What would you do if your home security system alerted you to an intruder on your property? And your CCTV cameras picked up people trying to jump your wall? I know I’d call the cops or armed response. Or both. I don’t mess around when it comes to safety. And it seems I’m not the only one…
A woman has shared how she watched live footage of four people trying to climb the fence and gain access to her pool. She immediately alerted the police. It turned out that the trespassers were relatives of her neighbor and just wanted to “cool down.” But this didn’t stop the woman from laying charges and taking the matter to court anyway. The whole drama has caused quite a stir. We spoke to etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall to get her advice on handling issues with neighbors.
RELATED:Having a pool is a privilege not everyone is afforded
When one woman caught a family trying to use hers without her consent, she decided to teach them a lesson
“You took the neighborly relationship a step and a fence-hopping too far”: an expert weighs in
Dealing with difficult or entitled neighbors can be tricky. It’s a fine balance between keeping the peace and enforcing your boundaries, or your boundary wall in some cases. We reached out to Etiquette Expert Rosalinda Randall to get some advice on what to do if your neighbors push your buttons. Or enter your property against your wishes or consent.
“Entering a neighbor’s backyard without their permission would probably be overlooked if the purpose was to bring in their garbage cans, secure patio furniture before a storm, or explore something suspicious,” Randall told We during our interview.
Randall believes in this case, the pool owner responded in a safe manner. She says asking a neighbor to check out the situation could have been putting them at risk. “I was told by an officer that it is advisable to call local law enforcement when there is an unwelcome or unidentified trespasser,” the expert told We. “Not knowing who these people were, she took the quickest and safest route in resolving the situation. Waiting for someone to get hurt or damage the tarp would have led to a harsher punishment for the trespassers.”
Randall said the adult in the group of trespassers should have known better. “A responsible adult would have marched right back to question her sister’s judgment,” she told us, adding that it’s a known fact that teens sometimes do silly things.
“Dropping the charges would have been an option in this case because there were two adults that encouraged them to break the law,” Randall told us. But she says it’s possible that the pool owner went all the way to teach her neighbor a lesson. And not necessarily the trespassers.
We asked the expert what she would say to the neighbor…
“Dear neighbor, you took the neighborly relationship a step and a fence-hopping too far,” replied Randall. “Since you claim to be good friends, why didn’t you text her to request permission? Is it because you knew the answer would have been, no? Did you think that her ‘no trespassing pool policy’ didn’t apply to you or your next of kin? Were you desperate for a break from your family that a minor law breaking was worth it?”
Randall also says she wonders why the neighbor didn’t accompany their relatives. And suggested they do some deep introspection. The expert added that there might be more to this story and the relationship…
You could land yourself in serious hot water if anything happens to someone while they’re using your pool
If you have a pool and your neighbors don’t, it could be tempting to tell them they’re welcome to take a dip on a hot day. It might seem like the kind and neighborly thing to do, after all. But legal experts warn that you face increased liability if you let anyone use your pool, whether you are there or not.
Five lawyers unanimously warned of the risks when one person posed the question, “Do I have increased legal liability if I let my neighbors use my pool when I am not at home?” The person said they’d previously allowed the neighbors to use their pool—fortunately, with no incidents. “But with summer approaching, I am reconsidering that decision if it exposes me and my family to additional liability,” they wrote.
Real Estate Attorney Steven Warren Smollens cautioned that there is a great danger. “Review your insurance policy. Make certain that the perimeter fence is secure. Be certain that you lock the pool fence gate. Post signs,” he advised.
Another attorney, Richard Chertock, said that regardless of whether you’re home, you have increased liability. But “allowing them to use the pool when you are not there definitely increases your liability and risk of injury.”
Real Estate Attorney Jack Richard Lebowitz said that while you’re definitely at risk of being held liable should anything happen to someone using your pool, that doesn’t have to mean a hard no for your neighbors.
“Perhaps a more neighborly approach if you don’t mind your neighbors and friends using your pool: a hold harmless and indemnification agreement,” he suggested. The expert explained that this is written consent signed by the neighbors.
“[It] could acknowledge that there are inherent risks of swimming such as drowning, slips and falls, and that the pool is a private pool without lifeguards, that use by any children will be supervised by adults on the premises at all times, and any and all risks are borne by the neighbors, and they will indemnify and hold you harmless for any claims of any nature by them or any third party,” Lebowitz elaborated.
He advised the person to check with their homeowner’s insurer that the pool is covered. And that it’s in compliance with reasonable safeguards and municipal ordinances regarding locked fences to keep young children out, as well as pool alarms if required.
“That said, pools are common, and with reasonable care, they shouldn’t be looked at as inherent ‘attractive nuisances’ (trampolines in particular) opening you up to damage claims,” added Lebowitz.
“Great ending”: many people felt the homeowner did the right thing
Quite a few netizens shared similar stories
Even after the harsh punishment, the woman’s entitled neighbors still hadn’t learned their lesson
The woman gave more info in the comments
Netizens shared their views and advice on the latest developments
