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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick of them hopping in and out of my garden whenever they feel the need?

56 replies

CymaticPrincess88 · 13/11/2019 09:19

Next door neighbour, moved in very recently and immediatly started building works, I have no right to be annoyed about that I know.

Part of this 'work' involved chopping a tree down (he's building a conservatory) and then had to get some kind of mini digger involved to get the stump out. Okay, fair enough. In order to do this he told us (he did not ask) that he was taking the fence panel down, so they could better access it to get the stump out. We felt we didn't have much choice so we said ok.

It's been 2 weeks since the fence panel has been taken down, and they haven't put it back up. We asked them 2 days ago if it could be put back up as as far as we are concerned the reason the fence panel needed to come down was because of the stump and nothing more.

Anyway what is really winding me up is the builders he has hired, keep stepping into and standing in my garden all day whilst they are here, I know its a petty thing to be wound up about it but they are right next to my living room window and keep staring if I so much as glance outside, and if they are in next doors front garden, they stop what they are doing and stare at me, usually while I am putting my SEN DS onto his school transport, it's making me really uncomfortable, and I don't know what to do.

Do I keep bugging him to put the panel back up? Do I have any right to dictate who comes into my garden? I'm sure I do, but I am happy to be proven wrong.

I have generalised anxiety disorder so if you are wondering why I am getting so wound up about it all thats probably the reason

sorry for the essay

OP posts:
churchandstate · 13/11/2019 10:25

SunshineAngel

That is outrageous. I would have got someone to come and lock the stuff up.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 13/11/2019 10:26

I once came home to a tree laid in my garden along with 3 workmen stood around and my washing line snapped.Next door cf hadn't even asked me if this was ok! (I made her buy me a new washing line)

MitchellMummy · 13/11/2019 10:43

I don't have anxiety issues but this would drive me CRAZY if it happened to me. I'd be tempted to put some obstruction there if friendly requests didn't work. Good luck.

StrongTea · 13/11/2019 10:53

I would hate that. You are quite right to be very annoyed.

endofthelinefinally · 13/11/2019 11:00

Have you checked whether they should have got planning permission and / or a party wall survey/ agreement?
They sound like the sort of people who wouldn't bother.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 13/11/2019 11:02

@SunshineAngel - I'm outraged on your behalf
I would have told them to move it by 5pm or a skip company would be coming to dispose of it. A month!
Right now I would be invoicing them for the costs of laying a new lawn and storage costs.

Why are people such selfish inconsiderate shits?

PersephoneOP · 13/11/2019 11:05

SunshineAngel, they fly-tipped their equipment in your garden and damaged your property, you should have reported them to the police!

Chloemol · 13/11/2019 11:46

Just go and get the panel and get it put up again

MeTheCoolOne · 13/11/2019 12:39

It's on the left hand side of my garden, so I think it is actually his fence per se.

Check the deeds. Typically the left hand fence will belong to your neighbours but it's not always the case.

If it's their fence they can do what they want with it. Unless there are special covenants etc then there is no requirement for them to have a fence at all.

I doubt the builders are watching you anymore than you are watching them.

They still shouldn't be coming into your garden though.

I always find that it's best to talk to them directly.

TheReluctantCountess · 13/11/2019 12:49

They actually all stop what they are doing to stare at you when you are putting your son into the transport?

Original poster
CymaticPrincess88 · 13/11/2019 14:15

Yep. It's really annoying.

OP posts:
GabriellaMontez · 13/11/2019 16:48

They're totally out of line. They have no right to be in your garden. Let them know it's not acceptable.

Original poster
CymaticPrincess88 · 13/11/2019 17:49

Well, the wall is now up, by the looks of it, but not the fence panel, apparently the original idea was that they didn't ever intend to put it back! Which is ludicrous because if they don't, sure there is a wall, but theres a half a foot gap, where I could peer directly into their garden.

I went out when everyone had gone and slammed my wheelie bin into the wall, back in its original position.

Apparently the gardeners are coming tommorow and they will be putting the fence panel back up. I really hope they do cause thats twice we have asked now, to be told yes it will be up that day, and both times its still not sodding well up!

Also I want to get hold of title deeds or plans or whatever they are to show me what the boundaries are and whose responsibilty they are. How do I obtain these and what is the cost roughly?

Just so if it does turn out to be my 'side' and he refuses to put it back I know where I stand.

OP posts:
Original poster
CymaticPrincess88 · 13/11/2019 17:50

What surprised me earlier is they knocked at the front door and asked to be let into the back garden to 'tidy up'

I'm genuinely suprised they didn't just scale the wall and jump in, it wasn't a bother when the wall was in process of being built, lol.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 13/11/2019 18:33

You can get hold of your deeds/title plans from the land registry online. It's about £4 for each part (deeds and title pan are separate)

misspiggy19 · 13/11/2019 18:37

Apparently the gardeners are coming tommorow and they will be putting the fence panel back up. I really hope they do cause thats twice we have asked now, to be told yes it will be up that day, and both times its still not sodding well up!

^You admitted it is not your fence panel. Your neighbour doesn’t have to put it back.

Original poster
CymaticPrincess88 · 13/11/2019 19:12

Where did I admit that, Miss piggy? As it stands even the builders don't know what side is whose.

They will put it back or I will put it back myself!!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 13/11/2019 20:57

It's on the left hand side of my garden, so I think it is actually his fence per se.

Original poster
CymaticPrincess88 · 13/11/2019 21:50

Yes but I don't know in all confidence if thats accurate, having not seen the title plan, even the builder didn't know for definite!!

Why should I be left with a wall with a massive gap in it? I've got a SEN child who will never be able to go into his own garden fully unsupervised, as he will probably try to squeeze into the gap, and he's teeny so he'll probably manage it!

OP posts:
MeTheCoolOne · 13/11/2019 22:01

Why should I be left with a wall with a massive gap in it? I've got a SEN child who will never be able to go into his own garden fully unsupervised, as he will probably try to squeeze into the gap, and he's teeny so he'll probably manage it!

Unless there is a covenant or similar saying the gardens have to be fenced there is no requirement for your Neighbour to put up a fence around his garden. If up you need a fence for your son then it’s up to you to put one up.

I went out when everyone had gone and slammed my wheelie bin into the wall, back in its original position

Oh dear..... 😐

GabriellaMontez · 14/11/2019 09:50

Check your deeds. Then at least you'll be confident about who owns the fence.

TheReluctantCountess · 14/11/2019 12:23

If the gap gets left, just put a large pot with a plant in it in front of the gap.

Original poster
CymaticPrincess88 · 14/11/2019 15:43

Oh dear what @MeTheCoolOne?

I was just putting it back where it belongs.

OP posts:
motherogod · 14/11/2019 16:27

@MeTheCoolOne why so goady? Not so cool. OP hope everything gets sorted, it sounds irritating but hopefully will be over now.

MeTheCoolOne · 14/11/2019 17:18

motherofgod and OP, Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be goady I just think slamming the bin into the neighbours wall was a daft thing to do. Why risk escalating things with the neighbour. What would that achieve? If I heard my neighbour slamming a bin into a wall I’d think they were being aggressive and childish. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The advice I gave about the neighbour having no obligation to fence their garden (unless there is a covenant or something similar to the contrary) is correct.