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Neighbour and my fence

11 replies

MollieO · 06/10/2010 22:03

Really don't know what to do. Fence is between myself and neighbour. I have a driveway and front garden. Neighbour has parking that goes on to an unmade road. This means they can either park one car parallel with the edge of the road or two cars fronting on to the road.

A few weeks ago I got home to find fence panel broken - hit from neighbour's side with enough force to separate the fence from the frame. The fence was hanging onto my drive with the horizontal pieces pushed through onto my side. No idea how it was done but think someone from my neighbour's side either drove straight at it or reversed into it. I assumed it was someone using neighbour's space to turn round in the road.

I buy new fence panel and trellis (£70) plus fence post mix (£5) and arrange for someone to come and repair it (£20). Fence repaired and post re-cemented. Fence post had two supports left on it whilst cement set. One support on neighbour's side (as post was leaning towards their side).

Neighbour removed support before cement set saying he didn't know why it was there but he assumed a passer by had put it there - wtf?

It was obvious but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and said I would let him know when it was being re-done.

It was repaired again today. Had to get new fence post as it had been pushed and damaged. Also had to dig out old cement. 'Quite a job' according to the chap who did it. All in all it cost £50 for new solid post and labour. Again two supports left whilst cement set. Also note left in letterbox advising neighbour that work had been redone and also suggesting neighbour park outside my house as one of the supporting struts was blocking one of their parking spaces.

Checked mid-evening to discover both supporting posts removed (even the one that was onto the road and not affecting parking).

Went round to neighbour to ask why it couldn't have been left overnight. Got a lot of abuse (swearing in front of my 6 yr old who had come out the house to see the fence). Eventually neighbour said he hadn't seen the note (even though he would have seen the supporting post and would have known why it was there from our conversation last week). Accused me of bullying him. Hmm

He was also very keen to say that the fence had been hit from my side and accused another neighbour of doing it (he said he didn't see it happen). I told him that I'm not interested in who did it, just in getting it repaired.

The post had not set when the supports were removed so there is a bit of a wobble that will need fixing (again).

I think by the neighbour's overreaction that he or his wife probably did the damage. The chap who has repaired it twice now thinks the fence post was deliberately pushed after the initial damage to weaken it (and damage the new fence - the post wasn't recemented when the new fence was fitted as it wasn't that wobbly). I frankly don't care if he did it or not but I don't want to keep paying for the same repair work. So far I have spent £145 which I don't have (half of my bike fund that I will have to replenish).

What would you do?

OP posts:
MollieO · 06/10/2010 22:04

Sorry that was so long Blush. Think of it as a bedtime story. Grin

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 06/10/2010 22:05

Do you know who is responsible for the fence?

MollieO · 06/10/2010 22:07

Yes. It is my fence.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 06/10/2010 22:13

If it is your fence then you have right of access to repair it from their side. You have given your neighbour warning of the repair and been more than reasonable - your neighbour is being a prick.

MollieO · 06/10/2010 22:19

Yes he is a prick but it doesn't solve that he seems to be deliberately sabotaging my repairs. His extreme reaction seems very odd and the fact that he is very quick to accuse another neighbour of doing the damage leads me to suspect that he probably did it himself. I don't want to keep getting it repaired.

Last year I replaced the entire back garden fence between the two of us. It was very old and looked horrible but didn't really affect me as I had loads of large shrubs that hid it.

OP posts:
MollieO · 06/10/2010 22:48

shameless bump

OP posts:
kreecherlivesupstairs · 07/10/2010 08:08

He sounds like a real charmer. IIWY, I would be asking him for a contribution to the fence repair. If he refuses, car+keys=mess.

QuintessentialShadows · 07/10/2010 08:31

Build a brick wall.

MollieO · 07/10/2010 10:30

Colleagues have suggested various things. I'm beginning to wonder whether he has mild Aspergers. In any case I will steer clear of him. The fence seems ok today and the post is solid. Slight movement but nothing that needs fixing thankfully.

Wish I could ask him to contribute but really don't want to have anything to do with him. He knows I'm on my own which does make me feel a bit uneasy.

OP posts:
millimurphy · 12/10/2010 09:09

Put a camera up and see if it is him destroying your fence. If it is him, this is criminal damage and he should be reported to the police. Go to 'Garden Law' forums (www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php)and ask for some help there. They are very good and know how to deal with this sort of neighbour.

deathjeff · 12/10/2010 20:23

Why don't you tell him that you are so upset because somebody has sabotaged the fence again after you had told him about it so obviously it couldn't be him. As a result you are having to go to the police as it's damage to your property. Did he see anything during the night?

Then if he does it again punch him in the face take police action.

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