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.

Maybe today was the only day his mate was off work & could help, you don’t know ‘why today’ because you didn’t bother to speak to them.

Maybe OP doesn’t want the neighbours and whoever he deems suitable to carry out this work traipsing though her garden without her present but the neighbour doesn’t know that because he didn’t bother to speak to OP before arranging the works.

While it's not going to help today, you really need to know asap if they legally have right of way via your garden. If they don't then you just say no. No way would I allow people traipse through my garden, let alone take down my fence when they previously didn't fix it back properly. Did you tell them the last time that the gate didn't bolt properly after they had moved it? If it's a case that the other terraced houses do have access via your garden, then surely you'd have been made aware of it when buying the house.

This is the neighbours wanting something
From the Op it's for the neighbours to fit in with her not the other way round

Holy well, if you're going to be so precious about when neighbours come to talk to you about an issue, then you have to accept that things might not then happen at your convenience. It's a 2-way street. The OP left the door open by not giving them a firm NO right from the start.

The initial problem was not her fault. But she should take some responsibility for the current situation.

So what if “that’s the only day his mate was off”. The OP is being asked to do something which is of absolutely no benefit to her - so if she’s kind enough to agree to it then it should be arranged entirely at her convenience so she can check they don’t do any more damage. What’s wrong with moving it in a week or two’s time - moving a shed (or whatever) is hardly an emergency situation.

Its the lack of notice thats a issue here. Our NDN tried this with similar notice wanting to come in to cut down a tree in our garden. I was at work with my 4 teenagers at home alone. I was not ok with strangers walking through my garden.

NDN next morning at my door still wanting access I told him strongly I was not having strangers through my door when I had teenagers alone in the house. He said " they are not strangers its my father in law" I was like " I don;t know him so to me he is a stranger" He then said " We were just trying to do you a favour" I responded "no you were doing yourself a favour and you didnt think you would need to speak to me about it you felt you could just inform"

They complained to our estate agent about the state of our garden (beautiful garden not at all neglected) we sent photos of garden and a screen shot of their communication with us. EA went down on our side and told the NDN we had right to quiet enjoyment & less than 24 hours notice was not ok.

Our relationship has never recovered but I honestly do not care 12 hours notice is not enough when you want to traipse through other peoples houses/gardens.

Why can't they take it apart and carry the panels out through the gate? That's all I'd agree to, unless they agreed in writing to replace my fence.

I think people are giving the OP a hard time unnecessarily.

It's totally for the neighbour to ask NOT demand, and to arrange a convenient day with the OP before making plans.

OP - I would write a letter for them to sign saying that they will replace the fence , gate and garden to your satisfaction, before you allow them to remove so much as a nail.

I would also take photos before, during and after!

Good luck, hope they are reasonable

@CassianAndor it’s not being precious to say you don’t want to answer the door for ANY reason.
The issue isn’t that OP didn’t answer the door. The issue is that the neighbours have caused damage in the past so OP wants to be present. The issue is that the neighbours are so entitled that they only gave OP 13 hours notice.
The issue is that they’re arranged a trailer to arrive this morning so clearly they assumed they could do what they wanted and they were telling OP not asking.
The issue is that since there appears to be no right of access against OPs property, the neighbours have no respect for OP or her property and think they can do as they please without appearing to have any legal right of access.
I can not believe that you’re excusing all the unreasonable, unsociable and disrespectful behaviour of the neighbours yet accusing OP of being unreasonable for wanting to be present when neighbours dismantle her property with only 12 hours notice.

Oh god OP hope you get it sorted!

Maybe today was the only day his mate was off work
What for the next decade? Is he off to Mars on Friday??

The only fault laying apt ops door is not saying no in the first place.

I agree @Mummyoflittledragon

@CassianAndor how is not wanting to be disturbed in the evening and when the op in her pj's precious? Everyone is entitled to private time. Personally I probably would have behaved exactly the same way and it's totally down to personal choice when you answer your door. If they were that desperate then a nicely worded letter through the door would do the same job.

@lipslovelylips Let us know how you get on once you get home, OP I think they are CF'ers of the highest order and think you were quite right not to open your door to them last night if you didn't want to!

you don’t know ‘why today’ because you didn’t bother to speak to them. No!

The reality is that they, the ones wanting the favour, didn't ask in good time. They just assumed, arranged things to their own conveience and rememberd to tell (not ask) OP, the owner of the fence, the day before they wanted access.

Tough! If I were OP I wouldn't bother going home, I'd just sue them for repairs once they have finished!

ach, I can't be arsed.

It is not reasonable of the neighbours to give less than 24 hours notice of this. The OP shouldn’t have to jump to answer the sore or speak to them because they’ve left a stupidly short timescale to discuss it.

@CassianAndor ...aren’t you being a bit precious now? If you can’t explain why OP is being precious for not opening the door when she doesn’t want to, you’ll just have to accept that I’m now going to assume you know you’re wrong but won’t admit it.

They don't get to just "give notice". They need to ask permission and ask the OP when they can do it. She should just say no, and then they have to find an alternative because it's her garden and her fence and they have no right to it. They are acting as though it's an extension of their home and they just need to tell her what they are doing. It's not. They need to ask and them they need to respect her answer. If she allows it, then they need to do it when she says it's ok.

Sounds like the OP previously didn’t have a problem allowing access. The issue is how it was left after allowing access. Did you speak to them about the issues with the gate OP? Is there a chance they are completely unaware your gate does not close properly?

Your neighbours are thoughtless, selfish turds.

@HolyMilkBoobiesBatman
I don't answer my door if I'm just out the bath and wearing my pyjamas. Because I don't want too. End of. I don't care when someone comes to the door; I don't consider 8pm late. I don't consider 9.30pm late. I would answer, but not if I'm just out the bath with pyjamas on. And "I don't want to" is enough of a reason. No one else has a right to my time. No one else has a right to dictate what I do and when I do it. A knock at the door is a request, not a summons.

They don't have any right to walk through her garden. The absolutely have no right to take her fence down. They knew they needed to do it so they needed to ask her permission. They also needed to ask when would work for her. They didn't. They arranged it and then they stuck a note through her door telling her what they wete doing. Not asking. They also only did it the day before, so not enough time. Do you understand that it's her garden and her fence, which they've previously broken, and that none of it belongs to them. If you want to use someone else's property for something, then you ask and you ask with plenty of time to make the arrangements. This is entirely the neighbours fault.

Why can't they dismantle the shed or whatever it is in their garden and bring it through their house? Why have they got to go through their neighbours garden? YANBU OP and I don't understand why some people think you are.

If they don't have a legal right of way then I wouldn't allow them to keep taking down the fence because who is going to pay for it when it becomes weakened? I am end of terrace and I have a gated side entrance, I had to get a gate erected because I used to find the neighbours in my garden all the time. If your neighbours are on your property and and damaging it by taking down the fence I'd call the police regarding trespassing. However, I would have spoken to the neighbours last night to prevent all the upset and would have explained that I wasn't up for my fence to be taken down. They need to take it through their house in that case.

The problem is, you've let them take the fence down before so they are assuming you don't have a problem with it. How would they know about the gate/state of the fence unless you tell them?

Also, they told you what day they wanted, you responded saying a different day, then refused to talk to them! Of course no one has to answer the door, but when you know it is to arrange something specific, that you have just been passing notes about, it is stupid (and rude) to just ignore it.

Yes they are being CF by just cracking on, but you shouldn't have just ignored them tbh.