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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour's ivy destroying our fence

31 replies

Hippee · 28/01/2018 23:02

We have good relations with our neighbours (though they have been funny about us trimming a hedge to lower than about 12ft). A couple of years ago they asked us to replace a fence panel that was falling apart. We did. We have now realised that the ivy growing from their side of the fence is destroying the rest of the fence and we are expecting the demand for us to replace it. We have a roof attached to the fence which covers the log store attached to our garage - this makes it difficult to prune the ivy from our side and it has also grown up over this roof into our garage. Not sure if we can demand that they stop growing ivy up the fence, but we're a bit fed up that it's destroying a fence that we will be expected to replace. Any ideas about what solutions to suggest to them?

OP posts:
ChasedByBees · 28/01/2018 23:07

Have you spoken to them about it yet?

Original poster
Hippee · 28/01/2018 23:12

No - I am trying to see what people think would be reasonable to suggest. I have a feeling that they will be attached to their ivy (because of their response to the hedge pruning, which surprised me a bit), so am probably being a bit wimpy about broaching it. In reality, I can't see the best solution for us being anything other than total removal of the ivy.

OP posts:
MidLifeCrisis2017 · 28/01/2018 23:14

If it's your fence they're not allowed to grow anything on it, paint it or attach anything without permission.

FannyWisdom · 28/01/2018 23:15

I replaced one side of ours with reversible panels so I could take them out to maintain and repair.
Everything attached to it get trimmed back every year.

Gide · 28/01/2018 23:15

Roundup kills the roots when you put it on the leaves. I’ve been brutal with the ivy coming from next door. It’s horrific stuff.

Worldsworstcook · 28/01/2018 23:17

If it coming through your side you could paint your leaves with the ivy poison which kills it from the roots after being absorbed through the leaves. Don't know how they will take it but it's something to consider

Nomorechickens · 28/01/2018 23:19

Ivy is really difficult to remove from a fence even if you are highly motivated to get rid of it. Tell the neighbours the situation, ask them to remove it and if they don't you won't be replacing the fence as there is no point because the new fence will just get ruined by their ivy.
Could you put up a second fence inside your own boundary? A sturdy metal fence would be ideal. Then get up on a ladder to chop the ivy back from your roof a few times a year.
You have my sympathy. When I am Prime Minister, ivy will be banned!

Bellamuerte · 28/01/2018 23:19

Ask them to remove their ivy from your fence. They aren't allowed to grown anything on your fence without permission.

JaneEyre70 · 28/01/2018 23:26

We had a nightmare getting rid of the ivy that the previous owners of our house had planted over the garage and one side of the house. I certainly wouldn't replace fence panels for them to be damaged in a short space of time. I'd politely point out that it is damage from their side, and you will take action if and when it is dealt with.

We had to get a builder in to sort out the repairs to our garage from the bloody stuff so I'd sort out what's on your side too. If they don't agree, I'd be "tripping over" next to the fence with weedkiller in my hand....ooops.

EggsonHeads · 28/01/2018 23:28

If I were them I would be attatched to the ivy too but I would happily pay for damage that it did and make sure to trim it when it got to the top of the fence.

HarrietSchulenberg · 28/01/2018 23:33

Ivy is an absolute bastard to kill. I've been using glyphosphate and and axe on mine for years and still the fucker keeps sprouting. The trunk is nearly 3ft in diameter and it's so tightly wound through my wall and fence that I'm going to have to knock them down to get rid of it completely.
Consider asking your neighbours to either remove it or pay for the damage.

DriggleDraggle · 28/01/2018 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Allthewaves · 29/01/2018 00:23

i keep my neighbours under control with round up

Allthewaves · 29/01/2018 00:24

ivy, that is. I don't weed kill my actual neighbours

DriggleDraggle · 29/01/2018 08:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tiddlywinks63 · 29/01/2018 08:43

If it's your fence they not only have no rights to grow anything on it but also cannot demand that you repair or replace it.
In fact, like pp said, I'd be asking them to replace it as they are responsible for the damage.

splendide · 29/01/2018 08:54

Can you really not grow things up the side of the neighbor’s fence? I’m not sure which side is mine and which not but we have stuff growing up all surfaces in our garden. How is this rule enforced?

BMW6 · 29/01/2018 09:07

Tell them there is no point in replacing fence as the ivy will just destroy it, then ask them what they suggest as a solution

Original poster
Hippee · 29/01/2018 17:53

Thanks everyone. This has been helpful. Now I just need to put my big girl pants on and broach it with them.

OP posts:
barefoofdoctor · 29/01/2018 18:22

Just kill it off. Saves the awkward conversation. (Saying that I'd advise the same with a nightmare neighbour's pet Grin).

meredintofpandiculation · 29/01/2018 18:41

Killing plants or pets may replace an awkward conversation by an awkward legal situation. Both plants and pets are the property of the owners.

Chattymummyhere · 29/01/2018 19:02

Surely normal rules apply. If it’s over the boundary you can remove and give back, so remove all that’s on and over your boundary. I wouldn’t be replacing fences there plant ruined. I don’t think Ivy should be sold to general public it ends up running rampant destroying buildings and trees.

Yura · 29/01/2018 19:49

When we moved into our house, we had ivy in the garden tha damaged the neighbour’s fence. They politely asked us to get rid of it, we did :) horrible stuff

Daddys · 30/08/2018 09:07

I checked wwith an online solicitor who said you can

SD1978 · 30/08/2018 09:47

Why are you solely responsible for replacing the fence?