*WIBU* to move my fence back a few inches....

[TriciaH87]

For reference it would not be taking any land from a neighbouring house. We have wasted land about 5 meters wide behind our house followed by a line of trees and then a train track. We purchased a 4meter swimming pool to go into the area behind the shed but we are about 4 inches short on the count of legs need a bit of extra space. When they tell you measurements it should really be for the whole area needed. I have 3 fence posts in my garden would you if you were me move the middle one back a few inches to allow for the pool legs. Our garden at the back slopes and gets shorter from the left to the right if the line had been straight it would of been fine. The land behind cannot be used for building on because its a huge hill follewed by train line so the only time anyone ever goes round there is the maintenance team to strim it every few months or usually me to fetch the bloody football when the kids kick it over which is a 15 minute walk to the area to access it. If I did move my fence back a couple inches should I put in a gate to fetch the ball. Had to go round 3 times today to fetch the bloody thing.

I’d go for it,to be fair, I’d move it further back. And yes put a gate in, if it’s safe for the kids.

I think you'll find that land is owned already so YABU.

I think moving fence posts would be a lot of hassle for a few extra inches. Apart from that, I doubt anyone will notice.

I would, based on how you’ve described it

That land will owned, I wouldn't do it. Your property will already have a defined boundary.

Up to you though.

I would. You can always move the fence back if anyone complains, or if you sell the house in future. I doubt anyone will care about 4 inches anyway.

Surely the railway company owns the land? I totally understand why you need to go and retrieve lost balls from the area but are you sure you're not trespassing when you leave your garden and walk round the back of your fence? If I were you I wouldn't put a gate in your fence in case you draw attention to the fact that you have been walking around out there. The maintenance staff could report you if they notice it. I'm assuming they have a sort of buffer between the houses and the train track for safety reasons. It would be a shame if you couldn't get the pool installed though so perhaps you could risk moving the fence a little bit if you could do it without making it too obvious?

I think I'd find out who owns the land first

Why not approach them to buy the land as a wild life garden. No one else is going to be interested in the land?

I would, not sure I'd want a gate onto a railway line tho, especially if you've got kids

I would never make it easy for kids to access a train track, so no gate.

The land may appear to be wasted, but it belongs to somebody and your fence is where it is for a reason. Moving the fence to enlarge your garden is stealing. Plus a lot of hassle.

Yanbu to expect the pool dimensions to show whole area needed.

I would. And yes to gate too. But make it as un-gate-like as possible so as to avoid it being spotted by railway employees.

I’d chance it.
If you get found out, move it back and make another plan then.

Yeah go for it, we have put in a gate but made it look from the other side that its just fence, we have also started using the 2 metre wide space at the back for growing stuff in pots, in the unlikely event of whoever own wanting the land back we just plan to move the pots back in.

Honestly op, land boundaries are not measured in inches in this context they will never know and likely even if they did , not give a shit. It’s a railway bank and a few inches, go for it.

Regarding the gate idea we're thinking hinging a fence panel from our side and adding bolts with paddocks on each side so kids cannot get out. The land is owned by housing development company according to land registry. Literally talking moving a post back a few inches and only one. It's like if the post rotted and I couldn't get another in the same spot kind of distance. Its either that or we loose the lawn to the pool. Meaning no where for kids to play if it's too cold to go in the pool.

If it's only a couple of inches. I don't understand why you just can't move the pool a couple of inches further forward. Surely you'd only lose two inches of lawn, not the whole thing?

When I bought my house it was brought up that the previous owners were occupying more land than permitted. I could of made them rebuild the dry stone walling a few feet inwards but didn't :) A large estate owns the land and it's rented out for sheep farming a couple of square feet makes no difference to them, I doubt it'd make any difference to the railway either. I'd change the fence and put in a gate.

@fifthtimelucky see image for garden shape. It slopes left to right I have no inch at top of pool to move it that's the problem. P is pool s shed g grass. If that angle was a tiny bit less it would fit. Basically if I cut a hole in my fence it would be fine but that would mean next doors fence would be less stable. If I move the post a couple inches the pool won't push on the fence panel.

Can't move your shed over at all? Rotate it? Chop a bit of the roof overhang off? Make move one of the walls a couple of inches?

A few inches? Yes I'd move it and put in a gate. Even if you didn't move it I'd put the gate in to save 15 minutes every time

Do it. And in a few years time if you aren't challenged you may actually get some rights over it so it can't be shifted back.

If it's obviously disused wasteland then I'd say YANBU. But how big's the fence? I'm imagining a 6 foot closeboard fence with posts set in concrete and moving those would be a major pain in the arse. Modifying just the panels would be more manageable. But if the fence is something lighter then it'd be easier.

Just be aware you could be asked to move it back. So relying on that space to fit your pool in might not be so clever.

Someone local has moved their fence 10 feet onto council land. They appear to have got away with it.
A few inches is unlikely to be noticeable.