[**BOOM**]

The house next door is a rental. Just before christmas a family moved in. Mum, Dad & four kids.

Kids ages range from about 14/15ish to 5 yrs of age (approx).

We have a pool. The pool area is on the side of the backyard which is on their fence line. Our pool has a pool fence around it.

Yesterday afternoon I got home after being out to find the four kids from next door swimming in our pool, Yesterday was the sixth time since they have moved in we have come home to find the four kids in our pool.

They jump the fence and then put one of our chairs up against to get down onto our side.

There was one time over the school holidays that there were two extra kids - friends of one of the neighbours kids. So there were 6 in our pool.

We have spoken to the parents already about this but either their not passing the message on to them or kids don't care.

Both parents work full-time. Over the school holidays I know (was told by the mum) the kids grandmother comes over to mind them most times ( i was told the grandmother isn't in the greatest of health and needs to take a rest during the day - I take it they mean she needs to have a sleep) but i think they are left at home (over the school holidays) at times with the older one/ones in charge.

As you can imagine it is very annoying and concerning for DH & I.

My first concern is the safety concern. No adult supervision just makes me shudder...and it is happening in OUR pool.

When we go into the pool which is pretty much every day and early evening at the moment, the kids next door can hear us in the pool and then stand up on the fence and watch us. This makes me feel a little uneasy after awhile. Probably sounds selfish but this is our fun family time when we all get in the pool and having 3 or four kids watching over the fence kind of takes the intimate family time away a little. I know that sounds selflish...I can't tell them to go away.

So DH went around to next door last night but didn't get much of a response from the parents. DH is not confrontational at all and he would have been apologising to them for disturbing them. Not bagging DH I just think we now need to become really firm with the parents now.

I'm at the point now where I think I need to call the police and ask for their advice.

I was thinking of putting some of that lattece fencing on top of the existing fence. But I think why should we and get a cross that this would be at our expense & time. How the hell do we keep these kids out of our pool, especially when we are not home?

We are out for most of the weekend & it will be 30 degrees plus here over the weekend. Although their parents will be home, I'm feeling nervous and think i will be worrying over the weekend whether they are in the pool or not.

Also, we have a carport so it's obvious when we aren't home as the car is gone. So I suspect the older kids check if the car is there before going in.

Oh what do I do now? You think I need to get the police involved.

This post has been edited by **BOOM**: 15/02/2013, 01:13 PM

[Jemstar]

Only lattice on the fence? Razor wire should do the trick I reckon!

Yes, the safety thing is a major concern. I have no idea what you do. I suspect it would be considered to be trespass and be a civil matter. Maybe ring the police and ask their advice? The other thing I would probably do is actually write to your neighbours, keeping a copy, outlining that you are concerned about the safety of the children etc, etc so if anything did happen you could show that you had tried to prevent it.

(edit - bloody iPad, not everything that ends in 's' needs an apostrophe!)

This post has been edited by Jemstar: 15/02/2013, 01:17 PM

[michellew68]

I am just shocked that people could be so rude!
You have every right to be annoyed and tell them to keep off your property.

Have you told the kids off when you get home and they are there?
How do they react to being caught?

[~sydblue~]

I would definitely get the police involved. Because if something happens in your pool, you will more than likely be held responsible.
Take photos if you need to to prove it is happening.
I don't know whether or not you can still buy lockable covers. I know mum and dad had one on their pool that was locked whenever we went away overnight or longer.

[Charliebear21]

electrify the fence?
Put a pool cover on?
Put up extra height on top of fence.
Grow some balls and confront parents and threaten trespassing.

[**BOOM**]

Only lattice on the fence? Razor wire should do the trick I reckon!

I wrote this and then deleted. Sounds terrible to say about keeping some kids out.

[sarkazm76]

Can you get a pool cover and make sure it is fitted whenver you're not using it? Saves water evaporation and crap getting in your pool too, so even though it's also your expense at least there is some upside.... and peace of mind.

Otherwise... or as well as... you've got to confront them again. Or go over and ask to speak to the KIDS instead of the adults and tell them "you are NOT allowed into our pool when we are not home - climbing someones fence and helping yourself to their belongings is NOT ok".
And tell them next time you will call the police

ETA - find out who they are renting through and complain to them!

This post has been edited by sarkazm76: 15/02/2013, 01:20 PM

[kpingitquiet]

Can you attach a shade sail flush with the fence that extends, angled upwardish, over part of your pool? Harder to climb down and you get some reduced visibility.

Aside from that, I'd see if the police would come by to discuss things like trespassing, pool safety, and invasion of privacy with the kids AND the parents.

[jo-v]

How unbelievably rude! I can't believe the parents are allowing them to do this (or not trying to discourage them by the sound of it).

I agree you should write a firm letter asking them to stop and keep a dated copy. Maybe you could also put up a sign saying "this is not a public pool, swimming without permission is prohibited and entirely at your own risk" . Not sure if that would cover you legally or not you'd have to look into it.

The bigger issue would be getting them to stop before anything happens but no idea how....

[BadCat]

I would most certainly call the police. It's trespass.