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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:
ellyeth · 13/06/2021 19:16

I don't think it's worth spoiling a fairly reasonable relationship with a neighbour by having a confrontation about it, even if you do find it annoying.

I thought you said you went halves on the fence? That probably wasn't a good idea if you have such definite views about the issue. My understanding is that each neighbour is responsible for one fence - whose actual responsibility is the fence you are talking about?

longtompot · 13/06/2021 19:19

@Bernardo1

In due course, we are all going to have water meters fitted whether we like it or not. They are doing street by street. Mine in days. It is government policy and water companies v. enthusiastic. When this happens the problem will go away naturally. Ring your water company and ask how soon they can do it.
Only required in certain water stressed areas. When we moved here the water company wanted to install one and we said no way. It was a tense year waiting for our bill to come for the year which meant they wouldn't be installing the meter. Water companies should be spending their huge profits on fixing the water leaks instead of getting the consumers to pay more. We don't waste water not having a meter btw. We have water butts and only wash our car a few times a year, and that's with a bucket of water not the hose.
loopylindi · 13/06/2021 19:21

we had a neighbour who complained when run-off from our lawn strips made her drive wet! She said it would make weeds grow- her drive was made of concrete

jontyl · 13/06/2021 19:47

People often water fences to stop the waney distorting. Bit mad but hey Ho. To make a fuss about this is also a bit mad.

mumwon · 13/06/2021 21:02

his water bill must be high

RunningFromInsanity · 13/06/2021 21:16

I have my sprinkler on every day at the moment because I’ve got seedlings and it’s so hot and dry. And I bet most of goes on the fence and then trickles down.

KateRose · 13/06/2021 22:05

I wondered about the fence watering issue. Our ‘neighbour’ is washing his dogs faeces off his grass matting against our fence and the run off comes into our garden, 1 metre from our dining windows where we eat, and alongside & onto the side path which we & our children access our garden.

ICanSmellSummerComing · 13/06/2021 22:09

Paint the fence

Fluffmum · 13/06/2021 22:39

In hindsight you should have built a wall

iwannafurloughmydp · 13/06/2021 22:49

Because of people like you that I never want to have neighbours ever again.
FFS , get a life !

IrishCharm · 14/06/2021 01:05

Is his fence too (he paid half)
He’s changed to watering at night when you’re not out there yet you’ve not even acknowledged he’s changed his pattern for you!
Yabu

TeaAndBiscuitsAndWine · 14/06/2021 01:08

@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
Just burst out laughing at this!
jentinquarantino20 · 14/06/2021 06:00

It would bother me too. It’s not the same as rain at all. He’s pointing a hose at your back door and that level of water is not like the odd shower. Just seems weird to me.

CuppaCoffi · 14/06/2021 08:12

@Neolara

You know you're fence will get rained on?

I think this is a complete non issue and if you make it one, you will come across like a loon.

This is what I was going to say. When I water my plants it hits the neighbour's new (cheap) fence but the rain will do way more damage than me! It should have been treated properly?
Angiemum24 · 14/06/2021 08:26

It’s only water. Do you shout at the clouds when it rains?

AdobeWanKenobi · 14/06/2021 09:44

@Angiemum24

It’s only water. Do you shout at the clouds when it rains?
Does that cloud rain on one spot repeatedly for hours? Do clouds have the same flow and pressure as a hose?
FunTimes2020 · 14/06/2021 09:50

I agree with you, OP. Neighbour sounds weird, as do a lot of posters on here Hmm

Merryweather80 · 14/06/2021 10:32

What's the point of watering the fence? You water the soil and roots of the flowers/plants, not the leaves. And for hours......... What a waste. Can you talk to the neighbour and ask why he does this? Tell him your patio etc gets wet too so his aim is a little off.

AnnieSnap · 14/06/2021 11:31

@Merryweather80

What's the point of watering the fence? You water the soil and roots of the flowers/plants, not the leaves. And for hours......... What a waste. Can you talk to the neighbour and ask why he does this? Tell him your patio etc gets wet too so his aim is a little off.
I’m not convinced that the neighbour is watering the fence. If it’s a sprinkler on the end of a hose, which seems most likely as aiming a hose alone at his plants would damage them, it will wet the fence as well as the soil.
whatagirlwants · 15/06/2021 13:29

Maybe he decided a 6 foot fence instead of a 3 foot fence would be better with petty neighbours like you, so is watering it in the hope that it grows.

Veratruthe · 20/06/2021 09:40

Ignore the ones mentioning it rains etc, they are clueless, excess water is a problem, rain is completely different from tap water being sprayed on the fence, I had a neighbour doing same when he couldn’t be arsed to water with the hose, I would water my garden and then he would turn sprinkler on full to water his pots at the same time, absolutely soaking my garden to point plants were turning yellow, I put a stop to it!

Veratruthe · 20/06/2021 09:44

I haad a neighbour doing same, it just makes the fence green, even with layers of protection, and my soil became like a bog

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