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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour watering my fence

172 replies

crappytimes · 12/06/2021 00:14

Have lived in current house 15 yrs and always had a good, not close, relationship with neighbours. We very recently agreed to go halves on a fence between our back gardens as the previous one was rotten and about to collapse and had loads of ivy coming over from their side to ours. The team did a great job, took our a few trees and v larger ivy roots. The other day I noticed neighbour had a hose/sprinkler pointed at fence right by my back door so they're not really watering flowers (think he grows sunflowers there) but watering the entire 6ft fence and water seeping all the way through and also my plants and paving (and me if I walk out the door). I texted owner's son (also living there and my contact for them) and he said he'd ask his dad's to stop but gave a shirty reply about "sorry if he's not watering correctly". I said it's not about watering correctly just don't want new fence to go rotten like old one. Anyhow 2 days go by and no more watering of fence (something I admit he's done the last 15 yrs which has always bugged me). I've gone outside just now and it's midnight and he's watering the fence again- presumably assuming i wouldn't be out this late. I really am pissed off as I know it will ruin new fence and is really pointless. He's only got concrete breeze blocks with weeds and a few sunflowers. I don't want to seem rude- parents are elderly and have always been nice but given I've just paid for the fence I feel I should stand firm. AIBU?

OP posts:
frankenpoodle · 12/06/2021 02:12

Nothing needs that much water. If he's leaving the hose running for hours, the ground must be saturated.

TangoWhiskeyAlphaTango · 12/06/2021 02:23

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba

don't leave your fence out at night OP. it won't just get rained on. it will also get darked on and spiders will rub their willies on it
Wise words
deathbypostitnote · 12/06/2021 03:12

Very annoying.

You can't stop him though. As you've both paid half you can do as you please.

Neighbourly relations are so important. I don't think you can complain further without risking more than the fence

FaceyRomford · 12/06/2021 03:16

If that sort of watering rots your fence OP then frankly it must be a pretty cheap one to start with.

joystir59 · 12/06/2021 03:17

Omg! I've been letting rain fall on my wooden decking for four years!!!!

Sacreblue · 12/06/2021 03:29

This could be me Blush and now I’ve read this I’ll use the watering can not the hose.

Sorry G. if its you!

BowtieBling · 12/06/2021 03:40

Oh come on.
Directly pouring water on wood over a sustained period will age the wood prematurely, stop pretending it's the same as it raining
It's weird and unnecessary and will shorten the lifespan of fence and increase need for wood treatment unnecessarily.

Neighbour can water plant without constantly watering the fence unless it's some amazing new plant that grows directly out of the fences rather than from the ground below.
Maybe they're trying to cultivate fungus?

Melitza · 12/06/2021 03:45

Is he on a water meter?
I would ring the water company and say ndn is leaving a hose on overnight. Not sure if they'll do anything though.
It's a shocking waste of water.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 12/06/2021 04:29

@Melitza

Is he on a water meter? I would ring the water company and say ndn is leaving a hose on overnight. Not sure if they'll do anything though. It's a shocking waste of water.
Ring the water company?! That’s a new one, even for mumsnet!
Classicbrunette · 12/06/2021 04:31

I agree it’s unnecessary, I mean who on earth waters a fence Hmm and why would sunflowers need that much water ? He’ll rot those too ! I think you need to go round and chop his hose up !

Seriously, you could cheerfully say to him ‘ look how the fence has grown’
Him … ‘duh ? What do you mean ?’
You … ‘ all the watering you’re giving it.. hahahaha ‘

Yes relationships with neighbours are much more important than a potentially rotting fence…. And he did pay half for it !

opinionminion · 12/06/2021 04:44
Biscuit
Isadora2007 · 12/06/2021 04:48

How are his plants not dead? Do you live in the desert?

PandemicAtTheDisco · 12/06/2021 04:57

My neighbour cleans his concrete garden with a pressure washer - that really damages the bottom of the fence.

LivingLaVidaCovid · 12/06/2021 06:10

He has been doing this for years
You arent going to change it and the fact is he isn't doing anything outrageous.
If its your fence remove the panels and treat them so they are water resistant and let him crack on

JellyTumble · 12/06/2021 06:13

I know I'm nbu!

Except that YABU. But why post if you didn’t think it?

DirectionsForUse · 12/06/2021 06:19

Why did you share the cost of the fence? A fence always belongs to one side or the other.

There must be a reason he's doing this. It can't just be to destroy a fence he's just paid for. Understanding that would be a better place to start.

Text is never a good way to deal with any even mildly difficult conversation.

PracticingPerson · 12/06/2021 06:26

YANBU, leaving a hose on overnight is very strange. I wouldn't know what to do about it though. Are you sure he does that? The ground would be boggy, surely.

NeverForgetYourDreams · 12/06/2021 06:27

@DirectionsForUse

Why did you share the cost of the fence? A fence always belongs to one side or the other.

There must be a reason he's doing this. It can't just be to destroy a fence he's just paid for. Understanding that would be a better place to start.

Text is never a good way to deal with any even mildly difficult conversation.

Fences are not always the responsibility of one side. Some are shared for maintenance.
3Britnee · 12/06/2021 06:32

@LivingLaVidaCovid

He has been doing this for years You arent going to change it and the fact is he isn't doing anything outrageous. If its your fence remove the panels and treat them so they are water resistant and let him crack on
Wtf, it's an outrageous waste of water.
Letsallscreamatthesistene · 12/06/2021 06:40

@Melitza

Is he on a water meter? I would ring the water company and say ndn is leaving a hose on overnight. Not sure if they'll do anything though. It's a shocking waste of water.
Would you also phone 101 to 'log it'?
Shehasadiamondinthesky · 12/06/2021 06:41

Neighbours are dickgeads basically. I'm in the process of selling my place and my DS and DiL are buying a big place in the countryside detached with no neighbours together. We,re sick of their row and selfish carry on.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 12/06/2021 06:42

The waste of water works drive me spare.

Your neighbour is a wanker.

OhRene · 12/06/2021 06:43

Fences are made to be able to get wet but surely, keeping it constantly soaked cannot possibly be good for it? Even pressure treated, wood kept constantly wet would weaken and rot in far less time than simply being rained on?

FindingMeno · 12/06/2021 06:45

Honestly if this is causing you so much of an issue, I say lucky you that you live such a life that you even think about it.
Relax! It's water. It's not being sprayed with radioactive waste.

HildegardeCrowe · 12/06/2021 06:48

Isn’t most everyone on a water meter now? Just content yourself with the fact that he must have high water bills and know that he’s a selfish moron for wasting water like that. And your fence must be super-clean (on his side at least) 😊