CF new neighbour

[toomanyplants]

House next door to me up for sale, previous owners emigrated.
Yesterday I had a knock on the door, couple stood there, around my age (say 40-50).

So he says hello I'm about to buy the house next door, and then immediately launched into how he dislikes the walls surrounding the back garden and wishes to replace with wooden fencing. "I have a thing about concrete" he said.

I was stunned and just replied "I can't make a decision about that until I speak with DH"

The walls are like concrete posts with the long slabs, ours are painted cream and look great, very secure and offer privacy to a good level.
AIBU to think that this is not how you introduce yourself to a new neighbour?

Oh god, that's not a good start!

YANBU, I would have been in slight shock if I was you. For a stranger to introduce himself like that and then start berating the walls etc that you have around the garden.
I would put your foot down if they want to change the wall - who's land is the wall actually on?
I had similar issue with a neighbour who wanted to keep a hedge but it was way too much work for me as it was constantly coming into my garden, so we compromised and she cut it right back so it is off my property.

No! Thanks for letting me know what you like, but we're not changing our fence!

doesn't bode well.

Are they in good condition? By slabs do you mean like the concrete kick boards layered up?

Presumably they can only change the bit of fence that's theirs? Get the deeds out and have a good look, check what you own and what they own.

And then prepare for war.

Seriously, it sounds as though these people are used to having it all their own way. But they can change the fence that belongs to them (although they can't do anything about what belongs to you!).

Smile, nod and be VERY sure of your position. And hope they move again soon.

Who's fence/wall is it? If it's your's then all he can do is put a fence next to it on his side to hide it. If it's his then he can replace it

Assuming the fence is yours, or shared, tell him he is more than welcome to put up a wooden fence on his side of it, on his own property but that the fence is staying.

I was in shock!!
I thought he was just going to say hello, the sale hasn't even completed yet!
I have no Idea who they belong to, will have to check it out on deeds?
The type I can't say exactly, not a brick wall, but it's rock solid, super straight and we like it!
Will try to attach picture

I presume OP means concrete gravel boards slotted into concrete posts.

OP, I would have been taken off guard that they called and raised this with you. Are the 'walls' yours? If so, I would (assuming you have contact details for them) say that you are happy with your boundary and that, if they wish, they can put up wooden fencing on their property if they wish to disguise it. Both of you happy.

If it isn't yours then presumably it is theirs so they can change it if they wish.

When he said he was "about to buy" the house ... does that mean they're about to complete a sale or about to put in an offer? They might not actually buy the place, so I think I'd hold fire until they actually move in.

His words were "I'm thinking of buying...no forget that, I AM buying the place next door"
He reminded me of David Brent.

I'd probably cut them some slack for the first time. I was overexcited myself when I bought my first house, and probably did alarm the neighbours by my enthusiasm. Happy to report I am back to normal now.

I think I would be checking the deeds and then contacting the estate agents so they can pass on the (hopefully) good news that the fence wont be changing.

‘I have a thing about people being bolshy the first time I meet them. Cheerie-bye!’

Poor wife. Bet she’s had years of that fuck wittery.

I was so taken aback by it!
I did say I had no issues if he wanted to attach wooden trellis type thing to his side.
We're fairly exposed, dont back on to anything other than woodland and fields, so winds and winters are harsh (we are up north)
I don't want a wooden fence!!

Nothing stopping him putting his own fence in front of your wall.

If it's broached again I'd remind him who owns the wall (download your deeds, costs about £3 to check) and tell him he's more than welcome to build his fence in front of it on his side.

Who does the wall/fence belong to?

Houses are detached, so thankfully it's just the gardens that are joined, can't say I'd like to overhear him on a daily basis through the walls bloody hell

Could he have been trying to do the right thing and inform you of his plans, albeit in an unfortunate manner?

He can put a wooden fence on his side of the boundary. Job done.

It all really depends who the fence belongs to.
He can put a wooden fence his side.

I'll be honest, I wouldn't worry too much at this stage - as you said the house sale hasn't gone through yet - all manner of things could happen before then and he may not even end up buying it.

Will get copy of boundary ownership, I'm 90% sure it's ours, the wall on the right hand side of the garden is slightly different to the left and back, making me think the other side neighbour must have done that before we lived here.
I'm so glad people agree this was cheeky behaviour, I was ready to answer questions about local schools or shops... not be asked to knock down my garden wall!

He can just cover his side with a fence - I wouldn’t pull my own side down.