Neighbor piling snow against my house (restaurant, fence, legally)

[MilwaukeeYesOrNo]

Wondering if anyone has been in this situation and would be able to provide any advice. I moved into a house where my house and my neighbor's driveway are pretty close to each other. I moved in towards the tail end of last winter. In the Spring when the snow that been piled against my house melted, my basement flooded. I had pay someone to tear down the drywall and replace the drwall after treating the cement walls. I spoke to the neighbors about it...it was a nice conversation, I didn't specifically say don't pile snow against my house, but just let them know that it had caused the basement to flood...thinking it was enough so that they would know not to pile the snow there this winter.

With the last couple days of snow, I notice they are still piling snow against the side of my house. I do plan to talk to them again, but hate being "that neighbor". I just don't want a flooded basement again. Has anyone been in a situation like this? Any advice? I do like the neighbors and I don't want it to be an awkward situation for us.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[brrabbit]

Move the snow away from your house toward your neighbour's wall. It'll give him a good insight

[43north87west]

How do you know that the snow caused the basement to flood? Why did it flood from that?

[Annuvin]

Originally Posted by brrabbit

Move the snow away from your house toward your neighbour's wall. It'll give him a good insight

This is exactly what I would do as well. If you asked them once and they didn't get it, perhaps a practical demonstration may get the point across.

[Jim Mac]

I agree. There's not much else you can do. It's not a police matter.

[todd00]

It's strange they did it again after you spoke to them about it before. Maybe chatting with them again will help. Just because he moves it doesn't mean they will get the message or become more courteous. I wonder if they would still pile snow there if ya posted a prominent sign asking them not to do so. Maybe next year you will have to get a piece of plastic snow fence and put up. Good luck.

[Vegas_Cabbie]

Dude just be honest with them...

Say, "hey, we like having you guys as neighbors and we don't want this to be awkward... But last year I had to pay quite a bit of money to fix so and so with the foundation... So without being too naggy, could you keep snow away from the wall so that I can track down the issue I'm having with my foundation leaking?"

If they get cranky over that, then they aren't the cool neighbors you thought they were anyways.

[ranger17]

maybe i'm misunderstanding this one, but seems to me if the neighbor is willingly shoveling/plowing snow over the prop line onto OP's side then that is an issue. Snow-blowing when the winds are whipping at 30mph, not much one can do about direction especially when it changes course between buildings. But if it is knowingly being deposited against another home on adjacent lot, well neighbor or not i'd speak directly to the 'offender' to get it cleared up. Of course it can suck if 2 neighbors cant get along but unfortunately that can and does happen.

Anyhow maybe i'm just seeing wrong on this.

[MoseyCat]

Your neighbor isn't all that. They're either too stupid to realize what they're doing, or they're too mean. Either way, I would be direct with them. Putting the snow back on the neighbors property is childish. You're adults, and this should be settled in an adult manner. A baseball bat, maybe...

Is it difficult for them to move the snow elsewhere? Are they handicapped/have an unseen disability? Can you offer to move their snow for them? Offer them a restaurant gift certificate or gas card or something when you visit them to ask them to put the snow elsewhere?

Have you made sure that your property drains properly? There's been less snow this year than many other years. If that extra snow is making your basement leak/flood, then it should be doing it every year. Is there any way you can talk with the previous owners (via the realtor or something?) Find out what television station he watches and have the news reporters do a story about annoying neighbors and their snow. It is a legitimate issue when properties are so close.

You are not allowed to throw snow on your neighbors property. Legally, it is trespassing. It is also considered a nuisance, which is an unreasonable interference with your use and enjoyment of your property, especially if their snow is causing damage to your property.

If nothing else, ask the neighbor if he plans to sell in the near future. You sound like a decent neighbor that many of us would like to have.