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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU or can i tell neighbours where to shove their gates?

341 replies

cheekybean · 28/03/2017 03:57

We moved to our house 6 years ago. We have a shared drive with our neighbours which has never really been a problem. However, 6 months ago, neighbours asked us if we wanted electric gates on drive. We said no, we didnt see the point. Security is not an issue, i am in all the time, they work away during the week, so opening and shutting gates is not really an issue. They said it was for them.

They asked us again, we said no because we could really afford it. They said they would pay and we could owe them. We said no because that didnt sit well and we dont want gates.

Got up saturday morning and a pair of 6 foot security gates were being fitted. We knew nothing about it. Given a bill for £600 and told dh is to wire them up. Plus we have to power them from our house

AIBU? Surely if we have said no, that should be the end of the matter! They are not here all week. Its only because they can't be bothered to open and shut the gates manually.

The gates are bloody ugly, TBH our drives looks like the entrance to a scrap yard. I dread coming home and having to look at them. DH is stressed becaused we have yet to confront neighbours as they arranged installation whilst on holiday.

WWYD. I dont want to fall out with neighbours and end up on channel 5. Husband dosent want to fall out as they are our friends apparently. But friends dont spend your hundreds of pounds and dont tell you what on. Feeling v. Pissed off due to being walked all over and DH's kind nature being taken for granted.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Elledouble · 28/03/2017 06:49

The cheeky fuckers! Just say no. Surely they can't do anything to make you pay or wire them to your house?

AyeAmarok · 28/03/2017 06:51

I'm struggling to picture what the gates look like.

Bit that is very cheeky. Don't pay them a penny.

LindyHemming · 28/03/2017 06:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

honeylulu · 28/03/2017 07:05

Whose land is the gate on? I know the right of access is shared but the land will belong to one or other of you.
If it's their land it might be difficult (although there could be planning issues). But no they can't make you pay (in the absence of an agreement), or make you wire them, or provide power at your own expense.

Collaborate · 28/03/2017 07:14

I agree with honeylulu 100%. Check your deeds about who owns the entrance and who has a ROW. If they own it, go down the planning route, and don't pay. If you own it, solicitor's letter followed by court application funded by your house insurance.

RebootYourEngine · 28/03/2017 07:17

I would tell them via a solicitor to remove the gates. And DO NOT give them any money. Cheeky feckers.

FrannySalinger · 28/03/2017 07:20

You really have to ask AIBU? Confused

AwaywiththePixies27 · 28/03/2017 07:20

Given a bill for £600 and told dh is to wire them up. Plus we have to power them from our house

I'd tell them to take the £600 bill you 'owe them' off the bill for the work your DH has to carry out and the power you'd need to use for operating them. Cheeky twats twits.

StillDrivingMeBonkers · 28/03/2017 07:21

I am assuming one gate is affixed to a pillar on your land? remove the offending gate.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 28/03/2017 07:22

Wouldn't planning permission be needed for this sort of thing? Which presumably they didn't do otherwise you'd have had the right to object.

So you could report them to your local planning authority and they can be given the bill to take the whole lot down again Wink

skerrywind · 28/03/2017 07:23

I think there need to be clarification before jumping the gun. And any solicitor will want that before "firing" off a letter on your behalf.

It may well be that your neighbour owns the land and has the right to erect the gates.
Billing you for this is another matter.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 28/03/2017 07:23

Fuck that! Not a chance would I expect paying for ridiculous gates! Contact the company and tell them there has been a mistake, I doubt they will come and take them down but make sure you tell them you didn't authorise it and follow this up with an email to them too. It will be important, along with the text messages when you take legal action.

the absolute cheek of them! I'm raging on your behalf OP!

emmyhNL · 28/03/2017 07:24

Definitely go down the planning route and I'd also echo what others have said about a solicitor

bloodymaria · 28/03/2017 07:25

we dont look far removed from the local travellers site in the next town

Hmm No need. Hope you find a way to stand up to your neighbours though.

NightWanderer · 28/03/2017 07:28

I was imagining something like this. Grin

AIBU or can i tell neighbours where to shove their gates?
SnugglyBedSocks · 28/03/2017 07:29

My parents have a shared drive that leads to garages at the back. Therefore they each own half of the driveway each.

I'd remove the gate on my half and give throw it back. No payment to be given either.

Can't stop them putting up a gate on their half but you don't need it on yours.

LateDad · 28/03/2017 07:29

Get legal advice but be prepared for the fall-out.

They can't make you pay for something you haven't agreed to, although verbal agreement might possibly be enough, and if you refuse to supply the electrician and the electricity then they have gates that won't work.

In which case they either have to leave their £1,200 gates open all the time or they will be restricting your access.

QODRestYeMerryGentlemen · 28/03/2017 07:31

Absolutely refuse to wire them in. Utter wankers

faithinthesound · 28/03/2017 07:35

Whatever you do, do it quickly, or you'll look like you're letting it happen. Register your lack of consent officially and immediately.

SnugglyBedSocks · 28/03/2017 07:36

This is the layout of my parents drive etc.

OP - is yours similar?

AIBU or can i tell neighbours where to shove their gates?
cherryberrymum · 28/03/2017 07:36

Agree with Faith! Speed is of the essence. Get. Your objections submitted in writing asap

LoudestRoar · 28/03/2017 07:38

Agree with checking the deeds, and when the workmen come back, advise they have to halt work as there is a dispute.

NightWanderer · 28/03/2017 07:41

We need more details. Like what are the gates attached to? Are they attached to your house or garden wall? Who actually owns the driveway?

I think you need to state that the gates were installed without permission and they need to be removed and any damage repaired immediately. Don't explain, just keep repeating like a broken record.

rollonthesummer · 28/03/2017 07:42

How did they install gates without you noticing?
Why are you not going round there asking what the hell they think they are doing?
Why and how is it coming off your electricity?
When they said that your DH would be installing the electricity, what did you say?
When they said you owed £600 despite you not wanting the fence, what did you say?

I don't understand how this has happened. I'd be ringing a solicitor ASAP.

Iwant2move · 28/03/2017 07:45

www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/20/fences_gates_and_garden_walls
Let them know they need planning permission.
No.. sod it! Tell them to remove them and put your drive back as it was or you'll be informing the planning department and a solicitor.