Neighbour has painted our and I mean our fence

[Endoftether2000]

Would I be unreasonable to go out and paint my fence. Scenario approx a year ago husband decided to replace all fences on both sides the original posts were wooden and had broken causing our garden to have props holding the right fence up. He went round to the neighbour who was relatively new and advised that he was replacing the fence with concrete gravel boards and posts. She advised that her side of the fence was OK to which my husband responded that if he removed the props that were straddling our garden the fence would fall down and was surprised she didn't know as the old neighbour was aware and advised my husband he would make the new buyer aware (as if he was going to stay he would have gone half's with us) so he agreed times and dates when the fence would be removed to no inconvenience to her or her garden. Fence was removed she then asked if she could have the fence for her wood burner so husband and people that were helping took the old fence round. She then knocked at our door and said that she had too much wood now and could he dispose of the excess which he did. She then paints said fence (we stained our side grey) she painted hers with dark brown stain which has ingressed but not too badly but painted the top of the fence brown when I had stained it grey which can only be seen from the bedroom so I could live with that. Then she hammers things to it only one screw yes screw not nail can be seen so can live with that. We are on the front garden today and notice behind the overgrown bushes which is our next project to tackle she has dark brown stained the section of wood that is the size of a tall gate that connects from our house to her garage and the small fence that is our border in dark brown stain on both sides the small fence being on our land. The section of wood and the fence are on our land so is this trespassing? I am tempted to go out and paint over it even if due to the colour I would have to use garden paint? Opinions appreciated. By the way I hate dark brown stain!

[Paul72]

I think a diagram is essential for this post.

[Icedlatte]

I'm not trying to be mean, but I really tried to follow that and can't.
Regardless of who paid for it, who owns it on the deeds?
Has she painted your side or just hers?
I can't picture the bit you said is on your land/trespassing

[Endoftether2000]

I would go out and take a picture but I have to climb through the bushes our house has a pathway to the left and right of our house both pathways belong to us on the left is a gate on the right it is a small fence at the end of our pathway there is a 10ft fence panel on our land which she must have climbed over the four foot fence on our land to paint it and has then proceeded to paint the small fence on both sides the fence on the deeds belongs to us.

[Bunnymumy]

Leave well alone. Dont create drama over a damn fence being painted. Maybe that part was dirty so they thought they were doing you a favour painting over it.

If it bothers you, paint your side whatever colour suits you.

Honestly, isnt it too hot to start drama over such nonsense!?

[Windyatthebeach]

We were in the same position op. Our fence. We painted our side grey. Ndn painted her side brown. We had a solicitor instruct her not to touch our property.. She legally had to allow us onto her property to maintain the fence. I went round and painted it grey.

[Icedlatte]

"A small fence at the end of our pathway. There's a 10 foot fence...etc"

Or

"A small fence. At the end of our pathway there's a 10 foot fence"

This is why I think it's difficult to follow, a few full stops can make all the difference! Not trying to be rude OP, but rather to explain why we are struggling to see it as you do

[Alsohuman]

Can’t make head or tail of that, sorry.

[donquixotedelamancha]

We had a solicitor instruct her not to touch our property.

Well you must be fun to live next to.

[12stepCAKE]

If she's painted her side then leave it. Is it really worth all the drama! It's a fence painted brown. She's not flinging rubbish into your garden. I wouldn't start a war with the neighbour over this really

[TheSultanofPingu]

I think it's a little unfair that people should be expected to put up with a colour they may really dislike on their side of the fence, even if the fence belongs to a neighbour.

[curtainsforme]

She advised that her side of the fence was OK to which my husband responded that if he removed the props that were straddling our garden the fence would fall down

Maybe your husband should have left them the fuck alone then 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Chiyo666]

It’s a fence. As long as she’s not smearing shit and entrails all over it I don’t really think it matters.

[donquixotedelamancha]

Not trying to be rude OP, but rather to explain why we are struggling to see it as you do

Before the Netmumsians arrived it was considered normal on MN to point out when poor SPG made an OP hard to follow. Indeed many would ask for a rewrite.

I do miss the days when we could be blunt without a pile on of people moaning about it.

[wowfudge]

She might not have been into your garden, she might have slid the panel out and turned it round. A 10 foot fence exceeds the permitted 6 feet by some way.

It's really difficult to work out exactly what you mean tbh.

[ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords]

@Windyatthebeach

We were in the same position op. Our fence. We painted our side grey. Ndn painted her side brown. We had a solicitor instruct her not to touch our property.. She legally had to allow us onto her property to maintain the fence. I went round and painted it grey.

Why does it matter to you what colour it is on her side? You can't see it.

[krispcreme]

Gosh, we own all the boundary fences and I couldn't care less whether they painted it, hung things from it ect. If she's painted a side that is actually facing into your garden then repaint it.

[littlemeitslyn]

Plant some spreading plants, in 2 years ugly fence is covered

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

I would go out and take a picture but I have to climb through the bushes

If you can't see well enough to take a photo without climbing through bushes then maybe just ignore it? I think you're probably technically right but why invite hassle and conflict into your life for something that you actually have to go out of your way to see?

[MulticolourMophead]

there is a 10ft fence panel on our land which she must have climbed over the four foot fence on our land to paint it and has then proceeded to paint the small fence on both sides the fence on the deeds belongs to us.

So if she's come onto your land, then I guess I can see why you're annoyed. Paint it, then.

[Endoftether2000]

Sorry Icedlatte Alsohuman to make it easier:

[panicstationsready]

I have seen a huge amount recently on a gardening site I am on about how it is illegal to paint a fence that isn't yours - despite it facing into your garden. I have owned houses for over 40 years and I can honestly say I have never heard of this - and in most of my houses have painted our side of the fence whatever colour we have liked - is this true? Is it illegal?

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

You and she ought not to have colluded in the burning of the old fence. That is treated wood and will release toxins into the atmosphere.

You are all twonks.

[Itwasntme1]

The problem with painting the side of someone’s fence it is often belled through, destroying the look on the other side. A neighbour did this to me, on a development.

The fence stain She used was a purple/pink and Very watery so it ran down in streaks on our side. The day before the open viewings. Looked dreadful. If she had spoken to us we would have asked her not to use that type of stain and to be careful about runs.

[Somanysocks]

@Windyatthebeach so you made your neighbour have a grey fence, in their garden, how petty.

[wasgoingmadinthecountry]

I'm glad my neighbours are all lovely and rational!!