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Original poster

If we put a 6ft fence up next to our neighbours .... Can they do anything?

182 replies

ButteredRadishes · 15/05/2025 08:07

We offered to replace the old fence that is shared to Ur back gardens. They've got a 3 ft wires fence, rotting poles, leaning etc. is "their fence" as far as I can see.

We want to replace it (at our cost), they verbally agreed but are now kicking off, saying it will block their light, they don't want a 6ft, they want 3 ft.

We want 6ft, because she curtain twitches at the back window.

Any way, if they don't want to get theirs actually replaced, can we just build a fence next to theirs on our property? Like an inch or so away from theirs?

As far as I cans we, they'll be miffed,but couldn't actually stop us, right?

OP posts:
Renabrook · 15/05/2025 11:20

I presume you have checked with council?

Horticula · 15/05/2025 11:22

EndlesslyDecluttering · 15/05/2025 09:46

Won't it make too much shade in your garden? We have a very similar set-up re sun direction and we are the ones in your house, our former neighbours put up a 6' fence which means virtually nothing will grow for the first metre or so of our garden on that side - nothing to do with curtain twitching for us as we don't have any windows facing their house, they just liked privacy. When it came to us doing the other side of the garden we agreed 4'6" with those neighbours so we are private when sitting down but can see each others heads if we are walking up and down the garden.

I couldn't stand seeing the neighbours' heads walking up and down the garden, why would anyone want to do that? I want to be able to go into my garden and see no neighbours, not have to see them or them to see me. Of course if they really wanted to look they could see by hanging out of their upstairs windows I suppose. But I want it to be private on all sides.

Sunholidays · 15/05/2025 11:22

Do it. My neighbours did this. They left a 40 cm gap which they lined with weed proof fabric and the new fence was "freestanding", not attached to the side fences. They painted it a pale green and have climbers on it. It looks lovely, kind of like this pic

If we put a 6ft fence up next to our neighbours .... Can they do anything?

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Gardening
Sunholidays · 15/05/2025 11:23

Renabrook · 15/05/2025 11:20

I presume you have checked with council?

Why?

BarbedButterfly · 15/05/2025 11:23

I'd rather have privacy than sun

AthWat · 15/05/2025 11:26

You can put up a fence up to 2m (so over 6 foot) without planning permission in your back garden unless there are any particular restrictions specifically applied to your property (unlikely, but possible).

AthWat · 15/05/2025 11:27

Horticula · 15/05/2025 11:22

I couldn't stand seeing the neighbours' heads walking up and down the garden, why would anyone want to do that? I want to be able to go into my garden and see no neighbours, not have to see them or them to see me. Of course if they really wanted to look they could see by hanging out of their upstairs windows I suppose. But I want it to be private on all sides.

Show quote history

What if you lived next door to the guy who played Chewbacca in Star Wars?

GemmaCalmDown · 15/05/2025 11:28

@bigboykitty I was trying to help them understand why someone was being pissy about it. It isn't necessarily a problem for me but then I am not scrolling this on my phone. If everyone did it the entire thread would be people quoting the OP and replying to it. MN format has been like this for a very long time. It works.

bigboykitty · 15/05/2025 11:30

I appreciate that, but people being pissy about it is very tedious @GemmaCalmDown and they should be discouraged, IMO

Hipatch · 15/05/2025 11:31

We did this. Our neighbour was furious as they had a conservatory running along the fence so were concerned about us blocking light into it. The previous fence was also about 3ft.

We could see them sitting in it from inside our kitchen. Was awful!

We ended up running a 6ft one alongside theirs as they wouldn’t let us replace it. It was the best decision and worth the bit of garden we lost.

Longhotsummers · 15/05/2025 11:32

We have 6 ft fences all round our north facing garden. They don't block any light and, in fact, our neighbours have put in bamboo so it's more like 7-8ft on one side with no issues.
Be warned though, we had an elderly curtain twitcher neighbour who used to come out and moan about things every time we were in the garden, while the fence stopped the interactions and gave us privacy, she moved upstairs and used to curtain twitch from the upstairs back room. I got DH to wander around the garden in his undies a few times when she was at the window and that reduced the twitching!

AthWat · 15/05/2025 11:33

ButteredRadishes · 15/05/2025 11:11

They're council tenants - so will never sell, she will be there until she dies (shes 79 atm) presumably because she and her husband are in a 3 bed house and haven't been moved on in 12 years+... her kids all moved out about 20 years ago.

Show quote history

If your house is ex-council, it is possible that when it was sold some covenants would have been attached about fences which might be more restrictive than the general planning law of 2m. Not likely, but worth checking. They would be in your deeds if so.

Original poster
ButteredRadishes · 15/05/2025 11:33

Renabrook · 15/05/2025 11:20

I presume you have checked with council?

why would I do that?

OP posts:
HouseCaptain · 15/05/2025 11:34

Tell them it needs to be 6ft as you’re getting a Cane Corso.

Hipatch · 15/05/2025 11:35

BarbedButterfly · 15/05/2025 11:23

I'd rather have privacy than sun

This reminds me. When our fencer was putting our 6ft up alongside their tiny 3ft one NDN ran out red in the face and shouted over the last bit of fence “enjoy your shade” 😂 He looked like he was going to combust.

Still makes me laugh years later.

ThejoyofNC · 15/05/2025 11:36

To answer your OP, no there's nothing they can do. Provided it's on your land and follows all the rules of course.

I would 100% get it on my own land and not replace the old one. That could complicate things.

Soonenough · 15/05/2025 11:40

If theirs is a Council owned property shouldn't they replace it with the now standard 6ft fence ?.

Renabrook · 15/05/2025 11:49

ButteredRadishes · 15/05/2025 11:33

why would I do that?

Show quote history

To see if you need planning permission?

DrPrunesqualer · 15/05/2025 11:56

Of course you can put a six foot fence on your property next to the boundary
There is absolutely nothing they can do about it

godmum56 · 15/05/2025 11:58

EndlesslyDecluttering · 15/05/2025 10:05

Thanks for that helpful information, I am a very experienced gardener and have tried all sorts but have serious difficulty getting much to grow in this part of the garden.

Show quote history

what have you tried?

Sunnyside4 · 15/05/2025 12:01

As long as it's on your side and doesn't impact any regulations (some had it stated on the deeds that they could put up fences higher than 3ft on our old estate, others had no covenant), they I don't think they can do anything. Only thing that wouldn't be fair is putting up a 6ft within inches of their window!

Kelticgold · 15/05/2025 12:06

GOODCAT · 15/05/2025 09:06

We had a neighbour do this to us. The fence was only 6 inches from our window. It blocks the light. We also don't have any other window in that room, so it isn't great. I wouldn't have minded plants but no it has to be a fence. We don't speak. Less of a problem next to the garden but they didn't put one there! Instead they rely on our hedge but lean over and cut it back when they don't like the height even though it is lower than the fence they used to block our window up.

Worth seeing if you can compromise so say 5 ft with higher planting behind as that is much less intrusive.

That space between the boundary and the window must be very narrow, does that mean that the window used to face their garden?

DrPrunesqualer · 15/05/2025 12:10

Sunnyside4 · 15/05/2025 12:01

As long as it's on your side and doesn't impact any regulations (some had it stated on the deeds that they could put up fences higher than 3ft on our old estate, others had no covenant), they I don't think they can do anything. Only thing that wouldn't be fair is putting up a 6ft within inches of their window!

Technically they shouldn’t have a window on the boundary. So if anything they would be in contravention of planning laws. If the property was old that’s different but an owner would still have a right to a fence for privacy

Chenecinquantecinq · 15/05/2025 12:10

Max 2m is allowed without planning I think

Chenecinquantecinq · 15/05/2025 12:13

Front garden max 3ft I think if adjacent to a drive is it front or back?