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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to report neighbours to the council

36 replies

K2608 · 02/09/2019 21:24

^A bit of back ground, we have lived in our house for 7 years. Next door 3.5 years. She's a bit moany but no big issues.
^
In May we had our fences replaced which cost £2000 quite a large amount of money. We noticed this evening that next door neighbour has filled in holes using cement under our fences and also chucked a lot of loose rubble and bricks under too, it looks awful. Firstly we will not be able to replace them if needed. We paid quite a lot extra for kickboards, which we now cannot remove. The cement has also flowed underneath and has come out on to our patio and garden. It has also gone down into our drain blocking it. Secondly we are in the process of having the garden redone. The next step will be levelling the garden and having a patio laid, they will need to removed the fences and kickboards to do this and currently can't! Our fences were old and come down in the wind so we replaced these first.
^
They didn’t speak to us about doing this which we would have said no to. We don’t understand why they have done this or whether this is allowed as it’s a council house? So I have reported them to the council and waiting for a response.... any idea what we can do. Photos attached (I hope)^

Aibu to report neighbours to the council
Aibu to report neighbours to the council
Aibu to report neighbours to the council
OP posts:
Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 21:26

I also went round to speak to them but they wouldn't answer the door!

OP posts:
WhatsMyPassword · 02/09/2019 21:31

What do you think the council will do ?

TinyGhostWriter · 02/09/2019 21:36

Council tenants can make improvements to their garden. It does look like a botch job though. It should be a civil matter, I don’t understand why you didn’t approach your neighbours first Hmm

Did you consult with your neighbours before you put up the fence and explain that you were still doing work? It’s understandable that they didn’t want large gaps underneath, especially if they have pets.

Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 21:40

We told her when the fence was going up. 4 weeks notice. She knows work is being done in the garden as the garden is a state. They are not large holes and she no animals.

Looking on citizens advice you can amend your own property but must ask permission before doing something to someone else's fence even just painting it.

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/09/2019 21:40

Could you not just scrape the cement back to line up with the kick board. It looks like you left the fence proud of ground level, it probably looks uneven on the other side and they may be getting animals etc underneath. Why do the fence first if you need to remove it again to landscape.

Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 21:41

We did the fence first as it was going to be a few months before work started on the garden.

OP posts:
Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 21:42

The cement is dry, hubby is going to try and get it off on his day off this week

OP posts:
Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 21:42

It is slightly uneven but it won't be once the patio has been laid properly

OP posts:
Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 21:45

The garden and house is on quite a slope

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/09/2019 21:49

Then you won't see the cement or rubble once patio is done. Is it really worth the fight?

Artykitty666 · 02/09/2019 21:50

My sister's row of houses are built on a slope. Next door up got a new fence with a 'gap' and hole which serves the purpose of draining their garden... Right into my sister's... It was a complete bog and entirely selfish. Any chance your neighbours have suffered a consequence to your and taken matters into their own hands rather than speaking to you?

Bookworm4 · 02/09/2019 21:52

What is the purpose of the cement they’ve poured?

Sorrysorrysosorry · 02/09/2019 21:54

is slightly uneven but it won't be once the patio has been laid properly

It won’t be noticeable on your side once the patio has been laid but, presumably, looked awful their side so they filled in the gaps. Why didn’t they fit them evenly to begin with?

Countrylifeornot · 02/09/2019 21:54

What makes you think the council would become involved in this?

WhatWouldChristineCagneyDo · 02/09/2019 21:54

If they've put cement down the drain then the water company would like a word with them I'm sure. Cowboys disposing of cement into the drains is hell on earth to rectify.

Devonishome1 · 02/09/2019 21:57

So now your fence panels will be stuck to the cement! Why have they done that????

Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 22:00

I get what you are saying about it not looking right there side but it was a straight swap of fences! So it looks the same as before but with nice new fences...

I have contacted the council because I'm not forking to get the cement out of the drain and if there is any problems I don't want to be liable.

Also it's completely rude without asking and we still have the trouble of trying to remove it before the work is done to our garden. It's the half way up the fences. Some bits aren't even holes they have pushed it through the smallest of gaps.

We haven't really used the garden, we sat outside for one bbq for an hour or so, not sure what would be running into their garden

OP posts:
Original poster
K2608 · 02/09/2019 22:02

No idea devonishome1!

They wouldn't answer the door!

OP posts:
Sunflowers211 · 02/09/2019 22:52

You don't tell someone your putting a new fence up @K2608 you politely ask them if they would be ok with it. I'm not surprised they did this. YABU and you may be told to put the old fence back up as you did not get consent from your neighbours first. They clearly been left with gaps alongside the bottom of the fence which were not there before you changed fences.

Original poster
K2608 · 03/09/2019 05:38

Sunflowers211

HmmHmmwe did ASK if it was ok, the fence had been blown down which is OUR responsibility to replace, we should have just had left it with no fence Halo.

When the fence was being put up, she asked for it to be moved over slightly, towards OUR side she had 4 weeks to tell us this but did this 3 panels from the end, to keep the peace we asked the company to do this. Looking at it now, it's probably what caused the gaps in the first place.

I'm not sure what people are expecting us to have done regarding the level of the garden. Next door neighbours is around 2 ft lower than ours. Behind the fence it just drops down. Also told us they are putting in an extension that side so no idea why she would need to cement it either as they would probably need to remove panels for access

OP posts:
HennyPennyHorror · 03/09/2019 05:41

As someone else asked...is your rain draining into their garden? The gap you left...which they've filled, would probably cause a lot of run off into their garden.

Jesaminecollins · 03/09/2019 05:46

Pay for a solicitors letter asking them to remove the cement straight away (they have damaged your fence and may have to replace imo) The letter should cost about £50, so if you don't want to pay that send them a letter threatening them with legal action unless they remove the cement.

Original poster
K2608 · 03/09/2019 05:59

The rain usually runs into our drain but it's rain? The fence has always been there like that? So it wouldn't be a new problem if it does. They haven't said to us if it does.

I'm just baffled that people think it's ok to cement someone's fence, drain and patio without asking? I really wouldn't like to be your neighbour!

Thank you I will try the letter and see what is said, might be easier if they won't answer the door.

OP posts:
PhilCornwall1 · 03/09/2019 06:12

@WhatWouldChristineCagneyDo if it's in a drain on the OPs property, they will more than likely be responsible for any issues with it, not the water company.

I've had fun and games with drain blockages and having to chase up neighbours to cough up a share for work costs. Fortunately they all did, apart from one who is a crazy old bat anyway.

walksen · 03/09/2019 06:46

Common coutesy would have been to advise you that they planned to fill these gaps.

It does seem strange that there are gaps under the fence panels which in places are quite large. Given the amount of rubble used. Surely the contractor should have part embedded the gravel boards in the ground/ cut to fit. I can imagine these gaps are unsightly to the neighbour too and result in water, soil and weeds falling through their side. I am sure you are aware that it is also not permissable to drain water onto other people's property.

On a practical note, I would be very suprised if the concrete has adhered that well to your gravel boards particularly as it is not very thick. I suspect you will find that it is easy to break up with a brick bolster or even a cheap chisel. You may also find that the concrete has only covered the grill of you drain so is not as bad as it seems

the drain aside, i doubt

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