Neighbour offered to pay for "my" new fence. Should I just be grateful?

[LadyLindaT]

The fence is my responsibility. My neighbour lets out next door, so everything is always "just so" when he gets a new tenant. (Contract gardeners, etc.) He is a very nice man. The fence is a very long one, and has been a constant thorn in my side, due to bad weather, storms, etc. I have replaced the panels many times over the years. The latest tenant has just moved out, and the gardeners have been in to nuke everything with their power mowers, hedge trimmers, etc. He has now suggested that his contractors will replace "my" fence, and that he will pay. Should I just be grateful, or should I be a bit wary? Maybe I should offer to pay half?

Oh how I envy you. My fence has panels missing due to the awful winds earlier this year and the fact that the neighbours shed (in the loosest sense) has collapsed and fallen onto part of my fence, pushing it forward and cracking it. He has now sold the property - I won’t replace my fence until they take the collapsed fence down as I have no room to manoeuvre a new one in until that goes.

I can guarantee no bugger will offer to pay for my fence to be replaced and the costs are huge for fencing now. Take the offer and thank them with wine/chocolates/ flowers.

Yes.let him do it. It will be an investment of several thousand that improves his property, but yours too. Buy him a bottle of wine as a thank you.

Goodness, what a lovely offer. What is it about the offer that concerns you? I was about to say would you no longer consider yourself a stakeholder in your own fence but thought better of it 😆

I think be open with him and say that you haven't been able to get it done due to costs. And perhaps ask that he put everything in writing so that it's crystal clear that you actually own the fence. Or perhaps offer a nominal contribution like a 1/4 of the cost maybe? Have a think about what it is that is concerning you and then just address it head on.

If he refuses money I'd gift him something really nice by way of thank you. My suspicion is he wants to replace it to align with the optics of his renovation and if that's the case then that's great!

I have replied with a gracious thank you. I was considering replacing the fence with a hedge, so maybe that was part of his motivation, in that he wanted to maintain a fence. We remain on good terms.

That's great! I'm happy for you! Enjoy your new fence!