour cooked some dinner and I could smell it in my garden, as a precaution I have reported that neighbour to the international court of justice

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No-Assumption-1738@reddit

Why not just enjoy it with the smoke and music?

I understand some people have sensory issues but for the vast majority a bit of music during the day or the smell of smoke traveling doesn’t impact garden use at all.

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Be-My-Enemy@reddit

It's worth trying, disengage if not receptive and go through other channels.

The amount of people being unwilling to have a basic conversation with neighbours is absolutely unreal

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catmadwoman@reddit

Agree. Maybe the people commenting don't live on a council estate. I was brought up on one and my daughter still lives on one. Perfectly good nice people generally but most wouldn't gaf about fires in their back garden.

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Opposite_Funny9958@reddit

They might be, you never know - I was that neighbour who moved in and burned garden rubbish, but when my neighbours said it was a problem I stopped doing it and got a compost bin instead.

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TheLightStalker@reddit

Is your city a snoke free air zone? Do they have a local covenant that says no fires?

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Over-Language2599@reddit

That doesn't really matter, it's obviously a selfish, antisocial thing to do if you live in close proximity to other people. Just as playing loud music, shouting, swearing, screaming at 2am would be.

Yes, there's a covenant, the unwritten covenant of decent behaviour.

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No_Height_2408@reddit

Sounds like they are relaxing and enjoying their garden tbh

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Betht1998@reddit (OP)

Nothing wrong with it, but every night with the fire so close to the house??? Dangerous especially considering I heard him say he fell asleep in front of it and woke up with burn marks on his t-shirt

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LordLuciferVI@reddit

Are you pulling my pizzle?

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Despondent-Kitten@reddit

I think that information really should have been included in the main post, yeah.

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No_Height_2408@reddit

None of that information is in the post though is it

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Betht1998@reddit (OP)

mate come on

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No_Height_2408@reddit

Come on what? Shut your windows / trickle vents and you won't smell anything

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Poison_Jaguar@reddit

If your bird is a bloke, you have more serious issues

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AskUK-ModTeam@reddit

A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question.

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Betht1998@reddit (OP)

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naughtyprincessspace@reddit

talk to your neighbors calmly

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Thats_my_nirnroot@reddit

Best approach is to start friendly.

Ask them about the fires, and see if they have any issues with smoke in their house..

Then telly hem that you think you have an issue with your council house, in that the windows/doors aren't doing a good enough job at keeping the smoke out.

Make the council the common enemy...

But in the meantime, ask if they can try and do it a bit less often, while you try and find a solution.

I think it's only worth making it an issue, if theyr just genuinely not interested in accomidating you as a neighbour...

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Mikey463@reddit

You will need to contact your local council.

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Nearby_Werewolf1742@reddit

If it is every single night and prevents you from enjoying your garden or opening windows I would call that a nuisance and can be reported but perhaps they don't realise it's bothering anyone. I would definitely talk to them nicely first. Maybe they could compromise to a couple of times per week rather than every single day.

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