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Original poster

To not acquiesce to neighbour's request?

390 replies

FelicityMorange · 27/01/2018 14:03

We spent this morning installing a new fence in our front garden. After 4 hours of back-breaking labour, I was sweeping up when our neighbour comes out and says she's not happy because we've got the 'nicer' side of the fence facing our way and not hers. She actually wanted us to turn each panel round so the flat side was facing her garden.

I thought she was joking at first so sort of laughed it off but no, she was being serious. I just muttered something about 'speaking to my husband' and went indoors.

Have I made a misstep in neighbourly etiquette or something?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Original poster
FelicityMorange · 27/01/2018 14:13

Noooooooooooo!!

I had no idea!

Well I'm not changing it now, I hurt all over. Will have to put up with tuts and snark instead.

OP posts:
Asiaticlily · 27/01/2018 14:13

Which way do the posts on the fence in the back garden face?

Was there a fence in the front garden before?

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 27/01/2018 14:14

There is no law on this. You’re paying for and erecting the fence so you can decide which side saves your garden. If she wants a nice view she can erect her own fence on her side and look at that.

RedRobin87 · 27/01/2018 14:15

When we moved into our house the fence between our neighbours was a crappy quality fence with trellis on top. They also have dogs whereas we have cats and the dogs would go crazy and stare through the trellis if my cats were in the garden.

We told them we were replacing it, we paid for it all, we got the nice side. As far as I am concerned, whoever pays for it gets the nice side.

PoisonousSmurf · 27/01/2018 14:15

We replaced our fence a few years back. The other side of our fence is a garage area for the estate. But we still have the ugly posts on our side because it would look daft otherwise.
The fence owner, owns the posts and they must be in your garden. Ours are ultra ugly concrete things but we'd have complaints if we put the fence round the other way.

Sweetpea55 · 27/01/2018 14:15

Why did wait until you'd finished before speaking to you?

Harveypuss · 27/01/2018 14:16

Never heard of this. My neighbour put up a new fence with the uglier side facing my garden. Given she paid for the fence and it's her boundary, I don't think I am in any position to complain.

Angrybird345 · 27/01/2018 14:17

YOU DO NOT NEED TO GIVE THEM THE NICE SIDE.

MumW · 27/01/2018 14:18

General etiquette is for the posts to be on your side. However, the builders have put a fence up with the posts on the opposite side even though, according to the deeds, it's our boundary responsibility.

If the flat side of the fence is on the boundary line then you have put the posts on your neighbours land and that could cause issues.

Have you replaced an existing fence or is it the first time a fence has been in this position?
If the former, have you changed the direction the fence faces?

PositivelyPERF · 27/01/2018 14:18

Cobblers! You pay for the fence so you decide what way it faces. I don’t know why people are under the illusion that there’s a hard and fast rule about fences. I think it’s because most people put the attractive side towards the road, but that’s Bev they want their home to look nice from the road. The side fence is very different. You could suggest to her, only if you feel like it, that she can buy fence panels or trellis to attach to the other side. However she could end painting thatsidea colour you don’t like.

Schroedingerscatagain · 27/01/2018 14:18

There is no law, it was previous etiquette that you did this

if you had slide in panels it helped to have the bars facing in for 2 reasons, maintenance and security so that burglars couldn’t climb in

These days it is your choice as you paid for the fence so just ignore your neighbour

If you need to check garden law facts you can always go to
Gardenlaw.co.uk

Buxbaum · 27/01/2018 14:18

Are you sure that the posts don't encroach on the boundary?

WitchesHatRim · 27/01/2018 14:19

Make sure your posts aren't on their land if you have done it that way.

Ilovecamping · 27/01/2018 14:19

As long as it is within your boundary, there is no law that states which way you put up the fence. It is yours do what you like.

FitBitFanClub · 27/01/2018 14:20

Urban myth that the nice side should face outwards. But one might want to consider access to any "fixings." Depending on the design of the fence, if they're in next door's garden, it could be difficult.
My "nice" side faces me, but if we needed to remove any parts, the nails/screws etc are this side.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 27/01/2018 14:21

Which way do the panels face on the other side of her garden? If she has the nice side on the other side, then she doesn't get nice side for both her fences.
But if she has posts on the other side of her garden, then yes, in reality you should have put your panels the way round she's suggesting - it is generally the way it's done.

Riverside2 · 27/01/2018 14:21

wait, how much difference can there be between the nice side the not nice side? Confused

PuppyMonkey · 27/01/2018 14:22

We have hedges but pretty sure if I paid for a nice fence I’d want to be looking at the nice side. Confused

DriggleDraggle · 27/01/2018 14:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

yippeekiyay2 · 27/01/2018 14:22

I didn’t know this and we paid half for neighbour to put up fence between us as he wanted to; overcharged us in the end and had the nice side facing him AND put the fence and posts on our side of the boundary anyway! I was really upset by it as felt taken advantage of and I have said I will never enter into an arrangement with them again. Have to stay civil though as shared drive area etc. But was hurt by it. You didn’t realise and I don’t think it’s a legal requirement so probably just ignore in this case maybe?

Knittedfairies · 27/01/2018 14:22

I think it is custom, not law, that says the neighbours get the good side. If it's your fence, the posts have to be on your land though. (Although that's only what I believe, so not necessarily true!)

wijjy · 27/01/2018 14:23

It's not so much nice side facing in as that you own the fence, so you want the edge of the fence to be right up to the boundary line. This means that the fence posts are on your side.

Otherwise you are either giving them a bit of extra garden, or the fence posts are on their land which they could object to.

ShastaTrinity · 27/01/2018 14:24

I guess it depends if the fence is on the boundary line (so one side is technically in your neighbours property), or if the fence is in your property full stop.

user1492958275 · 27/01/2018 14:24

Lmao

Had a similar conversation not long ago with my parents and neighbours when they got the nice side of the fence.

It's odd, but there is no law or anything saying it must be done that way and if I'm paying hundreds for a fence, I'd want the nice side too!!

FixItUpChappie · 27/01/2018 14:24

It's more than just money though, it's the hard labour. If I did all the work I'd feel free to keep the nice side really.