A WOMAN has left people totally divided after she opened up on a recent dispute she had with her neighbour.
Renee Barendregt, a single mum to three, who is from Australia, explained that she and her neighbour got into an argument after her five-year-old son accidentally kicked a ball at her neighbour’s fence.
But social media users were left with mixed emotions at Renee’s situation – whilst many were on her ‘side’, others explained that they emphasised with her neighbour.
Posting online, Renee shared a clip with the caption ‘I’m SORRY. Are you actually okay? I’m an animal lover don’t get me wrong, but if my kid can’t kick the ball outside we’ve got some issues.’
She then said: “I am shaking and fuming – my neighbour just yelled at me from across the fence, I was playing ball with my son, my five year old son, and we were kicking it in the goals and god forbid it hit the fence a few times.
“She yelled at my kids – she goes ‘you’re scaring my animals’, and I said ‘take your animals inside, I’m playing with my five-year-old son with a ball that is accidentally hitting your fence, that is actually my fence too’.”
Renee explained that the woman next door then told her to teach her children ‘respect’, as she sarcastically responded: “Yeah, my five-year-old’s really trying to be malicious by kicking the ball in the goal and then accidentally hitting your fence.”
In response to her angry neighbour, Renee added: “I will not stop playing ball with my son and my son will not stop kicking the ball and if it accidentally hits your fence – get over it.”
To end the clip, clearly fuming at the situation, Renee recorded herself intentionally kicking a ball at the fence, as she concluded: “And lastly, here’s one more.”
The TikTok clip, which was posted just four days ago under the username @reneebarendregt, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up a whopping 691,600 views, leaving many totally divided.
One person said: “I’m with your neighbour on this one, take your kids to the park.”
I’m with the neighbour, that noise would be excruciating
TikTok user
Another added: “Nah I’m with your neighbour on this one. Nothing worse than that noise on the fence.”
A third commented: “Nah I’m with the neighbour, that noise would be excruciating.”
Whilst someone else wrote: “I’m deffo with your neighbour. Nothing more agitating than a ball hitting the fence. Have the goal near your house?”
However, at the same time, many others could relate to Renee.
MANY of us live in harmony with the people next door but some face daily battles with their neighbours from hell.
However, it is not always clear what action to take.
The five most common neighbour rows have been narrowed down to loud noise, boundary issues, parking spaces, unkempt land and maintaining common areas.
Mark Montaldo of leading civil law firm CEL Solicitors said: “Good neighbours can be worth their weight in gold, but all too often we can fall out over both minor and major issues that ruin our domestic bliss.
“Unfortunately, there are lots of people who are at loggerheads with their neighbours and it can make life that bit more difficult.
“Some of the most common disputes include parking spaces, excessive noise, unkempt gardens and arguments over just where your land ends and theirs begins.
“Sometimes these disputes can be resolved over a friendly cup of tea but in other cases they can be so serious they spark a legal battle.
“It’s important to know your rights in cases where all is not well between you and your neighbours as it might just save you some hassle and a lot of money.”
Noisy neighbours could receive a fixed penalty notice of £110 and £500 if the offender is a businesses.
This can be increased to £1,000 for homes and unlimited fines for businesses if not paid on time.
Overgrown hedges, new walls, or even a shed, can cause disputes about where one neighbour’s land ends and another’s begins.
You may also be eligible to claim compensation to cover the loss of enjoyment of your property.
In areas with limited parking spaces, how neighbours leave their cars parked can be a major issue.
The Highway Code’s traffic and road legislation states you should not park in a resident’s space if you don’t have permission and you cannot block the entrance to someone’s property.
In many apartment blocks there are communal areas but it can be a disaster for residents if others don’t contribute to maintaining these spaces.
If your neighbours are leaving rubbish in communal areas it is advised that you speak to them first in the hope that they agree to remove their rubbish amicably.
However if your neighbours refuse, you should report the issue to your local council who will investigate and determine whether the issue amounts to a statutory nuisance.
If so, the council will serve an abatement notice on the people responsible for the nuisance.
If someone does not comply with an abatement notice they could be prosecuted and / or fined.
One user penned: “Good on you! Seriously what world do we live in that we can’t do this anymore, what’s next they have to be quiet outside too.”
I’m on your side
TikTok user
A second agreed: “Let the children play! Well done mumma.”
A third blasted: “Omg the nerve of your neighbour!”
Whilst someone else beamed: “I’m on your side babe.”
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
