When I moved into my current home, my first thoughts were “Pagan Paradise!” Large fenced yard. Fire Pit. Lots of plants and trees. Then, bad neighbors moved in next door. Of course, we did not know they were bad neighbors at first. No. That revelation came over time to the point we have been forced into taking action. And sometimes, bad neighbors require a baneful solution. But first, allow me to explain the situation.

Bad Neighbors Laundry List
Our house is at the end of a narrow, dirt-packed alley street off a cul-de-sac. But before you get to our house, there is another beside it. A house with a front door that dumps onto the very narrow street and has two parking spaces where a side entrance is located. They have no yard to speak of as their property is at the back end of another couple of houses (who do have yards).
Basically, someone bought a tiny lot beside ours on this narrow alley street and put a house there. Our house has houses around it as well, but because of the size of their lots, our fence, trees, and our large yard, it’s like living in a hidden garden in the midst of a city neighborhood. We love it. And the house beside ours (the only other house on our tiny, narrow alley) was empty for the first six months of living here.
At first, things seemed okay. Yes. They played music loud enough to drown out our television but when my husband asked them to turn it down they did. Most of the time. But then their dog started being tied up on the steps leading straight down into the street instead of behind the house. Or they’d let him run free which meant he came into our yard to bark or jump on us (German Shepherd).
Then packages being delivered to us were confirmed given to them by accident. Packages that were never seen again, the bad neighbors claiming no knowledge. Another neighbor (we’ll call her T) just on the other side of our back fence (we have our own Wilson!) texted me. “T” asked us to watch her yard. She says the bad neighbors have taken some of her porch decorations.

Patience Does Run Out
Here’s the thing. We have spent months talking to these people. Asking them to tie the dog in the back, keep him on a leash, etc. We have asked about our packages (no accusing), etc. To our faces, we get polite apologies and whatnot. Things improve for a day or a week and then right back to where we started or escalation.
Litter dots the edges of their property, the street, and “stuff” is heaped everywhere. One neighbor from the cul-de-sac (who came into our yard while trying to herd the bad neighbor’s German Shepherd as it ran loose around the area) calls these people “hoarders.” Six cars are parked in a two-space area, treating our narrow street as a driveway and making it very hard for us to get through the gauntlet without hitting something.
Suffice it to say we have run out of patience. So, we have started taking pictures, recording dates of interactions, making reports to Animal Control, etc. Seriously, that poor dog is untrained. He’ll wind up biting someone or getting hit by a car. We are also seeing what the city can do about the vehicles blocking street access all the time. The narrow street is the only way in or out of our property.
We will do our part in seeking legal assistance from various authorities. However, as a Witch, I do plan to employ magickal intention to the situation. Ode and I have already set a boundary protection spell that we can strengthen, but there is additional spellwork that can be done.

What’s A Witch To Do?
You know, these people have tempted me to do a Blair Witch and hang a freaky stick figure from our gate as a warning. Or maybe bone figures. Yeah. But, there are other options as well without being overt.
Baneful magick can be a tricky subject for some. However, I have no trouble casting a curse, hex, or practicing baneful magick when it becomes necessary. Sure. It takes a lot to get me to that point but when it is reached I do what needs to be done. And when it comes to dealing with routinely bad neighbors there are spell options ranging from simple binding to causing strife, getting them kicked out, turning their home into a “money pit” of repairs, etc.
Below, I am sharing a handful of suggestions because let’s face it. We’ve all had bad neighbors at one time or other.
Do not attempt baneful magick without study and knowledge of the subject. Be prepared to do the work. Be sure to have a legitimate reason to use baneful magick. As with all witchcraft, take responsibility for the spells you cast.
Hot Foot Powder: There is a hole in the fence on the other side of our garage. We discovered the bad neighbors’ teens and tweens have been sneaking onto our property to go through that hole (going so far as to removing coverings we have placed over it while waiting to get it fixed). I’ve seen the mom walking one kid over and behind our garage. A friend suggested hot foot powder may be a possible solution for inducing these people to move. I’ll be making some soon. Ingredients include things such as black salt, sulfur, chili pepper flakes, black pepper, etc.
Freezer Spell: This is an excellent option when dealing with people while living in an apartment, condominium, etc. Dwellings rented instead of owned. We had very troublesome neighbors several years ago with communication both from us and our landlord doing nothing to change the behaviors. A freezer spell did the trick to drive them away. There are different types but we use vinegar along with things like chili pepper, black pepper, rue, etc. Make sure you include a taglock (something to identify the target of the spell).
War Water: This is a suggestion in Cursing and Crossing, a book written by Hoodoo Practitioner, Miss Aida. Make or purchase War Water, then throw it on your neighbor’s doorstep, porch, or yard as you pass (speaking the curse that they move, leave town, etc). Honestly, Miss Aida’s work, be aware — it’s hardcore cursing. I took her class a few years ago. She is fierce!
Poppets: You can create a doll (I find it’s best to hand-sew while focusing my intention but you can purchase basic poppets). Make sure to taglock the doll with your target’s name (address) if you cannot find something personal such as hair, nail, etc. Bind the target, drive them from town, or afflict them with misfortune forcing them to sell their house, etc.
**For more suggestions, I recommend Utterly Wicked, another excellent resource on hexing and cursing, written by Dorothy Morrison.**

Final Thoughts
Whatever reason you may have to curse or hex someone (be it disruptive, rude people next door, someone giving you grief at work, or seeking justice for wrongdoing against you or a loved one) do try to resolve things before cursing. Baneful magick requires a lot of energy and you need to work up some serious anger or rage depending on what you are doing.
And always do what is necessary to protect yourself, your family, or any adjacent innocents before casting a curse. Just remember, as a Witch, you do have the power to deal with untenable situations with bad neighbors. Especially if all other efforts fail.