New neighbours. Should I erect a fence?

[MazDazzle]

We live in an older house with a walled garden and trees/bushes. It feels completely private. The only area where there’s less privacy is my driveway; it’s surrounded by a waist height wall and overlooks my neighbour’s back door and patio. However, my current neighbours are elderly and never use this area. We’ve lived here 10 years and have never had any issues with any of our neighbours.

Our new neighbours haven’t moved in yet, but I’ve heard they’re moving because they’ve fallen out with their neighbours. I know them (vaguely) and they seem nice enough. They have three kids (so do we) and the youngest is a bit of a handful. He apparently uprooted his neighbour’s plants and climbed onto the roof of her car - more than once! I know they also have a hot tub. If they install one here, the most obvious place would be the patio.

Should I put up a fence surrounding my driveway?

If I did, because of the angle of the houses, I would never see them. Would it seem rude? I’m quite shy and not keen on small talk with strangers at the best of times. Or should I wait and see how it goes?

Where on earth did you get the idea that fence = rude, what nonsense if you'd feel more comfortable and you can afford a new fence then get one, you don't need anyone's permission.

If it’s your driveway, I assume you won’t really be spending much time there.. just going to and from the house?

It seems that they would benefit more from the privacy than you would.. so they might want to put up a fence (and pay for it). I’d be tempted to wait and see if they do.

Might also be worth trying to find out whose responsibility that boundary is.

I would be the same. Put the fence up before they move in, as long as it's on your side

Ignore all the rumours but get a fence.

Put it up now before they move in. It will be much worse if you wait “and see how it goes” and then put up a fence as that might seem like an act of hostility.

Personally, I’d be pleased to find the neighbours had put up a fence before I moved in. Maybe they don’t want to be seen on their patio and every time they go in and out at the back

Well we’ve lived here quite happily for a decade without one, so the idea that I’d put one up as soon as I got a whiff of who the new neighbours are seems like a direct dig at them.

All of the houses on the street are older properties with walls surrounding them. No one has fences. It would seem obvious that I’d put it up to avoid them.

Yes, put up the fence before they move in.

Tall fences make good neighbours.

'Good fences make good neighbours'

Put the fence up now. This way it isn't a judgement on them.

Now is a good time for a fence, or some strategic planting. Don't overthink it.

I would put one up. Better to start as you mean to carry on and not wait until a problem occurs. - which could have been easily avoided.

We live quite rurally, so it seems like I spend half my day getting kids in and out of the car.

My driveway used to be overgrown wasteland, so it was never an issue before. We used to have to park on the road.

Well we’ve lived here quite happily for a decade without one, so the idea that I’d put one up as soon as I got a whiff of who the new neighbours are seems like a direct dig at them.

They won’t know that you haven’t been planning on it for a while or that there wasn’t one before. Even if they do realise it’s going up at the time of the sale, they would probably think you’re previous neighbours opposed it and that’s why you didn’t have it up sooner.

Planting isn’t really an option SylvanianFrenemies, as the driveway area is a patio. I’m assuming this will make building a fence tricky too as they won’t be able to dig holes for the fence posts.

The boundary wall is over 200 years old. My house was here first, so I’m assuming it’s mine.

The fence would completely cover the wall or is it possible to build a fence on top of the wall?

Well we’ve lived here quite happily for a decade without one, so the idea that I’d put one up as soon as I got a whiff of who the new neighbours are seems like a direct dig at them

How would they even know how long you’ve lived there? Do you really think they’d think about a fence in that much detail? Or even what surrounds the other neighbours? Just get a fence. It’s what you want so do it. Too much over-thinking going on.

I'd be putting up a fence yesterday 😂

Put pots of bamboo all along your wall if you have paving.

We’re in a small village surrounded by other small villages. Most families know each other. They definitely know how long I’ve lived here.

I’m surprised. I thought you’d all tell me to stop being paranoid and leave things as they are.

Get a fence up quick!

Go for it before they move in.

I'd put one up before they move in. I'd put it on the boundary it it was my responsibility if not then I'd do it as close as possible.

I would definitely put one up. Privacy is a very real issue. If you don't tackle this now, and your new neighbours start doing stuff you really don't want to see, then you could be making a rod for your own back later on..

I would and I’d do it before they move in to avoid any awkwardness

You can put a fence on top of the existing wall and yes I'd do it.

Get a builder out now, and get a nice fence.

I used to have elderly people living all round me, over the years they have moved on 😢 and the houses bought by young couples of families. The difference is considerable. Constant music, diy, smoke from chimeas, kids creaming, trampolines bouncing, power washers on every week, it’s never ending.

I know it’s just people living their lives and using their gardens, but when you are used to elderly people who rarely used the space it’s quite a jolt. I used to love the tranquility of my garden, I am now moving,

Get the fence up ASAP unless you want their youngest child climbing all over your car.