Court awards Ontario residents over $500k due to nightmare neighbour

Citizens and businesses in and around Toronto have experienced first hand over the years how messy neighbourly disputes can get, with people resorting to using water guns, chainsaws and City inspectors, among other things, to get their way in local squabbles.

But one recent example may take the cake — at least the eyes of the law, seeing as an Ontario judge awarded two residents half a million dollars for their strife.

The two plaintiffs in the case, who are from Sault St. Marie, cited years of disruptions caused by the people living next door, which resulted in no less than 119 police calls for trespassing, property damage, squatters, assaults, theft, noise, dangerous animals, drug-related activities and gunshots.

The couple says that from 2019 to 2023, they were unable to reasonably enjoy their home or live normally at all, with people in the adjacent home — including random guests that would stay for days, with up to 20 people living there at a time — causing a ruckus during all hours.

The residents would often wander onto other properties and let trash and animal waste build up so badly on their own lot that it spilled into neighbouring yards, attracted pests and had a stench so bad that victims couldn't open their own windows.

The plaintiffs even had to move their bedroom to a different part of their house after their upper floor sustained bullet holes from yet another incident next door.

The judge ruled that members of the community "suffered an immeasurable amount of turmoil and distress" as a result, and lived in "perpetual fear and anxiety as a result of the defendant and/or defendant's guests' conduct."

The nightmare neighbour was found liable for $420,000 for the persistent stress and expenses that the nuisance caused. They also had to pay an additional $100,000 in punitive damages and $50,000 in court costs. They will also have to build a fence around the perimeter of their yard and better maintain the property.