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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want the neighbours to replace their fence

60 replies

pinkbear82 · 11/02/2014 08:50

I know we are in devon, and I know the weather has been awful but, the rather flimsy fence dividing our garden and the neighbours has been totally blown down.

Because it had been looking dodgy for a while, I had called our landlord to check if it was something 'we' needed to be replacing. Nope, it's our neighbours fence.

Now, it really wouldn't bother me but, we have two dogs, two dogs that like to spend time outside, in their own garden. I often leave the back door open so they are free to go in and out as and when they like.

The mutts are quite happy having a new garden to explore, I on the other hand am not and I doubt the neighbours would if they realised I also am not liking the fact they now have to be restricted and supervised. Neither are they.

It's been down a week, wibu to pop round and ask what is happening? I'm resisting letting the dogs wonder, but it is getting tempting.

OP posts:

whois · 11/02/2014 08:52

YABU they don't have to have a fence, they can just chuck up a bit of string to mark the boundary.

Your dogs are your responsibility to keep contained. Go and buy some chicken wire and stakes or something as a make shift fence.

CleverClod · 11/02/2014 08:55

YABU. If you want a fence there, then put one up. It is not a legal requirement to have a fence, your neighbour's are under no obligation to erect a fence, especially not if it's for your benefit.

Onesleeptillwembley · 11/02/2014 08:55

Hahaha, I'll post you a grip.
Look after your own dogs. If you don't want to, put a fence up. And do at least try to wait until it would not be absolutely stupid to do so.

TobyLerone · 11/02/2014 08:59

I don't think it's U to be annoyed about this. And I don't think YWBU to go round and just ask if they're planning on fixing it.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 11/02/2014 09:00

I think the simplest thing would be for you to erect your own fence inside theirs.

Callani · 11/02/2014 09:01

I don't think you're being unreasonable - it'd be different if there'd never been a fence, but I imagine you rented the house in the expectation you can let your dogs out in your garden (and I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation either).

Pop round to your neighbours and explain the situation with the dogs and come to a suitable compromise.

CaptainGrinch · 11/02/2014 09:02

Actually, if they don't want your dogs in their garden, they need to put the fence back up.

If there was a fence there before, then they need to do something about it. I'd stick some temporary wire or something up, but I wouldn't lose any sleep if the dogs shat all over their lawn....

So no, YANBU

LovelyJubblies · 11/02/2014 09:04

Maybe they haven't got any money to pay for one.
Or maybe they think there's no point as the weather is still bad.
We needed to replace our fence but unfortunately we didn't have the money too, once we had we got a new one.
If its a problem then you can put one up.
Yabu to let your dogs go in their garden btw

MaxPepsi · 11/02/2014 09:04

You will need to go halves for the fence with them.

Even if it's for your benefit they still need to pay.

You will of course need to agree on the type and costs etc.

MrsKoala · 11/02/2014 09:07

it's a YABU from me i'm afraid. Tho i can see that it's irritating.

My last flat we never had a proper fence, just a few posts with wire running along. It was like that when we bought it and when the neighbour bought it. But the NDN kept asking us when we were going to replace it. Ummm never. was the answer. but it didn't stop her from continually asking.

If you have dogs then you should ask them 'if' they are planning on replacing it. If they say no, you will have to put one up yourself i think.

Breezy1985 · 11/02/2014 09:08

The fence between mine and my neighbours has been down 2 years, it's starting to drive me mad now. Were both council but because they took the council one down and replaced with their own the council will do nothing. I can't afford to replace it, wouldn't be so annoying if they didn't have 5-6 people out there smoking weed all day.

LIZS · 11/02/2014 09:08

We've got fences down left right and centre here. No point reinstating until this weather has passed. They are all ours . It is not obligatory to have a fence at all but it is your/ll responsibility to contain your dogs. If you don't want to do anything permanent then chicken wire is a good start. Or ll , assuming he knows and agrees for you to have dogs , can put up a fence on your side of the boundary.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 11/02/2014 09:10

I think YABabitU because they are under no obligation to put the fence back up, as a PP said, they could just put a bit of string there if all they care about it marking the boundary.

If they don't want to replace them, then you'll need to speak to your landlord about putting one up.

Gladvent · 11/02/2014 09:11

If my fence had blown down I would wait for weather to improve before replacing/ fixing. Agree you should discuss with them and put up something temporary as wire fence would be better in windy conditions anyway.

PeterParkerSays · 11/02/2014 09:13

The fence between us and next door is down. The fence is their responsibility, by their own admission (do your neighbours know it's their fence?). Next door's dad owns a fencing company.

But it still isn't replaced because the weather is crap and it's easier to sort this once we no longer have gale force winds.

Sorry, but I think YABU. The problem isn't the fence, it's your dogs escaping. They aren't fixing their fence, because there is no legal compulsion for them to do, and lots of good reasons at present why t hey shouldn't, so you need to fix your problem and find another solution to stop your dogs getting out.

Joysmum · 11/02/2014 09:19

Mine and my neighbours fences have blown down, both if us are waiting till the weather improves to fix. With the rain as it is the postcrete won't set properly. I'm not going to attempt to wave 6ft panels around in this wind, professionals are all booked up. One week is nothing!

If my neighbours chose to replace their boundary fence with a rope, theirs nothing to say they can't and we'd need to fence in our side if the boundary if we don't agree with their choice.

It's the responsibility if the property owner to fence to their own requirements. Unless it's in the deeds or some other non-standard requirement, there is no law to say people have to fence their property. If a fence is on the boundary, the deeds specify who it belongs to but if the neighbours want fencing when they can secure their property by fencing on their own side.

Joysmum · 11/02/2014 09:19

There's*

Bramshott · 11/02/2014 09:22

I can see that it's annoying, but honestly, there's no point replacing the fence until the weather has calmed down or it will just blow down again.

bonkersLFDT20 · 11/02/2014 09:23

How well do you get on with your neighbours?

If you get on well then of course it's fine to go and ask them what's happening, just remember that the problem with the dogs is yours.

If you're not on such good terms with them then just put something up to contain your dogs.

MrsOakenshield · 11/02/2014 09:23

I can see why you are annoyed but with the weather the way it is they probably don't think it's worth doing anything about it right now - or maybe they can't afford it at the mo? But your dogs are your responsibility to contain. Can you put up a wire fence inside your side of the boundary?

BarkWorseThanBite · 11/02/2014 09:26

Well a week is not very long to arrange a new fence, especially it if blew down unexpectedly... they are probably getting quotes.

Go round - with a Banana Loaf - and ask them what they are plannign to do. If they have no plans, you can decide whether to put your own fence up.

MiaowTheCat · 11/02/2014 09:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fluterby · 11/02/2014 09:28

When ours blew down it took several weeks to get someone to come and fix it. I shouldn't think many people want to work in a howling gale. My dm's neighbour decided to build a new fence himself and took nearly a year. It doesn't happen overnight is my point.

Skinnydecafflatte · 11/02/2014 09:28

Yalu. Our fence blew down a couple of months ago and we were lucky that our neighbours had it fixed within a fortnight. I was speaking to a friend of mine yesterday who has lost part of their fence, they were told that the company were so busy that they couldn't even send someone out for a quote until the end of March! And this is in an area where we have not been to badly affected.

It could well be the same for your neighbours that they can't get anyone out just yet. Afraid you will have to wait. Even in good weather/quieter periods I think finding someone and getting it mended within a week is pushing it!

LIZS · 11/02/2014 09:30

There was a shortage of panels a couple of years ago and they were very poor quality when they did arrive so have blown down and smashed so even once the wind subsides and assuming you can get hold of a contractor it could take time to fix.

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