Years before we bought our little over 4 acres, the previous owner sold about 10 acres to my neighbor. The neighbor's house is actually behind our house. There was a way to get to his house that didn't go through our property but it was a round about way. So, the owner gave him an access road that goes through our property. When we first bought the property, we were first time homeowners & didn't think anything of it. We didn't know what rights we had or anything. The neighbor broke our septic line that ran under the access road by driving over in a big dually truck loaded with round bales of hay. My husband didn't want to be a bad neighbor so he didn't say anything. The road curves & is higher in some area so when it rains, it makes them little ruts. Instead of smoothing the ruts or grading the whole road, the neighbor moved over. And kept moving over. This has made his road wider than it should be. Mowing this area is a nightmare. Its hard to see the ruts or deep, narrow ditch he dug so a riding mower is out & a push mower means constantly looking down to keep from twisting an ankle. I refused to do any work on his road for a long time. We don't use the road & since my husband is on oxygen I do all the yard work, so my time is limited. I've been getting as close as I could but the grass had gotten really tall & really thick. I'm trying to get everything cleaned up before winter so I decided to work on the area around the access road.

Access road going towards the county road. I started mowing around the sweet gum tree & edge of yard.




These are from the county road going up the access road towards the neighbor's house.




Progress!!!!!!








My plan is to run tape/ribbon the length of the yard where I don't want anyone driving - only giving him the width of a vehicle for his driveway - maybe throw in some KEEP OUT or NO TRESPASSING signs.

I'm not trying to be unneighborly but I'm tired of losing yard space because someone can't maintain their road.

This is what I used. A Southland brand field trimmer.

Kathy547 said:Years before we bought our little over 4 acres, the previous owner sold about 10 acres to my neighbor. The neighbor's house is actually behind our house. There was a way to get to his house that didn't go through our property but it was a round about way. So, the owner gave him an access road that goes through our property. When we first bought the property, we were first time homeowners & didn't think anything of it. We didn't know what rights we had or anything. The neighbor broke our septic line that ran under the access road by driving over in a big dually truck loaded with round bales of hay. My husband didn't want to be a bad neighbor so he didn't say anything. The road curves & is higher in some area so when it rains, it makes them little ruts. Instead of smoothing the ruts or grading the whole road, the neighbor moved over. And kept moving over. This has made his road wider than it should be. Mowing this area is a nightmare. Its hard to see the ruts or deep, narrow ditch he dug so a riding mower is out & a push mower means constantly looking down to keep from twisting an ankle. I refused to do any work on his road for a long time. We don't use the road & since my husband is on oxygen I do all the yard work, so my time is limited. I've been getting as close as I could but the grass had gotten really tall & really thick. I'm trying to get everything cleaned up before winter so I decided to work on the area around the access road.

Access road going towards the county road. I started mowing around the sweet gum tree & edge of yard.




These are from the county road going up the access road towards the neighbor's house.




Progress!!!!!!








My plan is to run tape/ribbon the length of the yard where I don't want anyone driving - only giving him the width of a vehicle for his driveway - maybe throw in some KEEP OUT or NO TRESPASSING signs.

I'm not trying to be unneighborly but I'm tired of losing yard space because someone can't maintain their road.

This is what I used. A Southland brand field trimmer.

I built a fence around my backyard set in a foot on my Dad's advice so I would have a legal right to be outside of it for repairs.

Now I learn that if you don't protect your property line, you can lose it. Your neighbor might actually have a legal right to the "accustomed use" if you don't act.

So send a legal letter claiming the right of way and do something to enforce it. Shrubs are good.

As in "that's my property, Jack"

I am so sorry you're dealing with inconsiderate people like that! I wish I lived closer, I'd volunteer to come dig and plant. And 'pleasantly' scowl at the perps.

Kathy,

Maybe it would be worthwhile to consult an attorney, perhaps the access road was ceded merely by word of mouth; even if it was not, the individual is currently trespassing on your property.