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AIBU?

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Original poster

Wwyd? Neighbour and fence!!!!!

65 replies

kp78 · 22/06/2018 22:34

Neighbour at back of our house has said she wants to replace back fence. She says she believes it's a shared fence and wants us to pay half. Our experience before she moved in was that it was her fence as the man who lived there had it fixed a few times. We also have the good side.

The fence is fine for us but she says it's going to fall down. I've said no we can't afford to contribute at the moment (we've had a lot of work done on our house and every penny is going towards finishing the work) but she's now put a note through saying it's £250 and she wants half and she will happily allow us to pay in instalments.

On the one hand we can find the money but on the other we've said no twice already and we are also not worried about the state of the fence!

Wwyd?

OP posts:
JobHunting4 · 23/06/2018 06:40

Even if it was shared, I wouldn't be paying to replace a fence that was adequate, and wouldn't be expecting a neighbour to pay either. Just stick with no op, but be prepared for it to "fall down" as predicted during the night

Bowerbird5 · 23/06/2018 07:03

We had this with a new neighbour ( only very long fence did need replacing) and I explained that it was his responsibility as our responsibility was to the right.he wasn't happy. I didn't budge. He put up and paid for the fence. The guys that put it up didn't think and put the nice side on our side.
If the fence isn't your responsibility you don't need to contribute. They are trying it on. Neighbour on other side wanted us to take out some of the fence and make it higher I refused as I explained it would shade my vegetable patch. He built one on his side 6 ft and now I can't grow anything on that raised bed as it is too shaded.

threestars · 23/06/2018 07:18

This happened to me years ago but the council owned the neighbouring property. The council wrote to me saying they were replacing the fence as I had not maintained it and the damage was apparently my side, and so told me how much I would have to pay.
They also did this with my next door neighbour. I replied saying they could not have assessed any damage on my side unless they had trespassed on my property. Were they admitting they had done this? There was no damage on my side. Perhaps it was by their tenant whose child consistently kicked a football against it. I said if they persisted to contact me about payment they would hear from my solicitor.
They never contacted me again.
I was FUMING for weeks about it!

threestars · 23/06/2018 07:20

May be wise to take photos of your side to prove it’s in decent condition though, in case they knock it down??

SoupDragon · 23/06/2018 07:22

I thought that if the deeds made no mention of it, then fences were assumed to be shared (although that has only come from MN threads like this!)

longwayoff · 23/06/2018 07:37

O dear. A friend has a house in an unadopted road. Shared responsibilty between 8 neighbours for road repairs. Years of fun trying to get everyone to agree to pay for filling in potholes. Now so bad delivery drivers wont use it. Seems will never be resolved.

Pengggwn · 23/06/2018 07:49

If it's their fence, they are responsible for the costs. If it's yours, knocking it down and then trying to charge you half the cost of replacing it is small claims court time. Just keep saying no.

Bezm · 23/06/2018 07:51

If my neighbour wanted to replace a fence they were responsible for, I would be reluctant to contribute, but I would also not want to fall out with my neighbour. So I would probably pay up.
If I wanted to replace my fence, regardless of who was responsible, I would speak to my neighbour first and ask if they wanted to pay towards it. If they decline, I would still replace it at my own cost.
Falling out with neighbours can be a nightmare!

MrsMint · 23/06/2018 07:51

As @ThePants999 said the fence is "owned" by whoever put it up, It's therefore not your responsibility. Send her a note to that effect.

Original poster
kp78 · 23/06/2018 08:13

I'm really surprised so many people just say no! I guess I'm reluctant to fall out as we've fallen out with our semi detached side over our extension, and their kid climbing up their fence and hanging over it regularly. I don't want a row but like some others have said we honestly feel like they're trying it on as theyve seen us have a lot of work done (which we took 10 years to afford!). The other day when she asked for the second time she sarcastically said she doesn't want to be a pain of a neighbour but then said perhaps she won't throw my son's football back anymore! Yep good old emotional blackmail!

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 23/06/2018 08:22

OP, you're not responsible for falling out with her if she is going to be a dick about this. Just keep being friendly, and politely and firmly say you don't want to replace the fence currently.

SoddingUnicorns · 23/06/2018 08:25

I thought if the “good” side of the fence was facing you it meant you owned it. That’s what my local council said anyway, it could be regional.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/06/2018 08:47

We have no idea who is responsible for the fences here so we replaced it ourselves. We wanted to attach netting for cat proofing os we wouldn't ask anyone else to pay for that even though the original fence was knackered. It also meant we could kill the neighbour's ivy so it didn't ruin this fence as well!

OP YANBU to say know. If she wants a new fence she can pay for it.

Aridane · 23/06/2018 08:57

I thought it was the other way round!

Aridane · 23/06/2018 08:57

(That was yo sodding)

SoddingUnicorns · 23/06/2018 08:59

I thought it was the other way round!

I guess it is regional then. When we had a fence put up at our old house, because we’d asked for it we offered to pay (obviously got the neighbours consent first), and we had all 3 “good” sides.

Sundance65 · 23/06/2018 09:04

Pass the buck back to her - ask her to find the evidence that you are responsible for the boundary/fence.

Say only after she has proved you have any kind of responsibility will you enter into discussions about replacing it.

Obviouspretzel · 23/06/2018 09:12

There's nothing regional about it. There are common norms with regards to fence placement but why on earth would the direction of the fence determine who owns It? I pay for a fence and put the wrong side facing me, have I somehow transferred ownership of the fence to my neighbour? Ridiculous.

superram · 23/06/2018 09:12

Ours at the back is shared maintenance, we paid to replace it as we wanted a new fence.

SoddingUnicorns · 23/06/2018 09:13

@Obviouspretzel aye alright, did you mean to be so rude? Fucks sake I only said what applied in my local council area, no need to call me ridiculous.

Think you need a coffee.

Oldraver · 23/06/2018 09:14

OP...Mydeeds are the same as the ones you posted...no sign whatsoever of who is responsible for the fence. On other deeds there was the little v. Our house was built in 1998 so I wonder if developers are being lazy about apportioning 'blame'. I couldn't get a straight answer out of ours as to who the fences belonged to

PollyMycroft · 23/06/2018 09:21

I'm really surprised by the responses here. I would always share the cost of a boundary fence (unless I really couldn't afford it). I wouldn't fall out with neighbours over this.
Mind you - I may be projecting - our neighbour only wants to share the cost of 2 out of 5 panels that need replacing...I'd love to know which 3 she thinks are OK as 4 of the 5 have holes in! And she has a dog (which will soon be in my garden no doubt Grin ).

PinkCrystal · 23/06/2018 09:24

We recently replaced a fence (900 quid) and the neighbour didn't object but did not offer to pay half. We really wanted it doing as the other one was crap no privacy rotton etc. So we just paid. Same for the other side we just replaced panels but they didn't offer. We were a bit miffed but we wanted the new fences and they didn't care. If it was me I would always offer to pay half as new fences will add value to house and it's worth keeping neighbours on side. If I couldn't afford it I would prob offer in instalments or suggest I pay in future to replace etc

Outlookmainlyfair · 23/06/2018 09:27

I seem to remember that who is responsible for fences is written into the contract when you buy / sell the property. I know we asked the solicitors to clarify this before we signed. Our neighbours replaced the shared fence and were going to cover the cost then they checked with the solicitors and discovered that we were liable for half the cost. To be fair we wanted the fence and they did it affordablely.

Warpdrive · 23/06/2018 09:27

If it were me, the value of having a good relationship with my neighbour is higher than £250. I’d grit my teeth and pay. And I’d also make sure I got the good side again!

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