To not want my neighbours to dismantle my fencing?

[lipslovelylips]

I live on the end of a terrace with no access to neighbours gardens apart from through my side gate. My neighbours have a large wooden building in their garden that they put in a couple of years ago and took my fence down to get it in, the gate was never put back properly and now doesn't bolt properly. They have now put a note though my door today telling me they now wish to remove it and will need to take my fence down at 9am tomorrow, I'm not even going to be in! I responded saying that that's not convenient for me and I want to be in if they do it and that won't be until Friday. I would rather them not do it all tbh. Then about half an hour ago they were knocking loudly on my door for about five minutes and I ignored it. Aibu? I don't even think my fencing will withstand being taken down again.

You are being unreasonable by not answering your door; that’s childish; speak to them and voice your concerns.

Take lots of pics of your fence as it is now. Advise them if it isn't returned to the same state you will have to seek legal advice.

I was in my pyjamas, just out of the bath and it's almost 8pm at night, I don't want to stand at the door speaking to a strange man. I don't think that's unreasonable? I did try and knock on earlier but they weren't in.

Tough! I'd tell them to cart it out through their house, not trample across your garden.

You are not obligated to allow them access.

Sorry, it doesn’t suit me.

Rehearse in front of a mirror until you are comfortable saying it.

Then go and tell them.

I'd insist that they have not given you enough notice. And that they MUST make good after it's done. And have that in writing - then if they leave it in an unsatisfactory state you might have some legal comeback. But I'm not surprised you don't want to tell them all of that - are there two of them and one of you OP?

Yes the husband, his friend and neighbours wife.

What is it with MN? 8pm is not late, your NDN is not a strange man! It’s not 1850 where you can’t be alone with a man 🙄

Since you haven't bothered to speak to them, you'll most probably come home tomorrow to find that your fence has been dismantled in your absence.

Do they actually have a legal Right of Way over your garden?

No, they don't as far as I am aware. I still don't see how I am being unreasonable not to want my garden being dismantled whilst I'm at work?

Why is it unreasonable to ignore the door if you don’t want to see someone? Like a wedding invite it’s not a summons.

Op, you’ve made your preference clear, it’s nice to allow it and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be on your terms. Plus they should be prepared to replace any bits that break in the process.

Yanbu. You don't have to answer the door immediately if it's not convenient either.

Tell them to take it through their house as they didn't make good last time.

Exactly, people are always told on here that it is perfectly fine to ignore the door to unwanted and unannounced guests but i should definitely open the door to my neighbour in my pyjamas at 8pm 🤷🏼‍♂️

I go out to talk to my neighbours in pjs! Your obviously worrying about this so I would of spoke to him. Or get redressed and go round now.

Just a thought; who owns the fence? If it’s then they may perceive they have every right to do as they please to their fence.
Of course YANBU about not wanting them traipsing through your garden but I wonder if they’ve assumed they can do as they please if they own the boundary?

I can totally see your point about the fence. do they have the legal right of way through your garden? We live in a mid terrace and we have right of way through our neighbors garden for things like kid bikes and bins. We'd never dream of asking to remove a fence though!

And I'd be bolting and padlocking the gate.

It's definitely my fence. We share one in the middle between gardens but the one on the side of my house is mine. Not connected to their house in any way shape or form.

She might not be legally allowed to as sometimes terraced houses have right of way!

Even if they had right of way surely that doesn't equate to taking my fence down?

I totally agree, I could just see my next door neighbors face at me wanting to take the fence down! I was simply meaning those comments for those saying they can't access your garden or saying padlock the gate sorry!

I totally feel your pain, I hate the fact I have to go through someone else's garden. Next door is a private rent and tenants change every 6/8 months. Lately the last few tenants have had dogs who don't get walked just put out the back door, they shit everywhere and we're supposed to walk through it. I now keep my bins and bikes round the front because I refuse to walk through it.

There is no shared access route at all e.g a shared alleyway at the back of the gardens. The only access to his garden is through his back door. I haven't said an outright no I just don't want them doing it when I'm not there and I want more than a days notice!

Take some video of news on TV. Then film your garden ..
Take pictures as well...

Even if they own the fence, which they don’t, they have no right to use the neighbours garden to transport stuff through whenever they please.

I can’t see why so many people would be happy with this, op has allowed it once already and her side gate was left in a worse state, she’s allowing it this time and has advised them of this, but on her terms.

Why should she entertain a man she barely knows at an inconvenient time, in her pyjamas, just because he lives nearby? Especially when she’s already given a perfectly reasonable response via a note to access to her own property to allow them to do what they want but when it’s convenient for her?