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AIBU?

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Original poster

Forced to pay for neighbour's blown down fence

89 replies

Tarr · 10/03/2019 09:54

Earlier this morning I went over to my neighbour's house to discuss their fence which has blown down during the night. It runs along the length of my back garden. I know they own it as they only recently had it tended to. Thought it would be a straight forward conversation- I'm not really bothered as my elderly dog can be supervised closely. However, neighbour says I need to contribute to fixing it due to allowing some ivy to have overgrown which has compromised the "integrity of the fence". Is my neighbour trying it on with someone he hopes is young enough to fall for it? If I have messed up I will hold my hands up.

I have a long commute into London so don't prioritise gardening in the Winter. I normally pay for gardeners in summer, whereas my neighbour is retired and obsessed with his garden.

I was very friendly but my neighbour was very abrasive and quite frankly rude.

OP posts:
10IAR · 10/03/2019 09:57

Check the local laws (CAB or council offices maybe?) and go from there I think.

I know in my local council area it depends which side of the fence the posts are on.

Original poster
Tarr · 10/03/2019 09:58

Thanks. Neighbour isn't disputing ownership.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 10/03/2019 09:59

I presume you own the house so you should know which side is yours? Fences blow over in high winds all the time. I would have thought that some ivy would give it some extra strength. They certainly can't make you pay. They could try small claims court but would be unlikely to win (common sense tells me - no legal expertise here).

But then it could be a small price to pay to maintain neighbourly relations which can be a nightmare when they break down.

10IAR · 10/03/2019 10:00

Surely then it's his responsibility? Sounds to me like he's at it, especially since it's unlikely ivy in one season has compromised the fence badly enough to make it unstable!

Ours came down in a massive storm a few years ago, and neighbours on both sides offered to chip in so we could all get it fixed quickly. But that was offered not requested and we all got on very well.

Cherrysoup · 10/03/2019 10:00

Unless he can prove that the ivy has contributed to the fence falling, he has not got any right to demand money from you. Ignore him.

Danni91 · 10/03/2019 10:00

This happened last night and you was already over there before 9 on a sunday morning?!

Well that would of pissed me off and I wouldnt be willing to have a chat to you before i had even had a chance to think about it.

greenelephantscarf · 10/03/2019 10:00

well, having a fence is optional. if they don't want to replace it, then it's that.

Cherrysoup · 10/03/2019 10:01

Saying that, it is your responsibility to contain your dog.

Original poster
Tarr · 10/03/2019 10:01

I saw him in the garden- went over at 9:30 ish.

OP posts:
Thegoodthere · 10/03/2019 10:02

Here's a thread from the other side:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3152893-Neighbours-ivy-destroying-our-fence

GabriellaMontez · 10/03/2019 10:03

Ivy can destroy stuff... How much ivy?

Original poster
Tarr · 10/03/2019 10:03

My dog will be on lead, he is a half-blind terrier that goes over to my mum's when I'm at work and rarely ventures more than a few m's from the patio anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tarr · 10/03/2019 10:04

Neighbour has never once brought up the ivy before now. I would have immediately attended to it had he done so.

OP posts:
cuppycakey · 10/03/2019 10:22

I would totally ignore him.

SoupDragon · 10/03/2019 10:25

recently had it tended to

How recently? Surely the Ivy was there then and they should have brought it up then if it was a problem. I think he's trying it on.

FamilyOfAliens · 10/03/2019 10:25

We had this with our neighbour at the back.

He had a large pyracantha that gradually pushed over the fence between the end of his garden and ours. Eventually it got pushed over completely.

I went round and asked if he’d pay half if I got some quotes to have it replaced. He said he had no money at all and could contribute nothing. He denied it was his tree that was pushing it over, even though the tree was half in my garden by the time we discussed it.

In the end I paid (£1000, got concrete posts and gravel boards so it was more longstanding) and he sent me a letter saying he was taking legal advice because the fencer left a pile of earth on his lawn (which i’d asked him to remove from behind the fence before the work was done).

He’s an absolute twat and I’m so glad we have a six-foot fence between us.

SoupDragon · 10/03/2019 10:26

I think I would have been pissed off had a neighbour brought up a blown down fence before there had been any chance whatsoever of me dealing with it though.

FamilyOfAliens · 10/03/2019 10:27

A small pile of earth, that should say. Maybe two buckets full.

PurpleWithRed · 10/03/2019 10:28

how much ivy? photo? Ivy would only damage the fence by its weight.

eggsandwich · 10/03/2019 10:32

Ignore his request and that is all it is.

Remember if he’s obviously a keen gardener he won’t want to be without a fence for long, and if he asks you for your contribution say no the fence is not my property and if he get arsey say its n your interest to replace the panel as I cannot promise my dog won’t enter your garden without a panel up sorry.

I bet he soon has it up, he’s just trying his luck.

GreenTulips · 10/03/2019 10:32

I think I would have been pissed off had a neighbour brought up a blown down fence before there had been any chance whatsoever of me dealing with it though

Yes me too! He’d hardly had chance to digest the information let alone work out any finances.

dutysuite · 10/03/2019 10:39

They might get a new one once your dogs starts wondering into their garden. I have always gone half with my neighbours on a new fence, that way I can get a say because I like high fences! :)

Chloemol · 10/03/2019 10:39

Sorry his fence his responsibility. If he thought there was an issue before he should have toldyou before. I had a fence put up all round my garden, just inside the existing fence line. I maintain it all. One side neighbours are good they even paint it. The other line has let ivy grow up it. I just take the ivy off as it grows over the top, pulling as much as I can off the back as well. It’s been up years with no problem

dutysuite · 10/03/2019 10:40

*like a high fence! Grin

SoupDragon · 10/03/2019 10:42

I cannot promise my dog won’t enter your garden without a panel up sorry.

It's the OP's responsibility to keep her dog in her own garden.