Will try and keep a longish story short.
Bought a new build house 3 years ago. The fence at the time was poorly built and not very sturdy. We complained to be told nothing we can do. The fence that is “ours” as in we paid for it and it’s our responsibility was the worst.
Fast forward 3 years and it’s bowing at the bottom. The wood is warped and this is causing the fence panels to split and the top to lift off. Decided it’s time to repair / replace and got a fencer out.
Now the issue is next doors garden, the other side of that fence is higher than mine. A fact I only learnt today having never been in their garden. That means our fence is effectively retaining their higher ground level and it isn’t designed to do so hence the damage. The fencer has said no point repairing or replacing fence as the same will happen and it needs a proper retaining wall.
I am not about to spend money on a retaining wall that I neither need or want and don’t think this should be my cost to bear. Neighbour says it’s my fence so my responsibility and they didn’t raise the ground so it’s not their issue and the house builder says as it’s outside the 2 year snag guarantee they won’t help and it’s my responsibility. But we had no way of knowing our fence was being used as a retaining wall so no opportunity to report this.
Any advice? I’ve included a photo to show the movement of the fence baseboard at the bottom which I am now told is due to the weight of the higher ground next door.