Fencing off garden

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

We've been in our house for 8yrs. Elderly neighbours both sides who have both lived here in excess of 50yrs.
House was rented long term by various tenants before we bought it and in a nutshell I think our neighbours got very used to taking the piss because they could ( boundaries etc)
The day we moved in, one of them told us she had solicitors letters for us about the boundary (has never arrived) and she would constantly make passive aggressive conversation about the sodding boundary/this is mine, that is mine,dont touch this etc
I remember one day OH cut the hedges back in our garden and she went ballistic and threatened to get a harassment order served (???)
During all of this we were a fair bit younger, inexperienced (first home) and totally broke. Fast forward to present day, we're still not well off but we now have 2 very young children (almost 3 and 3 months) and instead of these gappy, low cut hedges that anyone or anything could crawl in and out of (we have had dogs run in the garden before and recently several large foxes) we have decided to do what we would have loved to do years ago and fence our garden off, to make it both s



ecure for our kids and a bit more private.
We are expecting both sets of neighbours to kick off massively.
My question is, are we being in any way out of order by doing this? I can't see how we are doing anything unusual in wanting to fence our garden especially with 2 children, but I think we've been so conditioned to feel like naughty children ourseleves ever since moving in that it makes me second guess everything.
Theres nothing they can say or threaten if we put fences up, in our own land, right?

[DahliaDay]

They will probably claim it’s causing shade and cutting out the light

Do it anyway

[HotDogGuy]

No you’re not doing anything wrong in wanting to fence off your garden. Given the issues with your neighbour and that there isn’t a fence already there is suggest you get in a professional to determine the boundary to avoid any issues when it goes up

[Haretodaygonetomorrow]

Do it. You need to privacy and security to enjoy your garden. They can kick up a fuss but as long as it’s on your land there’s nothing they can do. Make sure it’s a 6ft one.

[Haretodaygonetomorrow]

Need to have privacy*

[NeverForgetYourDreams]

You can do what you like on your own land provided it doesn't contravene planning

Put a fence up 'your' side of the hedges butting up to them. Don't go over 6 foot. They can't do a thing about it. You may find the fences become a bit rotten over time due to the foliage and you are probably fencing yourself out of a few inches of your land but it would save any agro if you don't take the hedges down.

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

@dahliaday
Thanks for your reply,if they claim this about shade theres no way they can make us take them down though is there? Like there's not a law against having 6ft fencing in your garden is there? (Is there?!)

[NeverForgetYourDreams]

This is my job. Surveyor for boundary issues. You need to check your deeds and see if any T marks. They usually determine responsibility to maintain boundary feature which usually denotes ownership. If any doubt get a professional surveyor in. Costs approx £700-1500 depending on location and who you choose to do the work.

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

Oh thanks for all the other responses too!
We did pay a surveyor to come in when she was going on and on about boundaries before, the surveyor said that there was maybe a few inches in it (for us) so obviously for the sake of a few inches we left it. She never said a word to us about the boundaries after we had a surveyor in.

[Toomuchtooyoung01]

@NeverForgetYourDreams
Thanks - regardless of who is responsible for which side, we can still fence though right? As long as its on our side of the boundary?

[hadtojoin]

Yes that's right as long as it is your side you can put a fence up.

[bluefoxmug]

check your deeds for any covenants and then put up a fence on your side.
if they ask why say you want to get a dog and need to make your garden secure.

[bluefoxmug]

wrt foxes - whereever a cat can go a
fox can as well unfortunately.
but it might deter them hsing your garden as a highway.

[recycledteenager24]

more neighbours like those of poster rainypuddles, stand up for yourself op. being older does not give your neighbours the right to be arseholes.

[Footywife]

Do it. Your privacy and security for your children is so important. Chevk your deeds to ensure you're not breaching any covenants, etc. That way they won't have a leg to stand on if they see their arse.

We've just planted a hedge next to our fence because we're sick of being stared at by the neighbours child.

[HyacynthBucket]

We did this years ago in my previous home - put up a proper panelled fence on our side of the boundary that had just a post and wire fence. Because the post and wire fence eventually disappeared, subsequent owners of the other house believe not only is our fence the boundary but that it is their fence! because their deeds indicated that the fence between our back gardens was their responsibility. So our garden lost several inches in the process. Not that that mattered as we gained privacy.

[ivfgottostaypositive]

Legally I'm sure If ownership of the boundaries isn't stated then actually they should stump up 50% of the costs! When we were going through this we casually mentioned it to both neighbours but said of course so long as you don't object to the new fences we'll cover the whole cost. Funnily enough we never had any objections after that! 🤣

Also I'm sure you are allowed the standard 1.8m high fencing - it's only if it's higher than you can then get moaned at?

[NeverForgetYourDreams]

OP you can fence YOUR side of the hedge providing don't contravene planning which is usually a standard height fence of 6'. But you may fence yourself out of some of your land .....