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!

OP do we have the same neighbour? Mine has stuck a trellis on top of my 2 metre height fence (so fence is now about 2.5 metres or so). There are now long sharp spikey screw ends sticky out through my fence on my side which we have to be careful to avoid. The council didn't care even though the guidelines clearly say a fence can't be more than 2 metres in height. Now the neighbour has been regularly climbing on ladders reaching over the trellis onto my side of my fence and trying to 'tie in' their huge climbing plant so it grows all over my side of my fence. They've also been trying to attach this climbing plant to my house by reaching over the fence and tying it onto my drain pipes. The police and council weren't interested. So I spend several times per week cutting their plant back to the boundary. They climb up their ladder and reach over and tie it back onto my side. I go out, cut it back. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. It's been a nightmare.

I wish you luck!

You can cut the plants and throw them back into their garden, but not cut the net. Just fold that back. Maybe make your fence taller with some trellis added on?

I would build my own fence alongside theirs (small gap in between). How tall is their fence? I would make mine as tall as legally allowed.

Can you push the net back onto their side?

@fink

Exact Boundaries is such a hard to one define as the deeds don't show exact latitude/longitude.

They were meant to build the boundary of their own land but may have gone a tad over ours. Not sure it's something worth fighting over as so difficult to prove.

@TheSpottedZebra

The previous wall which was about 3m high (we r on a hill) so technically it was 2 m their side, 3 m our side fell down due to the excessive weight of the ivy they had been growing on it.

When they rebuild the wall, they caused extensive damage to our garden and our property but felt that they were within their right as it's a boundary wall 'and we benefit from it so we should be thankful'. They broke every law and were total bullies, demanding we sign a document detailing what we could or could not do close to 'their wall' which we obvs refused.

They refused to be reasonable and repair or compensate for any damage so we had to go the legal route.

So now, they hate us for standing up to them and for having had to pay 5 times more that we originally asked them to fix the mess they made.

@yellowsubmarines

Some peopler just weird! Your neighbours sounds like total nut jobs! It's hard to not be affected with their actions when it's so constant. Courage!

Would totally post a pic but I'm not allowed to yet as I'm a new poster.

Would totally post a pic but I'm not allowed to yet as I'm a new poster.

Can you post it anywhere else (eg Photobucket/Flikr etc) and post a link?

Why don't you just cut the overhanging plants now? As pp said, you're allowed to.

Our ndn has a very old wooden panel fence with no plans to update it.
We put new fence posts in on our side next to ndn's wooden fence, and attached metal rebar [concrete strengthener as below] panels to them. We now have a free-standing fence to let our own climbers grow up.

www.wikihow.com/Reinforce-Concrete

You should offer any fruit on branches you cut off that grow over your side, you are not obliged to return cuttings although some people think you are.

I would push all their stuff back over the top or cut the plants back to the top of the fence and shove the net over. Or have bonfire there.

What plants are they growing up the net? Some plants are vigorous but harmless, others like the ivy they had before, much more damaging. I have sympathy with you over the ivy, you give it an inch and it takes a mile and is therefore such hard work keeping it in check, but a lot of climbers are relatively benign and look quite pretty. Obviously that's just by-the-by if you don't want them encroaching on your garden anyway...

I can't see an issue with cutting back, but spraying with weedkiller is a total no-no - some only kill the green parts it touches, but some are systemic and will travel down the plant.

I'd do what a pp suggested and get some sturdy metal poles put in to hold back their net. Maybe a garden screen then?

Good grief. Reading this thread is making me think that my slightly weird neighbour who completely cuts me dead one day and then acts like we're the best of friends a couple of days later isn't so bad after all.

I would not install your own fence if by doing so you will be conceding even more of your garden. Why give it away? Cut back any growth coming over your side and fold the net in their direction. If it won't stay, do as pps have suggested and support the net from your side with tall bamboo sticks. Personally I would be planting my own tall shrub or tree against the boundary. Actual bamboo should do the trick. In a very large pot if you don't want it to get out of hand.