AIBU if I chop off neighbours overhanging net and climbing plants on my side of the fence?

[bakingmads]

Right hive minds, I need advice on how to address a contentious situation.

Background. My neighbour and us have a very contentious relationship. Things got pretty bad last year and we ended up taking them to court, whereby they had to pay us a substantial 5 figure settlement. So they just don't like us.

The own the fence on the back of our property. They have installed a long net over the fence and planted climbing plants on them. As the plants are growing, the net bends into our side of the boundary. It's an eyesore not to mention a nuisance. I'm really tempted to just chop off the net that falls into our garden but they believe the fence is theirs and they can grown anything on it even on our side.

So, thought I'd come here for advice on how to address the situation. Talking to them won't get us anywhere. If I chop it off, would I get into trouble with the cops seeing as they 'own' the fence? Or would that be a civil issue?

Could they then sue me?

Help!

Cut all the plants on your side, and tuck the net over behind their side of the fence.

Seriously, some people. Sorry you have such shitty neighbours OP.

I'd be tempted to grow a hedge against the boundary. Would probably choose a mixture of robust plants, like hawthorn, Blackthorn, dog rose, bird cherry, and honeysuckle. Then I'd keep it nice and trim on my side (got a hedge like this in the front garden, doesn't take too much effort to keep in shape), and let the nasty neighbors deal with the inevitable plant battle on their side. Their net would probably get ruined.

This is also way cheaper than a fence (buy bare roots in Autumn). And a lot prettier.

Can you put canes up on your side to support the sagging netting. I'd also plant something pretty to climb up the canes

If the plants over hang your boundary then you can chop them.
But your neighbours should be allowed to do what they want the off cuts so you need to put them on their side of the fence.
Get lots of pics before you start chopping.
You don't have to have anything within your boundary that you don't want and that is not yours.

As already mentioned you can cut any overhanging trees. I have a large shrubs and trees on my side and I usually have a gardener come in and trim them down on my side and my neighbours but in-between these cuts my neighbour will cut anything that overhangs. It actually looks better his side because he gets all the flowers.

My neighbour's plants come over the fence. I've honestly never put that in "nightmare" category. It's just a part of having adjoining gardens.

Just a thought, but is it possible the neighbour thought that by putting a net over their plant they would actually stop it overhanging the fence and were trying to do the right thing?

Such an awkward situation as clearly, you're not on good enough terms to ask them.

I meant take photos for yourself, in case you need them as proof (before or after you take action).

Attach some 2 ft trellis between the posts on top of the fence to keep their netting on their side?

Have you tried speaking to them? It doesn't sound like a massive problem to me either. I wonder what the former dispute was about.

@BrendasUmbrella

I see your point. If my neighbours were decent human beings, we wouldn't get stressed. But they do seem to think they own part of our garden.

They used to grow ivy on the boundary wall. The ivy grew so big, it took over 3 fences of our house and adjoining neighbours. Bloody ivy was so heavy, it destroyed boundary wall which fell down and destroyed our whole garden!

So guess what they do once new wall is up, put more climbing plants?!

@cakeandchampagne

Thank you! I've been taking lots of pics -I've got a feeling we might need back up factual proof.

Ah okay, so they probably weren't trying to be helpful with the net.

@pigsDOfly I don't think they have a thoughtful bone in their whole body.

I think they just don't like to see any fence just lots and lots of plants. Which is amazing from their perspective but is a lot of work for those that are on the boundary of their garden.

Plus having suffered extensive financial damage due to the plants that they have grown into our garden, I'm wary of that happening again but want to make sure we act within the law.

I don't have the energy for another court case. It's emotionally draining.

I wouldn't be cutting anything in this situation, it sounds like they would cause more trouble. I'd be looking at tucking the net back if possible, if not a taller fence or your own trees (those fancy ones that grow flat).

Can you put up a photo? I suspect that your past relationship with these neighbours is affecting your judgement on this issue.

If they want to see plants rather than fence that's their prerogative and hardly the end of the world for you. My neighbours bush overhangs our garden and has to be trimmed, that's just the reality of living in close proximity to other people.

I am glad I came here to ask for advice. I've been fuming everyday watching that net curving slowly into my garden. Been so tempted to hack it down, in fact it's been consuming me. Gonna keep taking photos, wait for it to curve completely, then cut the plants and tuck the net back over their side of the fence.

Thank you all for your advice and calming influence.

Is the netting above the height of the fence? I can’t quite picture the set-up. Fences have a maximum height and you are not allowed to stick trellis- or netting - on top to make it higher than the maximum. Plants can grow higher but they must be self-supporting.

What was your previous issue with them? The one that lead to the court case.

Check the title deeds and other official documentation to make sure you know exactly where the boundary is. It may be that the fence and the overhanging bit is all technically on their land, in which case there's not much you can do. Or it might be all on your land, in which case there's a lot more you can do. Or it might genuinely be in the right place, i.e. where you think it is, with the fence on their land and the overhanging bit on yours. Either way, you need to know as fences can shift a few inches over time (I don't mean the fence posts move, but if a fence has e.g. fallen down in a storm, it might be put up again a few inches away).

I have a similar issue, I cut them back & spray with weed killer. Another option would be to attach 6ft bamboo reed screening to your side of the fence, tacks up very easily and is cheap, B&M sell it. Looks nice and neat then spray weed killer

This sounds like a fence with wooden panels. They sound really stupid. If they want to grow heavy plants, they need to install a proper wall.

Firstly, I would check that the fence is definitely theirs. Just because they may have erected it it doesn’t make it theirs if it’s along the boundary. Check your deeds.

Secondly, by the sound of it they are trying to make this fence fall into your garden.

Lastly I would write a deliver by hand letter clearly describing the situation referring to enclosed photographic evidence and inform them you will take further action if they do not rectify the situation by removing all overhanging material within (28)? days. Then I would continue that if the fence falls onto your property as the last, you will not hesitate to take legal action against them to recoup full compensation for any damage to your property.

They are bullies.

I think you have to offer them the cuttings back though which probably won't go down well!

That goes back to an old law where people would have to give back any branches they cut off because they could be useful for fuel. Not sure it still applies when it’s ivy!

Put in posts in between their fence posts (ie in the middle of the panel, and attach your own fence.

Surely spraying weed killer on someone else’s plants is criminal damage plus who would want the cancer risk in their back garden @pinotjo
I’m amazed anyone still uses weed killer

Just chop them off and green waste or compost