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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New neighbours

53 replies

EWAB · 22/01/2021 11:49

Last year our lovely neighbour died; the house had been empty for about a year before as she had gone to live with niece followed by time in a home.
We were pleased when the house was sold as its being empty for so long was beginning to impact negatively on ours.
The new neighbours have restored the house beautifully sash windows etc and the garden has been done. We were totally fine with noise etc early and late seeing it as just one of those things.
Another neighbour did complain and was given the details of the builders by the owners; the new owners didn’t want to know.
The house has an L shaped garden and the new neighbours have put 10 feet fences up ... the sort you might see in the park surrounding tennis courts etc. Two thirds of our garden now appear to be an exercise yard in a prison.
Because of Covid the usual introductions etc didn’t take place. And when my partner introduced himself when they were in drive they just smiled and went in. I have now written to them about the fence and its impact they wrote back suggesting we seek an impartial vies via a small claims court.
I have no intention of doing this.
What do people make of this attitude? I am stunned.

OP posts:
Movinghouseatlast · 22/01/2021 11:52

Small claims is nothing to do with fences, it is to claim money.

Have a look at the rules on fences on gov.uk All the rules are on there. There is a height limit on fences and if they have gone over that then you should contact the Planning Department of your local council.

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 22/01/2021 11:53

If they're not going to engage with anyone then grow some plants up the fencing. Be civil but don't expect them to invite you round for coffee after lockdown.

Wendyhause · 22/01/2021 11:53

Not a good start to your new neighbours settling in to their new home but maybe they are the type who are not interested in who they live near or next to or consider other points of view. Good luck with this one and a tiny word of advice from me, keep it as calm and friendly as possible.

wowfudge · 22/01/2021 11:56

Contact Planning at the council. Fences over 6ft/2m tall need planning permission. Presumably the gardens are at the same level therefore they are not 6' fences which seem taller due to being an elevated ground?

I suggest you inform them of your intention to do so beforehand - you are then being as courteous as can be to people who are behaving extremely arrogantly. Theyve only mentioned the small claims court in order to out you off pursuing the matter. They sound delightful!

Murinae · 22/01/2021 11:57

I thought max height was 6 ft between neighbouring properties. I would contact the council planning department. There are online forms to fill out on our council website for various things. I would look on there and fill out the form (I did one to report overhanging bushes on our lane and they came and chopped them down a couple of weeks later so they definitely do read these things)

Original poster
EWAB · 22/01/2021 11:58

Thank you for your responses. I have absolutely no intention of complaining formally to anyone but M y brother is married to a solicitor. I sent a photo over and she did wonder if the structure could be seen as ‘temporary’ and different rules apply.
I have no intention of doing anything but I wonder what you all think of these people and their attitude.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 22/01/2021 12:01

My neighbours have done exactly the same. But their fencing is 6 metres tall! They've put it a few metres away from the boundary so that it isn't a "boundary fence" but it looks like a bloody prison compound Angry

thereisonlyoneofme · 22/01/2021 12:03

Id be glad of a 10ft fence then I wouldnt be able to see n ext doors garden that is totally covered with dog poo!

RCMcGee · 22/01/2021 12:03

@HasaDigaEebowai

My neighbours have done exactly the same. But their fencing is 6 metres tall! They've put it a few metres away from the boundary so that it isn't a "boundary fence" but it looks like a bloody prison compound Angry
Your neighbours have put up a 19 foot fence? Impressive.
Calmandmeasured1 · 22/01/2021 12:04

If you have no intention of complaining formally to anyone then you clearly aren't that bothered so I can't see why you'd create a thread about it.

HasaDigaEebowai · 22/01/2021 12:05

Your neighbours have put up a 19 foot fence? Impressive.

You can doubt me all you like but the fence is taller than their house. Its tennis court fencing.

Santaiscovidfree · 22/01/2021 12:06

Are they Hammonds? Makes you wonder what they need to keep enclosed....

HamAndButterSandwich · 22/01/2021 12:09

I guess if you don't want to make a formal complain there's nothing further to be done. I do agree though that it's incredibly weird to take their attitude. I am happy to be merely on nodding terms with neighbours and don't want to chat over the garden fence. That said I would definitely be friendly when introduced and try to listen to any concerns they had.

Original poster
EWAB · 22/01/2021 12:21

@ Calmandmeasured1 I accept that but I think I wanted some validation. It does bother me but not sufficiently to go to court. I am happy to ignore them but not to be openly hostile to them.
@HasaDigaEebowai Exactly this. The original fences remain but the fence they have erected is maybe 6 inches away from original fence which is still in situ. SiL did mention this as a potential loophole.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Ideasplease322 · 22/01/2021 12:28

What did your letters at? Seems a strange reaction

CottonSock · 22/01/2021 12:32

I'd see if was on any plans they submitted to planning as part of the renovation.

badacorn · 22/01/2021 12:33

Maybe they’re fed up given that the other neighbours already complained about their building work.

Wendyhause · 22/01/2021 12:34

OP I do understand you do not wish to invite confrontation and trouble ahead and I would probably be the same so all I will add is that your new neighbours could very easily have knocked on your door and explained their intentions re the new fence. That they didn't shows to me they are selfish and not interested in having a good relationship with those they live next to.

If the new fence is bearable to live with then that would be good and hope they do not have any other plans/lifestyle which is not welcome at your side of the wall.

SimplyRadishing · 22/01/2021 12:36

@wowfudge

Contact Planning at the council. Fences over 6ft/2m tall need planning permission. Presumably the gardens are at the same level therefore they are not 6' fences which seem taller due to being an elevated ground?

I suggest you inform them of your intention to do so beforehand - you are then being as courteous as can be to people who are behaving extremely arrogantly. Theyve only mentioned the small claims court in order to out you off pursuing the matter. They sound delightful!

This is good advice and i would persue it I would HATE net fencing Just awful....
wowfudge · 22/01/2021 12:48

You didn't mention that the original fence was still in situ. If you're not going to make a formal complaint then you can't be that bothered by it.

My experience of neighbours overstepping the mark is that unless you address the first thing of this kind that they do, they will simply view your lack of action as carte blanche to carry on in the same vein. They are much less likely to behave inconsiderately if you assert yourself in circumstances like these.

wowfudge · 22/01/2021 12:50

@HasaDigaEebowai

My neighbours have done exactly the same. But their fencing is 6 metres tall! They've put it a few metres away from the boundary so that it isn't a "boundary fence" but it looks like a bloody prison compound Angry
When's the watch tower going up?
VinterKvinna · 22/01/2021 12:52

@HasaDigaEebowai

My neighbours have done exactly the same. But their fencing is 6 metres tall! They've put it a few metres away from the boundary so that it isn't a "boundary fence" but it looks like a bloody prison compound Angry
6 metres? 19 feet? really?
Seeline · 22/01/2021 12:56

IT makes no difference whether it is a boundary fence.

Under planning rules, any fence over 2m in height requires full planning permission. HTe only exception is when that means of enclosure is adjacent to a highway when the height is reduced to 1m.

Means of enclosure means any fence, wall etc, but not hedge.

You don't need to go to court. You report to the Planning Enforcement team at your local Council who will do all the work for you. They may require them to remove the means of enclosure, to reduce to the specified height or ask them to submit a retrospective planning application. Then you will be able to submit objections.

LaurieFairyCake · 22/01/2021 13:00

It's literally just an email to the planning department Confused

I did this in one house, they sorted it.

Jaxhog · 22/01/2021 13:02

Could it be to keep pets/wild stock in? Our neighbours have done this, but they did tell us first. If so, it may be a good thing!

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