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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour snitched on me putting up 1 fence...

213 replies

Brokentoday · 07/05/2020 12:32

I have recently moved to new property...

I live in a row of houses, all the house apart from my neighbour to my right have 4 ft fences..

There are house opposite of my garden and there garden are next to ours and so are the rest of the houses on my street, so in my garden the fence in front is 6ft and the fence to my right is 6ft the fence to my left is 4 ft.

Me and partner decide to put new 6ft fence along the left hand side by professional costing a fair amount of money. I off course notified my neighbour to my left that I would be doing so and if she was okay with it. She has no issues with it and she hope's to raise her fence aswell.

Now my neighbours are friendly welcoming and all round decent people since we moved me. The issue i have is I can see 4-5 houses down in my garden, I'm not unsociable I just was a bit of privacy in my garden with 3 children under 5. I dont think it is partically safe either..

My partner also feels somewhat uncomfortable because we are black they stare at us in our garden..

I got a phone call from my housing association letting me no that basically somebody have called them to inform them that I am putting a fence up..

I was told to stop as I didnt ask for permission, I said the fence is more or less done. I was then asked to write a letter retrospective permission.. to inform them that I have done a fence and that is meets there criteria.. the lady I spoke to was nice and basically told me make sure it not higher than 6ft and it's done by professionals.. take a pictures and send it In.

To find it somewhat funny that somebody felt the need to report me as if i stole from the queen palace.. I mean Im entitled to some privacy for fuck sake.. the fence is up and nobody can stare at us.

AIBU?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 07/05/2020 13:27

They were being totally petty.

But you ran that risk when you thought rules only apply to other people.

I'd try and put it out of your mind now.

Longdistance · 07/05/2020 13:28

I wouldn’t worry too much. A lady I worked with moved into a HA property and put a brand new kitchen and bathroom in, plastered and rewired the whole property. I think one of her neighbours grassed her up, the inspectors came round to look, but as it was professionally done and a high spec they did nothing. On another note, she did do some other barking mad things in her personal life as well as work—glad she left—

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 07/05/2020 13:30

They haven't said it's fine, OP may yet be told to take it down.

the lady I spoke to was nice and basically told me make sure it not higher than 6ft and it's done by professionals.. take a pictures and send it In.

gamerchick · 07/05/2020 13:30

I wonder what expression op had on her face when she typed "they stare at me because I'm black"?

That didn't do it for me, soz.

Thisismytimetoshine · 07/05/2020 13:31

You are incredibly odd, gamerchick

JustOneSquareofDarkChocolate · 07/05/2020 13:31

If you need planning permission, you need planning permission. That's all there is to it.

FlibbertyGiblets · 07/05/2020 13:32

Any neighbour called Mr Twelvetrees?

Thisismytimetoshine · 07/05/2020 13:32

What's the "it must be done by professionals" thing? It's a wooden fence.

lyralalala · 07/05/2020 13:34

If you've only just moved in and already not bothered following the rules they may have reported you to try and curb any future things.

We ignored a neighbour taking shortcuts with permission for a dropped kerb and everyone in the street now bitterly regrets it because he blatantly thinks that planning rules don't apply to him. Reporting him for the first thing might have stopped him thinking it was a free-for-all.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 07/05/2020 13:35

If you need planning permission, you need planning permission.

You don’t need planning permission for a garden fence up to 6ft. It’s just HA permission OP needs. Not planning. Two different things.

BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup · 07/05/2020 13:35

YABU if you are not the freeholder of the property or have covenants then you need to check your lease/contract, and if it states ask for permission beforehand then do so.

Permission is not normally refused without a good reason.

It saves losing money, and having arguments with neighbours or others.

I know people who have replaced windows without permission, lost their money and had to fork out more money to replace the windows they already replaced. I know someone whose neighbours opposite reported them even though the land was changed to ease the problem of 4 houses not having enough parking. After a lot of hassle from the they were allowed to keep the land that way.

FlibbertyGiblets · 07/05/2020 13:36

Thisismytimetoshine to avoid being done by hobbits, maybe? #rustick

gamerchick · 07/05/2020 13:36

You are incredibly odd, gamerchick

Aw, right in the feelz man Grin

category12 · 07/05/2020 13:36

Basic common sense: if you're in a HA property, ask them before you do anything to the property.

They'll agree to it if it's within their rules and is done properly. Don't just do stuff without permission, it'll bite you in the arse.

SonjaMorgan · 07/05/2020 13:36

But you are in a rental? You can't just do work without permission.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 07/05/2020 13:37

But you are in a rental? You can't just do work without permission.

And it's not just rentals, often house owners need permission for works as well.

myangelalex · 07/05/2020 13:38

Welcome to the world of nosy s sort of twattery is quite normal on housing estates, don't take it personally.

Next comes the parking !

understandme · 07/05/2020 13:39

@Thisismytimetoshine to make sure the 6ft wooden fence doesn't fall down on to a child, maybe that's a good reason to get a professional job done?

Thisismytimetoshine · 07/05/2020 13:40

I was told to stop as I didnt ask for permission. Then op was asked to submit photos and a request for retrospective permission.
None of that suggests the ha are "cool with it".

MitziK · 07/05/2020 13:41

You don’t need planning permission for a garden fence up to 6ft. It’s just HA permission OP needs. Not planning. Two different things

The Planning Consent for my house states that the front boundary must not be more than four feet high. If anybody, whether tenant, housing association, owner or builder were to put a six foot boundary up, it would have been in direct contravention of the conditions attached to gaining permission and the council could have taken enforcement action, as would adding extra windows, a front porch, extending the living space into the loft or using the front garden as a parking space.

bruffin · 07/05/2020 13:42

When did you have this fence put up?

Stampy84 · 07/05/2020 13:43

@Brokentoday
What do you mean they stare at you in your garden because you’re black??
Why would they be so fascinated by your actions because of your skin colour?
How did you find out that’s why they were staring at you in your garden?

Waveysnail · 07/05/2020 13:46

Not your property. Its rented. Dont put up fences without permission.

Original poster
Brokentoday · 07/05/2020 13:47

@AvoidingRealHumans

YABU for assuming people stare in because you're black. Sorry I couldn't see past that weird comment

Judging by your comment your probably white.. haven't experience racism or understand it. My family are black I live in a predominantly white area. Yes we get starred at and yes we do ensure racism.. I'm pointing that out because some of neighbour have a habit or staring and saying fuck all.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 07/05/2020 13:50

How do you know it's because you're black though OP?

Also, why don't you think being able to see 4 or 5 houses down, isn't particularly safe?

Why wouldn't it be?

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