I (29F) bought my first house about 6 months ago. It’s a small place, but it has a nice garden with a swing set and a trampoline. The previous owners were grandparents who apparently let the neighborhood kids come over and play whenever they wanted.
Well… nobody told me this.
The first week after I moved in, I came home from work and found three kids (6–10 years old) in my backyard, bouncing on the trampoline. I was shocked. Their parents were casually chatting over the fence, as if it was normal.
I told them I wasn’t comfortable with kids being on my property unsupervised, especially because:
- I didn’t give permission.
- If they got hurt, I could be held legally responsible.
- I want my own privacy — I didn’t buy a house just to share my yard with the whole neighborhood.
The parents brushed me off, saying the “previous owners always let the kids play” and that I was being “unfriendly.”
Since then, the kids keep trying to come in — sometimes even opening the gate without asking. I’ve had to stop them multiple times, and the parents act annoyed whenever I tell them no. One even said, “Why do you even care? You don’t have kids, you’re not even using the trampoline.”
Now I feel like the neighborhood villain, because apparently I “ruined the kids’ fun.” I even heard through another neighbor that they think I’m “selfish” for not “sharing.”
But honestly… I just want my space. And I’m genuinely worried about liability if one of them falls and breaks an arm.
So, AITA for refusing to let the neighborhood kids play in my garden, even though the previous owners used to allow it?
NTA Absolutely not the asshole. It’s your property, and you have every right to set boundaries. The parents are being negligent by letting their kids wander into someone else’s yard unsupervised. If one of them got hurt on your trampoline, guess who would be legally responsible? Not them — you.
YTA – I get that you want privacy and safety, but maybe you could’ve been more diplomatic at the start — like suggesting a once-a-week playdate or explaining your concerns more gently. From their side, the kids had this “tradition” and suddenly you shut it down, so of course they see you as the bad guy.
ESH – The parents are clearly wrong for assuming it’s fine to invade your property. But maybe you came off too harsh right away, without trying for a middle ground (like a schedule, or a sit-down conversation). Everyone could’ve handled this better.
It’s just a shift in neighborhood dynamics. They were used to an “open community” vibe, you came in with different expectations. You’re not wrong for wanting privacy, they’re not evil for assuming continuity. The clash comes from poor communication, not malice.