Neighbour replaced part of our fence!

[FrostyChristmas]

Yesterday, DH and myself returned from a month abroad caring for a sick relative. We get on well with our elderly neighbour, they had our contact details, but heard nothing from them when away.
On returned, we saw 2 front/side fence panels had fallen over. DH went around today to remove the panels and advise that he was calling a fencing company to get it fixed ASAP.
Neighbour said they already had it sorted. DH reminded them that its OUR fence to replace, WE are responsible and would pay to fix/replace it. Whilst speaking- a fencing company arrived! Neighbour said we only needed to pay 1/4 of the price- IF we wanted to!
I was working and returned to find the front side fence replaced. Its better than before, but not exactly what I would have chosen.
I'm very jetlagged and wasn't involved in the conversation, but find it odd. Why would they pay for a fence that isn't theirs on the deeds? Why should I pay 1/4 for a fence I didn't choose? Am I missing something?

This is exactly what you said 'Why should I pay 1/4 for a fence I didn't choose?' and now after the responses from other posters you are changing to "To clarify, I'm not annoyed with the the neighbour at all, just confused whether we should pay the entire amount or just 1/4?"

It's two fence panels it doesn't matter say thank you and move on

You were away for a month, they wanted it fixed. It's lovely of them. Leaving a property neglected attracts squatters & crime so I understand their motivation. It keeps everyone safe.

Would love your neighbours!!

They probably sick of looking at your broken fence panels for weeks on end and / or worried about security?

I put a new fence up even though ownership was uncertain as I knew my neighbour would never contribute even half and I couldn't bear the view of all his rubbish and weeds through the broken panels.

Why should I pay for 1/4 of a fence I didn't choose!

Get a grip OP. Perhaps you shouldn't go away and leave your fence down indefinitely. Do you have someone check on your property when you're away?

They did a nice thing for you. A simple thank you would likely go a long way, alongside the 1/4 contribution they would like.

Oh I wouldn't be wound up but I wouldn't like to have to see the fence which wasn't to my taste & so I'd change the panels if it were my fence.

If the neighbours had put up a fence I didn't like that was theirs, I'd have to live with it, obviously! 😆

Yeah OP, your sick relative can fend for themselves because you have a duty to ensure your fence is in perfect condition at all times. Jesus.

Kind intentions or not I have to say I also would be annoyed at having to pay anything at all towards a fence I didn’t choose to replace, especially if I would then have to pay again (even if 25%, would be paying 125% overall!) because they’d chosen something that didn’t match or I didn’t like aesthetically.

My fence has been broken for a year and a half and I can't get the money together to replace it. I would take them round half the money and some chocolates or similar to say thanks. It is a bit odd they didn't check but a fence is a fence (in my opinion)

So you got 2 free fence panels then, with no hassle of finding a tradesperson etc. The neighbour said only pay if you want to. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’d choose to chill personally!

Don’t understand why you’re confused whether you should pay whole amount or quarter. Your OP says the neighbour says you can pay 1/4 IF you want to. So do, or don’t. They’re clearly happy to pay for the whole thing. So much angst!

Fascinated as to how different the replacement panels are to the existing ones to mail you unhappy about the choice

Slightly more fascinated as to why you feel peeved that someone has done you a favor when you were caring for a sick relative

I am responsible for just the fence at the rear of the garden. In the pandemic it came down and the neighbour fixed it for free as he was a retired builder. I think he had the panels already too. I was in dire straits financially waiting on the first Seiss Grant and thanked him profusely.I

Sometimes people act generously though it is fairly rare!

The fence panels being down must have looked an utter mess. Good on your neighbours I say. What choice do you need vis a vis fence panels? Presumably they have bought ones that match or pretty much match the existing ones? Even if they are a bit different by the time they've all had a coat of cuprinol, and have a few shrubs in front of them, nobody will notice.

FWIW we had two panels down and damaged in the last storm. My regular fencer is replacing them today. That's the earliest he could do. £250.00.

Ideally, you ought to say "dear neighbour, how very kind of you, thank you so much, no of course you mustn't pay at all, I wouldn't dream of it" and then you send flowers to thank the thoughtless nasty fuckers for sorting it out for you while you were away.

They sound like amazing neighbours.

If you don’t like the fence panels and it’s your fence then just change them, I wouldn’t pay them anything as they took it on themselves to do it. You were only away 1 month and they knew that, a fence can wait a month.

I disagree about them being lovely neighbours. They should have contacted you about the broken fence, not just cracked on replacing your fence to their taste. Paying for it is neither here nor there. It's actually passive aggressive. Makes it hard for you to say no, we'll replace the panels of our fence with something we choose without looking difficult.

No one asked the stupid neighbours to do it 🤷‍♂️🙄🤦‍♂️

I'd say thank you to the neighbours and buy them a bottle of wine. If you don't like the fence panels they have chosen, you can put up your own fence next to theirs.

I think I agree with this. OP, pay them nothing and replace the panels with your choice.

Someone has done something nice for you ! Say thank you and pay then 1/2 or 1/4 xx

Wow. Amazed at some of the responses. Pay half and take a nice card and box of chocs and say thank you very much. Your neighbour sounds great.

Our neighbour, that backs onto our garden has had a fence panel down for months.
It is spoiling our garden and we are going to replace it if they don't.

Can't imagine them being upset about it being replaced for free, though.

Will maybe best pop round and ask if they prefer to leave the old broken panel flapping in the wind?

Gosh I wouldn't be complaining that's actually a lovely neighbour does it matter it may not match. I would be right around with some money and chocolates

Well you do appear a bit pissed off with all the capitals in your op. Personally I’d transfer the full amount and thank them for saving you the effort in finding you a contractor.