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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To move neighbours stuff off my property and put up a fence without telling him

37 replies

Kimbomc · 06/09/2015 14:35

He took down a fence before I moved in and covered it with gravel, did tell me this was my property a year ago when I'm moved in. I didn't think too much of it at the time as was busy moving In.

Now I've beem here a year I don't like him using this. Its got bins and his hosepipe on it.

Aibu to just move his stuff off and put up a fence? I've bought all the stuff but not seen him this week a d the weather is nice.

I kind of need to walk on his property to put it up, but he's said before I'm welcome to do this when I was cutting the hedge.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 06/09/2015 14:38

If he's not there to mention it to, then I'd just get on with it.

madamedesevigne · 06/09/2015 14:39

I don't think you'd be unreasonable to do it but I think it'd probably be a good idea to tell him first and give him a chance to move the stuff off himself. Depending on his personality, it has the potential to blow up into a classic massive, bitter neighbourly dispute, so although you don't really have to give him notice, i think it'd be courteous to do so.

Zort · 06/09/2015 14:39

So there is no fence between your garden and the one next door and your neighbour put gravel down on your garden?

TheHouseOnTheLane · 06/09/2015 14:58

What is "it"? What did he cover in gravel and what is "it" that has his bins on? A piece of land that is actually yours?

MidnightVelvetthe3rd · 06/09/2015 15:03

Surely your first move if you get on OK would be catch him in the garden & just say you're thinking of it & he will more likely say OK.

Going & moving his stuff off as a first step will probably get his back up unnecessarily.

Before you do anything, can you check the deeds to make sure its your land?

TheHouseOnTheLane · 06/09/2015 15:06

Midnight why would she need him to say Ok? It's her land from what I can see.

OP...knock on his door, tell him you're putting a fence up and can he move his stuff please.

That's it.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 06/09/2015 15:06

I'd try and discuss it with him first, but in a "this is what I want to do" fashion, as opposed to "I'm thinking of doing this, is that ok?" fashion.

I'd also check your deeds and where your boundary is. And if necessary, ask for legal advice because I think if something has been changed for long enough, then the other person has grounds to claim it as their own. In your case I don't think it's been long enough, but it's as well to be completely sure of your information in case he tries to bluster it out.

Greenpickachu · 06/09/2015 15:10

Just put up a fence as quick as possible. Don't bother discussing it first because that will cause more tension. It's perfectly acceptable to move his stuff to his side before putting up the fence the height of which can go up to 2m which I would advise.

airside · 06/09/2015 15:11

Wait and talk to him. At least stick a note through the door.

A disagreement over the boudary has the potential to totally sour your relationship and it makes life so much better if you at least have a civil relationship with your neighbours.

Original poster
Kimbomc · 06/09/2015 15:12

It is land. About a 1mx 8m strip in the front garden.

I'm not sure how he could claim its his, I've got the deeds and it clear is mine but I just don't like him using it as his own.

Was hoping to catch him to tell him what I'm doing, a just to let you know I'm putting the face back up but I certainly won't be asking him anything other than is it OK to use his drive as access when I do it.

OP posts:
MidnightVelvetthe3rd · 06/09/2015 15:17

No no, not asking his permission at all! Just saying in a friendly way this is what I'm doing & he will more than likely not make a fuss about it & move his stuff.

It seems a more logical first step than moving all of his stuff off the land first...

WeAllFloat · 06/09/2015 15:18

Leave the fence bits, tools, and workwear out there ready to go.....then leave for a day or two so he can see what's about to happen and can approach you if he's of a mind to. Then you get to breezily say that yes, when you get a minute (ho ho...kids keep me so busy) you'll be putting it up. Give him time to get used to the idea, then bam! Put it up when he's out.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 06/09/2015 15:33

I would try to tell him first and give him chance to move his stuff. If you've been ok with it for a year and suddenly dump his stuff on his side and put a fence up, it can cause bad feeling unnecessarily. Of course you don't HAVE to but it's the right thing to do to keep the peace, most people wouldn't make a fuss about your plans. I do find it odd that he just decided to take over a bit of your land though, so maybe he will object to you reclaiming it. But at least if you let him know, you're being the reasonable one.

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 06/09/2015 15:39

Just do it. I'm sure I read on here that if someone has squatted on land for long enough the owner loses rights to it. He didn't ask you before he put gravel down so sod it. Put your fence up

ArmfulOfRoses · 06/09/2015 15:41

I'd just put the fence up after moving his stuff to his side.
Pile it neatly as close to where it was as possible and crack on.

MyCatColin · 06/09/2015 15:44

Did you post about this before as it sounds familiar?

Well as he's told you its your land and has given you permission to access his property then I would just do it, I don't think he would have a problem with it.
I needed to put a panel up to stop my neighbour cutting my plants and painting my fence but needed to go on his drive to access the side part of my fence. He wasn't in so did it anyway. I didn't discuss and I didn't ask permission.
Its never been mentioned by either of us and we are still on friendly terms.

sonjadog · 06/09/2015 15:48

I'd put a note through his door to let him know what you are doing. Don't ask him if it okay. Make sure it is a statement of what is going to happen. I wouldn't just do it and shove his stuff to one side. That would seem uneccessarily combative to me and a good way of creating bad feeling.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 06/09/2015 15:49

YANBU. He's been pretty cheeky using your land.

Collaborate · 06/09/2015 16:04

He'd need to fence off some of your land and exclude you from it for over 12 years to be able to claim adverse possession.

I'm also in the camp that says just do it. He didn't ask anyone's permission when he did it.

Would you also tell him when you intend to mow your lawn? Thought not.

amarmai · 06/09/2015 16:32

! he takes down a mutual fence without asking you
1- he lays gravel on your land without asking you
3- he deposits his garbage cans, hose, etc on your property without asking you
pretty clear what he is doing. I had similar from male neighbors on both sides of my house . I reckon as i was a woman on my own i was fair game. When i sold the house i was most amused to see the encroaching driveway on one side and the fence that was put up on my side of the property line after tearing down the old one and destroying the hedge, both ripped by bulldozers when my little hovel was leveled for a hotel size monster home! Protect your property rights against squatter rights.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 06/09/2015 16:57

I would put a note through his door - tell him when you plan to start the work, and that, if he hasn't moved his bins etc by then, you will move them back to his property.

DotaDay · 06/09/2015 17:30

I think you need to be careful about where you put the fence and you need to be crystal clear about who owns it.

Is there anything on your deeds that says who owned the missing fence? If it was his fence on his land then you can't put another fence in its position as he could just ask you to remove it. If it's a jointly owned fence then, unless it's specified that you must have a fence then you will need to agree any decisions relating to the fence with your neighbour.

If your deeds clearly state that it was your fence on your land then WTF was he thinking by removing it then you can replace it without any worries.

Unfortunately the information given on your deeds may be sketchy and may even contradict that given in your neighbours deeds. You can download details of your neighbours property from WWW.Gov.com. Search for land registrar title plan.

Original poster
Kimbomc · 06/09/2015 18:22

It clearly is my fence, he's even admitted it is. Apparently it was a bit of a mess when he removed it as he was doing his drive. The 90 year old woman living here before me probably didn't mind.

Then he put the stones down and has been using it to store stuff on. Its my side with the fence so no issues there, if anything he's put his paving on my side by about two inches...

Only thing that stops me just replacing it is I have no access to this land without going on top his driveway - as hedges are planted infront.

Oh we'll! I really want to do it tomorrow but best to just tell him when he's around

OP posts:
Original poster
Kimbomc · 06/09/2015 18:25

I reckon as i was a woman on my own i was fair game. When i sold the house i was most amused to see the encroaching driveway on one side and the fence that was put up on my side of the property line after tearing down the old one and destroying the hedge, both ripped by bulldozers when my little hovel was leveled for a hotel size monster home! Protect your property rights against squatter rights.

Ha nice, sweet bit of revenge there! I hate this land grabbing people do, never lived anywhere where someone isn't grabbing a few inches here and there.

OP posts:
DinosaursRoar · 06/09/2015 18:30

Just do it tomorrow. You could pop a note through his door tonight to let him know, but you don't need to.