When I moved into my house a number of years ago, I put a trellis up on the dividing fence. I didn’t ask the adjoining neighbour because I was new to ‘fence etiquette’ and thought my side of the fence was mine to do what I wanted with (I was 22 and had a lot to learn!).
My neighbour went ballistic, banging on the door and aggressively informing me it was his fence he’d paid for and erected, and it was within his property. There’s nothing really that indicates a boundary line between the houses, but I apologised and took the trellis down. He made a big show of coming around to inspect the ‘damage’ and pointing at the (small) drill holes in the fence. I apologised again, but didn’t take him up on his suggestion that I ‘repair’ it.
I then grew some plants up the fence (not attached to it). The second one of the leaves from one of the plants reached the top of the fence and went slightly over, he was back round, saying my plants were over growing into his garden. I went to trim them but was surprised when it was just literally one leaf. I left the rest that were nearly growing over but still on my side. A few days later, another offending leaf was on his side, and he was back round. I went to cut it off.
Some time later, I decided I did want a trellis after all, so I had my own fence erected, up against his but on my property. I nailed a trellis to my fence and have several things growing up it.
He suddenly needs to paint both sides of his fence with weatherproof paint but he can’t because now my fence is right up against it.
I explained I would not have let him into my garden to paint my side of his fence anyway. He said I am responsible for his fence falling into disrepair as only half of it is weatherproof.
He is currently writing up a case to take me to court.
I’m not particularly worried about this, but I do want to know if I’m likely to be made to take the fence down.
Any ideas?