‘Neighbour treats me like concierge and I’m sick of it’

As most of us are well aware, neighbourly relations can be either perfectly amicable or an absolute minefield of tension.

A couple learned this the hard way – and have come forward with their own neighbourly dispute. They claim their neighbour is treating them as a personal “concierge service”, which is getting very tiring.

In an anonymous online post, the homeowner describes how they recently relocated to a new cul-de-sac property, surrounded by four other homes.

One of their neighbours has a “scary-looking gate” which is electric and fitted with its own intercom system. However, the doorbell recently broke down and it’s been causing issues.

All their parcels are being redirected to the address next door, which is leaving the residents feeling extremely fed-up.

Airing the grievance on Mumsnet, the resident asked: “Am I being unreasonable to not want to be concierge service for new neighbours?

“Very soon after moving in – having had brief but very friendly interactions with the neighbours – it became clear that the intercom/doorbell for the gate was not working properly.

“There is a barrage of deliveries from DPD, Hermes, Royal Mail etc. Delivery men asked if we would take them, we agreed assuming that the doorbell was not temporarily working properly.

“Bear in mind that in virtually all cases I believe they were in, but no way to let them know other than shouting or jumping over a high wall (not realistic as there is a spikey hedge on the other side).

“Next time I saw them I shouted over the wall and mentioned that I had parcels, they came to collect and I made a joke about the bell not working.

“I expected a ‘yeah sorry we’re on with that’ but actually got words to the effect of ‘no it hasn’t worked for years and we don’t intend to get it fixed’. I was so gobsmacked I didn’t know what to say.”

While she doesn’t mind occasionally accepting parcels on a neighbour’s behalf, it has become a “daily occurrence” blighting her life.

The resident added: “Am I being unreasonable to not want to take in all the parcels? And if I’m not being unreasonable how do I approach this with them, bearing in mind we really want to foster friendly relations with all neighbours.”

Thankfully, the post generated more than 200 helpful responses. One commenter wrote: “I just would refuse to take in the parcels. You don’t need to speak to them just don’t accept them. Not your problem.”

Another user agreed, writing: “Just refuse. The bell will soon be fixed if they want their stuff badly enough.”

And a third added: “Just stop taking them. This is a problem for them, not you. They won’t get it fixed because they know you’ll do it. Once they start not getting deliveries, they’ll get it fixed.”