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Neighbors and fence...

47 replies

DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:08

Please advise me

About 6 years ago, I had work done to my back garden. It was paved with huge borders filled with conifers, shrubs etc. I hated it so had it all dug out and lawned over. When the guy came to do it has asked who had put the science up as it wasn't secure. My neighbor had put it up some years previously And now when I think about it removed a hedge on my boundary without asking.

Anyway, garden was done, really pleased with it but fence was leaning as I live on a bank. The fence doesn't have concrete posts just wooden.

Neighbor comes straight round and complains. Back story is that they have complained before. The front garden trees are too big could I cut them as they can't see the road. We live in a very quiet residential street, my girls shouldn't be sledging when we were snowed in once, my back garden could look like theirs if I changed it, my daughter had friend round once when she turned 18, it was too loud. They thought I was a soft touch. As I type this I'm listening to their rock music through the walls.

I thought I had to stand up to them to stop their petty complaining so I wouldn't get into a discussion about the fence. The husband is quite intimidating and I'm a single woman. Anyway I stood my ground.

Relations have thawed slightly and he called in a couple of weeks ago to say he was gettting fence fixed. He would leave my garden looking exactly as it was. I didn't for one moment think he would be putting something in my garden! However he has placed a wooden beam thing across the front of the fence which is an eye sore.

I've tried to ignore it but I'm just so annoyed at their cheek and feel I should say something but it's not easy to face them on my own. What would you do?

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DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:16

Bump sorry I know it's boring

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TheSpottedZebra · 20/03/2022 18:18

Well you either have to summon your courage and say something, or just let it go.
But if you let it go then they'll probably continue continue take the piss.

DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:20

Yes which is why I stood up to them last time...

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DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:24

When my garden was full of trees and bushes along the boundary, they removed the hedge and put up the fence. I'm sure the hedge was mine as she said her boyfriend had trimmed it for me once. Before she married the current guy.

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TheSpottedZebra · 20/03/2022 18:24

Excellent! Then say to him that he said your garden would be the same, and it's not, so the big beam has to go - onto his side. Or they need to find another way to mend it.

And in future don't trust him (or his workers) to be in your garden alone.

dementedpixie · 20/03/2022 18:25

I suppose if its their fence they can do what they like with it. Can you show us the beam thing?

tootiredtobother · 20/03/2022 18:26

with fencing generally looking down the garden, you own the left hand side, it is a custom to give the neighbour the better side of the fence when renewing, the horizontal wooden bit on the fence is the bad side and should face into the garden of the person who owns that side,, there is nothing to stop you bar the cost , of putting a second layer with the good side showing into your garden to mask the bad side. IUSWIM
also get the deeds out that will make boundries clear

Campervangirl · 20/03/2022 18:27

Can we have a photo?
The fence between me ndn blew down in the last storm, technically its her fence but I've always repaired it as she won't.
We're having a stalemate now, I'm not fixing it or paying for her fence and I assume she's waiting for me to replace, so we're having a silent stand off 😂 we don't speak either as she's a dick and I'm not 😂
Neighbours are irritating but good for you for standing your ground, upload a photo 📸

dementedpixie · 20/03/2022 18:29

@tootiredtobother

with fencing generally looking down the garden, you own the left hand side, it is a custom to give the neighbour the better side of the fence when renewing, the horizontal wooden bit on the fence is the bad side and should face into the garden of the person who owns that side,, there is nothing to stop you bar the cost , of putting a second layer with the good side showing into your garden to mask the bad side. IUSWIM also get the deeds out that will make boundries clear
The left side of the fence thing isn't always true at all. And lf you pay for it it's yours. I have 2 good sides in my garden (done before we moved in) but we share responsibility for them with each of the neighbours
Justkeeppedaling · 20/03/2022 18:30

it is a custom to give the neighbour the better side of the fence when renewing, the horizontal wooden bit on the fence is the bad side and should face into the garden of the person who owns that side

Sorry, but that's rubbish. The person who pays gets to choose which side they want. There are advantages to both sides.

DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:32

Here it is

Neighbors and fence...
Neighbors and fence...
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DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:34

happy to be told I'm over dramatising by the way

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crossstitchingnana · 20/03/2022 18:36

That looks ok to me. Don't know what it looked like before, obviously, but I say "pick your battles."

DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:38

I agree with pick your battles.. they do not though!

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olympicsrock · 20/03/2022 18:38

Can’t see it

WhatIsThisPlease · 20/03/2022 18:39

I think it looks ok?

If you really don't like it and you don't mind sacrificing a foot of garden or so, put your own fence up in front of it.

BluebellStreet · 20/03/2022 18:40

That looks like a sleeper to keep the fence upright. I mean, he shouldn't have put anything in your garden without your permission but I think it looks ok.

Wouldntitbenicetobeinyourshoes · 20/03/2022 18:41

I can’t see photo for some reason?

Aphantasia · 20/03/2022 18:42

I can’t see it either, can someone who can save the pic and repost it please?

DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:42

Try again

Neighbors and fence...
Neighbors and fence...
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Overthebow · 20/03/2022 18:42

I can’t see it

YellowDots · 20/03/2022 18:44

If you really don't like it and you don't mind sacrificing a foot of garden or so, put your own fence up in front of it.

You could use the sleeper to attach some trellis or that expanding willow trellis to.

DianaBarry5 · 20/03/2022 18:45

I might stain it a darker shade

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YellowDots · 20/03/2022 18:45

Having said that, I think it looks OK as it is.

mathanxiety · 20/03/2022 18:48

Is that all they did to stabilize the fence? Is there anything on their side? What exactly is the purpose of the additional planks they added?

You could hire a power washer to wash your side of the fence and the cleaned up old wood would blend with the new planks.

You could also plant a flower border to hide it if you think it's unsightly.

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