Nobody likes doing housework at the best of times (unless, of course, Mary Poppins has offered you a spoonful of sugar as a reward).
But now it seems as if there’s even less reason to vacuum your home on a Sunday, as you could potentially wind up in a legal dispute for it.
Yes, seriously.
Danielle Clements of Gorvins Solicitors has revealed that many of us are accidentally breaking the law when it comes to our daily household tasks.
She explains: “People are often surprised by what legally is deemed to be a nuisance. Nuisance behaviour is not limited to simply loud music and late night parties.”
Danielle added that even a FOUNTAIN can land you in hot water (ha!), especially if your neighbours are very irritable when it comes to certain noises.
She explained: “We received a complaint from an individual that was founded on noise from a water feature that was constantly turned on.
“The persistent noise was an unpleasant distraction that prevented their quiet enjoyment of their garden and could even be heard from their property on a night. Depending on the level of the noise this unbelievably can actually be a legal nuisance.”
Danielle adds: “It’s astonishing how careful you need to be in consideration of your neighbours. What may seem like an innocuous action may actually be illegal and many people will not realise this.”
Thanks to an increasing number of complaints about neighbourly activities, Danielle has now compiled a neighbour’s charter, which offers guidance and warnings over inadvertent neighbour law breaking.
Top 5 accidental acts of illegal neighbourly behaviour
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Do not take fruit from a neighbour’s tree even if it overhangs your land – THIS CONSTITUES THEFT
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It is recommended by environmental health officers that noisy DIY should only take place between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, Saturdays between 8am and 1pm and never on a Sunday. Similar recommendations are in place for hoovering and other noisy domestic appliances.
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Do not use a neighbour’s unsecure Wi-Fi connection without their knowledge i.e. ‘piggybacking’. Criminal charges can be brought against you under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 / the Communications Act 2003
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Be mindful where you position children’s trampolines to ensure that the noise is not too disturbing but also to avoid children (and adults!) being able to see into neighbours gardens and affect their right to privacy
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If you intend to attach your washing line / garden hose / plants to a neighbour’s wall or fence obtain consent first. It is your neighbour’s property so their consent is required
Yikes!
It seems as if we’re all unintentionally turning into master criminals, doesn’t it?
You can read the full list of ‘illegal neighbourly behaviour’ (there are THIRTEEN of them!) over at Gorvins Solicitors.
Do you think vacuuming on a weekend should be punishable as an illegal offence?
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