What to do about garden fence?

[lagirafe]

I've recently moved into a housing association property.

The fence in the back garden on one side is in very poor condition (virtually falling down) and next doors (not very friendly) dog frequently visits our garden.

I can't let the DC out there because of this though we have a front garden so not the end of the world. I do hang washing out there myself though.

The neighbours privately rent their house so are not inclined to pay for a new fence although they have told me this side of the fence is "theirs". They say their landlord has also said no to replacing it

The housing association won't help and have even sent a representative round to have a look and confirmed they won't be replacing it.

Can I do anything?! I cannot afford to replace the fence myself right now and feel I shouldn't really have to as the boundary on the other side is my responsibility. It's only about 5 fence panels long so wouldn't be a huge job.

[tabulahrasa]

Fence or not - it's their responsibility to keep their dog in their garden.

What do you do when the dog is in your garden?

[lagirafe]

I glare at his through the patio doors. I can't shoo him away as they warned me when I first moved in he isn't a friendly dog and not to let the kids try and stroke him etc.

He also poos in my garden and rips open my rubbish bags sometimes (seen him) so it's quite annoying!

They are often out when he comes in and I'm a bit scared of upsetting them.

[WeAllHaveWings]

They/their landlord needs to fix their fence or not let the dog out unsupervised. Tell then and if they don't control their dog report it to the dog warden/landlord/HA and tell them they have an aggressive (i assume this is what you mean by unfriendly) dog out of control with young children.

Their responsibility to ensure dog s under control even if landlord won't fix fence.

[LIZS]

Can you put up a chicken wire barrier, it is relatively inexpensive and you can fix it against the posts ? Having said that we recently had solid panels installed and still had a dog in the garden last week. Dog owners need to be responsible ultimately . If you know the landlord or agent's details you could complain direct.

[tabulahrasa]

Do you mean out as in away? Or standing outside watching the dog?...

Personally if they're not in, I'd be going round as soon as they get in and telling them, that the dog has been in your garden again and expecting them to clean up any mess it's made.

If that doesn't get annoying enough for them to sort it out, I'd then start calling the dog warden every time, telling them that there's an aggressive dog in your garden, it belongs to your neighbours but they aren't in.

[lagirafe]

I mean out as in gone out in the car....

I will try to start being more assertive about it. I'll also try ringing the housing association to see if they have any idea who the landlord is.

I hate situations like this

[tabulahrasa]

You don't have to be confrontational (to start with anyway) just pop round and cheerfully mention that the dog was in your garden, luckily your gate was shut this time so it didn't get run over or anything, but it did do (toilet, rubbish spilling, whatever) so feel free to just come in to clear it up.

It might work, especially if you keep mentioning that it could get out into the street.

If not after a few times, contact the dog warden and their landlord if you can find out who it is.

Also useful to know, as far as dangerous dogs and the law...if you're reasonably frightened that a dog may injure you it counts as being dangerously out of control and is something you can contact the police about.

[acatcalledjohn]

They have a responsibility to keep their dog in their garden. Tell them and their landlord (again), with a note that you will be reporting them to the appropriate agencies. Until they fix it, get a cheap poop scoop from the pound shop, and chuck every single poo in to their garden.

Landlord is easily found through the land registry. About £3-4 online. Gives you the owner name.

To be fair though, you should get support from your HA with regards to making the property safe (or sorting it out with the neighbours' landlord). They own it, after all, and have a duty of care to their tenants.

[lagirafe]

I don't know if it's a "dangerous" dog or just not a "pet" dog - it seems to mainly live outside in a kennel not in the house.

I have already had a nice word saying that the dog scared me and the DC when it came into the garden.

I'll try the HA again I think.

[tabulahrasa]

Dangerous as far as the law is concerned is any dog that bites or makes anyone reasonably think it might do...

The reason I say go round is because at the moment it's not affecting them in any way, if you're a polite friendly PITA, they may do something about it just to make you stop visiting.

[charlestonchaplin]

You are barking up the wrong tree if the HA is not responsible for the fence. If they fix the fence it will be out of kindness, but I don't think they can generally afford to spend money fixing problems that aren't their responsibility.

The neighbours have a responsibility to keep their dog under control. If it is in your garden, without your permission, and you are afraid to let your children out there because of that, the dog is not under control. Especially when you have been warned it is not 'friendly'.

Your neighbours must sort the fence out, with or without their landlord's help. Tell them that if the fence is not fixed so that it keeps their dog in their garden you will have no choice but to go to the dog warden. Give them a reasonable amount of time, I would say 14 to 28 days depending on the level of damage to the fence, and tell them that after this period passes you will have to contact the council dog warden.

They will take you for a mug if you let them.

[WeAllHaveWings]

They can take as long as they want to fix the fence, but until its fixed they must keep their dog under control immediately, they can do this by supervising the dog in the garden. Speak to them, tell them you have young kids and don't want the dog in your garden and if it is you will have to call the warden. As soon as the dog is in your garden again call the dog warden.

[charlestonchaplin]

Weallhavewings you are right, their responsibility is to keep their dog from entering the OP's property, not necessarily to fix the fence. I am not sure how they would react to the idea of only letting the dog in the garden under supervision, but it is certainly possible.