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AITA for Catching My Neighbors Using My Pool on the 4th of July? A few years ago, my husband and I bought a house with a pool. While we get along with most of our neighbors, we’re not particularly close with any of them. They all seem friendly, but we don’t have much in common beyond sharing the same neighborhood. Our neighbors to the right are a family of six: twin daughters in college, a high school-aged son, a younger daughter in elementary school, and the parents.
Usually, we open our pool in early May and keep it open until late October. This year has been an exception. May was unusually cool and wet, and June brought extreme heat with temperatures over 100 degrees. I’m also on medication that makes it hard to be in the sun for long periods, and we’ve been busy helping two family members who are dealing with health issues. As a result, we haven’t opened our pool yet.
We typically visit our family’s lake house for a week during each major holiday. Still, this year, we skipped Memorial Day due to flooding around the lake and a family member being discharged from the hospital. With July 4th falling on a Thursday, we decided to stay home to help out with family.
Lately, the young girl next door has asked several times when we’ll be opening the pool. We first told her “Maybe later,” but when she asked again yesterday, I said we probably wouldn’t open it this year. She started crying, which was puzzling since we’d never invited any of our neighbors to use the pool.
Later, I spoke with our neighbor on the left, who mentioned that the family next door has been holding small parties at our pool every 4th of July while we’re away. They always cleaned up afterward, and with our pool and yard service, we hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
It turns out the neighbor on the left thought we had permitted them to use our pool. While we had allowed them to retrieve any toys that ended up in our yard, we never permitted them to use the pool, especially when we weren’t home. My husband had shown them how to open the gate to get their kids’ toys, but that was the extent of it.
Now, my husband, who loves gadgets, is eager to install more security cameras around the house, especially focusing on the gate and pool area. We’re also planning to upgrade the gate latch to allow remote access for pool and yard maintenance. Luckily, we have a friend who specializes in home automation and cameras.
I’m frustrated that our neighbors have been using our pool without permission, but my husband is excited about the new gadgets. Should we address the situation with our neighbors, or just wait to see if they mention anything after they notice the new security cameras?
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AITA for Catching My Neighbors Using My Pool on the 4th of July?
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A few years ago, a couple purchased a house with a pool and settled into their neighborhood. While they maintain friendly relations with their neighbors, they aren’t particularly close with them. Among their neighbors to the right is a family of six: college-aged twin daughters, a high school son, a younger elementary-aged daughter, and the parents.
Typically, they open their pool in early May and keep it open until late October. This year, however, has been unusual. May brought cool and wet weather, followed by a sweltering June with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Additionally, one of the homeowners is on medication that makes sun exposure uncomfortable, and they’ve been occupied with helping two family members with health issues. As a result, their pool remains closed.
Usually, they visit their family lake house for each major holiday, but they skipped Memorial Day this year due to flooding and a family member’s recent hospital discharge. With the 4th of July on a Thursday, they chose to stay home to assist their family.
Recently, the young girl next door repeatedly inquired about the pool opening. When informed that it might not open this year, she became upset, which puzzled the homeowners since they had never invited any neighbors to use the pool.
It was later revealed by a neighbor on the left that the family next door had been using their pool for small parties every 4th of July while the homeowners were away. They had always cleaned up after themselves, and with regular pool maintenance and yard service, nothing seemed amiss.
The neighbor on the left had assumed permission was granted, as the homeowners had allowed the family to retrieve toys from their yard but had not authorized pool use, particularly in their absence. My husband had shown the neighbor how to access the gate to get the toys, but that was the extent of it.
Now, the husband—an enthusiast of gadgets—is eager to install additional security cameras around the property, focusing on the gate and pool area. They are also upgrading the gate latch for remote access by pool and yard services. A friend specializing in home automation and cameras will assist with the installation.
The homeowners are frustrated that their neighbors have used their pool without permission, but the husband is excited about the new gadgets. They are considering whether to confront their neighbors about the unauthorized use or simply wait to see if the neighbors comment on the new security measures.
Let’s swiftly assess a handful of the top comments: AITA for Catching My Neighbors Using My Pool on the 4th of July?
I was thinking the same thing! I am NOT a lawyer bur the first thing that popped in my head was, “ONE thing happens…ONE incident..and that family could file suit against the neighbors who had no ides they were even using their pool!”
…and they could win. No permission. Trespassing. Private property. Etc.? “But they were just kids who didn’t know better and xyz happened on YOUR property and in your pol because ABC wasn’t done and…they’re children this is YOUR fault!” Hell..i wonder if something even “I burnt my self on your bbq l! This is on YOU! although, no. We had no permission to enter your pool, use your equipment, have a pool party. With neither your knowledge or your consent. On. You.” Sigh. …that happens doesn’t it? And those idiotic cases often win?
..I broke my leg when I tried to rob your house. Sigh
Edit: half was /s and 🙄 bc …whelp, is what is and the explanations behind the headlines…make complete sense. …just, simply put, not as catchy a headline or seller.
Lawyer here, though not yours. You need to put up “no trespassing” signs, tell your neighbors they are not allowed on your property without explicit permission and change the lock to the gate.
Now that you know, you are on notice and could be held liable if they are injured visiting your pool.
Sucks, but it will be much less trouble than a lawsuit.
252cc Writes:
My sister used to clean pools for a small resort on the outer banks, told me about how one night she had just shocked one of the outdoor pools and saw some high school kids lurking around the gate. Figuring they were trying to pool hop, she told them how much chemical she’d thrown in there and please don’t try it. But kids being kids, of course one went for it. Luckily, she figured it would happen so she stuck around and immediately helped get the guy out and rinsed off. Pool chemicals are not to be triffled with, kids!
I remember a story like that—a woman who was breaking through the fence to use a non chlorinated pool since she was allergic to chlorine. OP simply started using chlorine in the pool and the intruder broke out in a rash and called the police!
I had this problem. When I left town I put up a warning sign that stated the pool was being chemically treated and it was dangerous. Of course I did no such thing. All I did was put up a sign. One day I got a call from an ER because someone snuck into the pool and claimed they injured by the chemicals. I told the doc they were faking it as the only thing I put up was the sign.
