Rod wrote:
How would you handle this?

We've lived here 17 yrs, rather a "newbie" in the neighborhood. Rest of
neighbors pretty much lived in the area since the homes were built 30 yrs
ago.

This concerns lot boundaries. The neighbors on both sides of me would mow
close to the center between the houses. My house is just 44 ft wide with
garage in front. on a 88 ft wide lot. All lots are 88 ft wide. The one
neighbors house is 36 ft wide with a 21 ft side attached garage. Other
neighbor is 33 ft wide with a 21 ft side attached garage.

Both neighbors like to mow super short which burns out their yards but
they
don't have to mow but once a week or bi-weekly this way. I like keeping my
grass tall and mow twice a week.

I finally had a survey done, of course the boundary lines are not the
center
between the houses. I have more side yard because my house takes up less
space.

Both neighbors seen the survey stakes and iron pipe. The one started
mowing
where his property leaves off instead of mowing part of my yard. The
other
neighbor continues to mow down the center. I wouldn't care but as I said
he
mows so cotton picken short he burns out my grass.

I approached him and tried to make light of the subject by telling him
"just
keep coming over so I don't have to mow any side yard". After a couple
times of him just continuing going down the center, I pointed out I had
the
property surveyed and would appreciate if he was going to mow my yard,
please raise his mower when he comes onto my property. Now, this guy is
one
of the originals in the neighborhood. Kinda getting up there in age, set
in
his ways etc. Don't know if he feels he has seniority for living in the
neighborhood or what the problem is. He mows about 10-12 ft over onto my
property. The whole neighborhood pretty much takes care of their places,
except for the ones that mow so short dirt starts flying.

Oh, my neighborhood you can't put a fence up out front or side, just rear
property fencing, which is from rear of house back. I sit with a 40 ft
frontage, 26 ft wide on a 190' depth. I really don't want to fence the
back
yard.

I got the survey to ease my mind, I've asked nicely, now where do I go
from
here?

You may have a bigger problem than you think. In some areas, local laws
may give some form of property right to a neighbor who cars for and uses
part of your land if you don't object. You could loose use or even
ownership of that land. In some areas that is not the case.

I suggest you may want to check this out with your lawyer.

Even if this is not a legal problem in your area, you may be able to use
your lawyer to help out. Maybe, the lawyer could provide counsel to you
that you might be responsible for any injury the neighbor might have while
mowing your grass, and therefore you must insist that he no longer mow your
grass. You might even get a letter from your lawyer to the neighbor. That
way you can put the blame on the law.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math