A frustrated London resident has turned to social media for advice about their neighbour’s seriously overgrown backyard, sparking a conversation about property maintenance and bylaw enforcement that’s got the whole community weighing in.

The original poster shared their concerns about a next-door property where the back lawn hasn’t been mowed “in years,” creating what they describe as a potential tick habitat. But this isn’t just about aesthetics – the situation involves a neighbour with a track record of problematic behaviour, including allegedly stealing electricity from multiple households and having frequent police visits.

The homeowner’s frustration is understandable when you consider the full picture. They mention dealing with garbage from takeout orders ending up on their property, and describe their neighbour as someone who “has a slew of children from different women” and appears to have his mother as his landlord.

But here’s where it gets interesting – the London community came through with some seriously helpful advice. Multiple residents pointed toward the City of London’s Property Standards Law as the go-to solution, with one commenter sharing the direct bylaw enforcement number: 519-661-4660.

One local shared their recent success story, explaining how they called just last week when their neighbour’s weeds reached an impressive 4.5 feet high – so tall they couldn’t fully open their car door. The city was apparently “very responsive” to their complaint.

The process seems pretty straightforward. According to community members who’ve been through it, the city conducts an inspection and leaves a notice on the property owner’s door requiring them to cut the grass. If they don’t comply, the city contracts someone to do the work and bills the homeowner directly.

For repeat offenders, the consequences escalate. Properties that repeatedly violate bylaws can be deemed “nuisance properties,” which means faster response times for future complaints. Several neighbours filing complaints apparently helps speed up the process too.

The City of London’s Yard and Lot Maintenance By-law sets specific standards – grass and weeds can’t exceed 20 centimetres in height, which this property clearly violates based on the description and photo shared.

Interestingly, one entrepreneurial local even reached out offering free lawn cutting services as a way of giving back to the community, showing how these neighbourhood issues can sometimes bring out the best in people.

Some commenters did defend the “natural” look of unmowed grass, but most agreed that in an urban setting, especially when combined with other antisocial behaviours, property maintenance matters for everyone’s quality of life.

For anyone dealing with similar situations, the consensus is clear: skip calling the police and go straight to bylaw enforcement. The city has specific processes in place for these exact scenarios, and based on community feedback, they seem to work when residents take the time to file proper complaints.