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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 11/02/2014 09:31

We're waiting for the weather to improve first and so are our neighbours.

WaitMonkey · 11/02/2014 09:34

It's another YABU from me. There isn't any legal requirement for them to put up a fence and it is your responsibility to keep the dogs in your garden. Maybe they don't have the money to erect a fence at the moment. If your dog's are going in there garden, you should put up a fence or wire up.

Fleta · 11/02/2014 09:37

YABU. Unless it is explicitly in the title deeds that there has to be a fence, they are under no legal obligation whatsoever.

It is perfectly sensible with the weather like it is to hang fire at the moment - would you pay for another fence to be put up with the risk of it coming straight back down?

The dogs are YOURS. Doesn't matter whether you want to supervise them or not, the responsibility of keeping them in your garden is all yours.

wishful75 · 11/02/2014 09:41

Sorry but yabu. I can understand your frustration but they don't have to do anything, it is your responsibility to ensure your dogs are kept off their land.

CrazyOldCatLady · 11/02/2014 09:43

It is absolutely not your neighbours' responsibility to contain your dogs. You need to sort something out yourself.

YAButterlyU.

HavantGuard · 11/02/2014 09:49

They may well be legally obliged to maintain a fence if it's mentioned on the deeds. The companies that fit fencing must be inundated at the moment though.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 11/02/2014 09:50

YABU

Our fence needs replacing badly - it is still up but only just.

a) seems sensible to wait another month until the weather hopefully improves
b) we are waiting on several invoices to be paid (run our own business) so that we have the spare cash to do it.

If you want a safe garden for your dogs, you pay for it.

tiggytape · 11/02/2014 09:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
pinkbear82 · 11/02/2014 09:54

Ok, so I get there is no legal requirement for them to have the fence.

We cannot put a replacement fence up, the landlord has made it quite clear it is their fence and nothing to do with him replacing it, we asked months ago as we could see it was going to happen. We would happily have sorted it when it first started waving around.

I could understand financial issues too, however they are having plenty of work done to the house, and even have a carpenter in there working at the moment.

I know the dogs are our responsibility, and I am supervising them, and I am stopping them from crossing the boundary and going into next door. I wouldn't dream of letting them just wonder around.

I guess it is just frustrating as we are stuck at not being able to do anything, the landlord has made this very clear to us.

I guess if it was me, I would have popped round and just said we're doing x and we'll understand the odd visit by the dog, if it happens. We hope to get it dotted by x.

And it's in the deeds that the gardens are separated by brick on the higher parts and fencing and/or brick on the lower.

I'll get the chicken wire out and sort something out. Thanks for all your comments.

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkbear82 · 11/02/2014 09:57

just to add although I get the message it's two fence panels. It's not like it's the whole length of the garden.

I am not expecting the neighbours to contain our dogs, nor to replace it so it is dog proof.

OP posts:
RighteousSausage · 11/02/2014 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RighteousSausage · 11/02/2014 09:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fleta · 11/02/2014 10:00

If it is two fence panels just get some chicken wire and block the gap as a temporary fix. It isn't permanent, will cause no problems and will sort the issue full stop.

If it is on the deeds then they have to sort it, but within a reasonable timescale. A week in the current conditions is not a long time

IamSlave · 11/02/2014 10:04

No I do not think you are BU!

If its their fence for whatever reason they cant put it back up...then I say they have to swallow your dogs being there.

this is exactly what has happened to me.

On one side its not ours but with previous LL we had been replacing it...we have a dog and now new owners taken it over...they know its their fence and I do not think they have got round to it yet which is fine by me...

I will offer to go into their garden and clean up any mess, which is a nice thing to do..but also a gentle hint nad perhaps an opener for you to mention the fence...say you have spoken to your LL about getting one up and he wont...

they know your conscientious and they know you want the fence back....they may say they dont care about the dogs in which case...relax.

on the other side which is our fence, its fine for us, keeps our dog in but neighbours were forcing a replacement on me! and wouldn't let me paint it! it was my fence!

IamSlave · 11/02/2014 10:06

who will "come back when the weather is better". Very helpful!

they have got a point about the weather though..

if its two panels, go and talk to your neighbours, say do you mind me putting up some chicken wire until you get it done...

johnworf · 11/02/2014 10:08

We have a similar situation to yours. Two fence panels are down in our back garden. When we moved into this house a few years ago, we were told by the previous owners that the fence belonged to next door. They had it installed and they paid for it all.

Now, the ironic thing in our situation is that they have several new fence panels in the garage. DH has been round to offer to help them put them in but still nothing.

It's really annoying when the fence doesn't actually belong to you but isn't being maintained.

You're NBU. I'd let the dogs go in their garden...might make them sort out the situation sooner.

MewlingQuim · 11/02/2014 10:08

I am in a similar situation with my neighbour.

The fence panels have broken in the wind and though they have tried several times to put them back up they are just too shagged to stand the current weather. They have promised to get new panels and put them up as soon as the weather is better but who knows when that will be.......

We both have dogs. Mine will not cross the boundary (because she is a good girl Smile ) but their dog came though yesterday and I had to drag him back into their garden and then clean up his shit. Grrrr Angry

However, if I really want their dog to stay out I will have to put up a temporary barrier myself.

So I am on the fence no pun intended about whether YABU or not

johnworf · 11/02/2014 10:10

I forgot to add that our fence panels blew down 2 years ago!!!!!!

Cravey · 11/02/2014 10:17

Yabu. Thy don't need to have a fence at all if they don't want one ! Maybe they are waiting for things to settle down. Your dogs are your own issue I'm afraid.

meganorks · 11/02/2014 10:19

YABU - a week isn't very long and the weather is still ridiculous so when do you think they would have replaced it exactly? If you dogs keep getting in their garden I'm sure they will be keen to replace....

whomadeyougod · 11/02/2014 10:24

yabu your dogs are your responsibility ,i would keep them out of people gardens , just hope your neighbours dont start putting chicken bones and antifreeze out for them to eat and drink .

JackNoneReacher · 11/02/2014 10:30

Have you considered speaking to them?

The way you say you would have expected them to speak to you?

Just really nicely, asking if they have plans to replace the fence and when or should you put some wire up temporarily to contain the dogs. It may even encourage them to get a couple of panels.

OwlCapone · 11/02/2014 10:32

just hope your neighbours dont start putting chicken bones and antifreeze out for them to eat and drink

Oh FGS how ridiculous.

OP, YANBU to want them to replace the fence and YANBU to talk to them about it and come up with a plan to keep your dogs contained until it's appropriate to replace the fence properly. Until then, maybe invest in a long line - I have to keep my dog on one in the garden as the foxes and badgers regularly destroy parts of the fence and I only know there's a hole when the dog has vanished and is romping around the entire block.

OddFodd · 11/02/2014 10:36

Are the fence panels still intact? Two panels of my neighbour's fence blew down but the panels were fine, it was the support post that had rotted. They rent and their landlord is hopeless so I just got them fixed myself in the end. It only cost £50

whomadeyougod · 11/02/2014 10:39

owl why is that ridiculous that is exactly what a neighbour did to my dog when a panel got blown out with the wind ! there are some nasty people out there .

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