To want higher fence panels between ours and NDN garden?

[SazCat]

Our NDN have cut down all the bushes and trees in their garden and it has meant our lovely enclosed garden is now wide open, we are quite upset about it really as we love spending time outside.

It does looks very neat and tidy (even though I don’t really get the trend for empty gardens as I like a bit of greenery!) But it is now so open and we can now see into all the gardens of about 4 houses up (we live on a slope) and it feels like we have no privacy at all!

The fence panels between our decking patio area and their garden are only short and obviously the trees / bushes were providing the boundary and blocking the view to/from other gardens.

We have checked the deeds and the fence boundary is NDNs unfortunately. We haven’t been round to talk to them yet as just wanted to establish our options.

Ideally they will agree it's not good and we could share the cost of new fences.

Or if they aren't too bothered but they are happy to let us have taller posts and 6 foot fences put in then TBH we are happy to pay.

But we are wondering what happens if they say they like it how it is? Do we have any right to insist on taller fences (at our cost)?

Thanks everyone, I think bamboo is a good idea!

I think 6 foot would be fine, but that would be on top of our decking so would be over that height for the neighbours (out decking is elevated about a foot). It's hard to explain!

WOAH THERE!

Definitely keep bamboo in pots - not planted in the ground. It's hideous if allowed to grow in the ground. My poor sister's garden is being ruined by her neighbour's bamboo which grows up through her lawn!

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Beware of bamboo!!! Even in pots it's so invasive. There are plenty of nice shrubs you can plant to give you privacy.

You need to double check but I think 6'6" is total height so if your decking is already 1' you can only put 5'6" panels on top

Seems a little bit cheeky to expect your neighbours to share the cost of new fencing to suit your personal preferences because you don't want the hassle/cost of putting up your own fencing on your own land.

Some bamboo is fine - you need clumping bamboo rather than running bamboo. But, I’d also go for huge pots and bamboo. Lovely !

I don't expect them to share the cost - I said ideally they would ha ha! But I did say we were happy to do it at our cost as it's obviously our choice.

Put some of your own shrubs in - we made the mistake of relying on neighbours greenery for privacy and when new neighbours moved in they chopped them all down. Our garden is now like a hidden oasis and no one can take that away.

I don't think bamboo is a good idea as it spreads like wildfire and shoots will start coming up through your lawn. Shrubs are much better. As a quick fix you could put in some buddleja. It's seasonal cover but grows fast and to a good height in a matter of weeks.

You should just put fencing up on your side, I have no idea why you need to have a conversation with them about it? They obviously didn’t like all the bushes so got rid, sort your own fencing issues out and leave them out of it.

are you sure they didn't just get a tree surgeon in to control the growth? If they did, the tree will regrow in a year with full but less uncontrolled foliage? Plant an ash tree or 2 on the boundary, they grow to 8 ft pretty quick, but have light foliage.

I would go round and explain that you would prefer a higher fence and how would they feel if you paid for a new 6' fence to replace theirs. They may be delighted.

If they say no then yes put a fence up your side. You can do what you like on your own land provided you don't contravene planning restrictions in your area and on your deeds

How did you find out the fence is theirs? Did you check the deeds and find a T Mark on their side of the line?

just as a side note... if your deck is right up to there fence, so close that the decking is cut to allow the fence posts space... wouldn't that mean your deck is partially on their land? i mean if they own the fence then all parts of it must be on their land... id keep quiet if i were you

Blitheringidiots Yes we checked the deeds and it showed the T. What you said is what we'll do I think, thank you

TheSeren Hmmm I see what you mean. We think that the people who lived here before actually put the fence in when they did the decking possibly. An elderly lady lived next door then and they were friends I believe, so she maybe just let them do whatever!

Sounds like the issue is that your decking is elevated.

i would just either place some poles on your side with some solid panels, or get some of those pots and attach some trellis behind and grow something like jasmine or clematis or something pretty and climbing to give the illusion of privacy

Hah, you sound like our neighbours (we've just ripped out a horrible leylandii hedge). How about you sort and pay for something.

Just tell them you'd like to replace the fence with a higher one, do they mind. Don't go asking them to pay that's cheeky.

Years ago we had a low fence, below knee height with our neighbors. We asked if they minded, it was theirs, and we paid to have it replaced. We were in our twenties. Wouldn't have dreamt of asking them to share the cost for our want.

Put your own fence in, trim the bottom off the fence bit that goes over the decking so it's still only 6ft from the ground. Seems the obvious solution. If you can afford decking you can afford a proper fence

Actually preggosaurus the decking was already in when we moved in a few years ago. It's getting a bit spongy in places so unfortunately looks like we'll have to replace or fix it shortly anyway.

As I previously said, we are willing to pay I just wondered what our rights were, if any!!

To PP who said not to say anything and just put our own in, I'd rather mention it as it will look rather strange their side with a higher fence behind theirs!

Even if you put a new fence in and pay for it, your NDN can rip it out again whenever they want.

If your decking is starting to show age anyway I would grab the opportunity and do something about it. Add a decent fence on your land and just go on with your life.

Real privacy only works if you are surrounded by empty land, everything else is an illusion. Our NDNs on both sides can look into our garden from their first floor window, DD can look into gardens a road up from her loft (we are on higher ground than they).

My next door neighbour just did this to me. I didn't want 6ft heavy wooden fencing, I wanted the greenery he destroyed.

I bought fake plastic hedge netting to instantly block his view into my garden and am busy training climbers up it so I won't have to look at it in a few months time. He's got the back

I've also put in 4 clumps of bamboo that will soon reach 15ft tall to complete the job.

We have fencing on decking, you can buy special fence post holders that screws into the decking and you can slot the posts into them.

The max height is not 6 ft but two metres which is slightly higher. Just pointing this out as I always go for the highest possible for privacy.

Real privacy only works if you are surrounded by empty land, everything else is an illusion. That's true, but it works both ways. Creating the illusion of privacy is a lot easier than ensuring that no-one can see into your garden. I know when I walk past our garden that there's a good view into it (because the bushes are close to where I'm walking and I can see through the gaps in the foliage), but from the garden I can't see out very well (because I'm further away from the bushes) and so it feels private.