AIBU to put up a fence against neighbours' wishes?

[bigbluecup]

Long story short, I've wanted to change my 4' flimsy wire fence for a 6' solid wood panel one for a while. I finally have the funds for it, and an even bigger falling out with neighbours next door recently has led me to seriously go for it. I currently have no privacy in my garden, and after they have removed all of the trees and hedges on the other side of my fence my dog is now more than capable of jumping over the 4' wire fence. I would also love to be able to sit in my garden without them staring at me as they currently do (retired couple who seem to live in their garden)

The current fence is 100% mine, no doubt about it. I've looked up rules and I'm perfectly allowed to put up a 6' solid fence without need for planning permission.

However, they witnessed someone I had over to give me a quote for this new fence and they went BALLISTIC. They're claiming that their garden will be darkened and that the only reason they just cut down all the trees and hedges on their side of the fence were to give them extra light.

AIBU to still be strongly considering putting up this fence?

[SofiaMichelle]

Absolutely go for it, OP.

How bloody cheeky are your neighbours! They don't have any right to light in their garden, as long as your fence is of the permitted height.

[TSSDNCOP]

My neighbour put up a 6 foot fence, his intention was to annoy us. It looks bloody great now that I've had lighting chased up every concrete post, laid a concrete wall and planted climbers.

Plus I can't see him and my cat, who he loathes sits 6 feet up in the air sneering at him

[tootiredtospeak]

My neighbours have put a 6ft fence on both sides of their garden so they have privacy. Then at the end which looks over my land they have put a 3ft fence so every time I go onto this land we can see right into their garden. So weird I have to now either put up my own 6ft fence in front of theirs or grow something behind it to get any privacy. People are so weird sometimes.

[Douchebaggette]

They cut down trees? I hate them already

Me too. The world seems full of people determined to remove any tree they see - as if the world needs them sat for a couple hours a week in the sun more than it needs a mature tree.

Trees save and sustain human and animal health and life. We should be preserving them and chopping mature/semi-mature trees down should be much harder than it is now.

OP: build the fence and plant more trees

[HappydaysArehere]

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

Definitely put up the fence. If they try to stop you, make sure it is slightly your side of the boundary, so it is all on your land, and they won’t have a leg to stand on.

That is a good idea but only just inside so not giving them any excuse to complain that you are encroaching and demanding it being taken down but on the other hand make sure you are not losing much.. It should really be on the boundary line but with such awkward neighbours you don’t want them causing you any trouble.

[bigbluecup]

@Blackcat333

They cut down trees? I hate them already... Fence and some trees please, the big ferns that grow fast and tall 😂.

You'll hate them even more when I tell you that they hired someone to cut them down, and then DUMPED THEM on my lawn claiming they were mine and overhanging (100% not the case and I have countless photos as proof) so now, heavily pregnant, I'm left to deal with a pile of trees they didn't want and the company they hired refusing to deal with unless I pay for removal.

This may or may not have been the straw that broke the camels back and led to me calling someone out for a quote

[DameAlyson]

What do the deeds of your property say? Mine say fences may not be more than four feet except at the end nearest the house, where the back doors face each other. That's because the gardens are small and a six foot fence would take all the neighbour's sunlight.

Plus, some trees need to be cut down, if they're of a variety unsuitable for/have grown too big for a back garden and/or are causing damage to the property.

[bigbluecup]

@DameAlyson

What do the deeds of your property say? Mine say fences may not be more than four feet except at the end nearest the house, where the back doors face each other. That's because the gardens are small and a six foot fence would take all the neighbour's sunlight.

Plus, some trees need to be cut down, if they're of a variety unsuitable for/have grown too big for a back garden and/or are causing damage to the property.

Hmm I'll have to check as I'll admit I don't know. Neighbours to left and two houses I back onto all have 6' fences so I'm sure I'll be ok.

[00100001]

God yes 6ft fence up and the plonk a trellis on top of that!

[bez91]

Put the fence up. Bloody old timers!

We have the same issue but it's their fence which is older than me, rotting, nails poking out and about 3ft high. They think it's their Devine right to look into our garden as "their view" from their dining room. We offered to fund the damn fence and they wouldn't have it so we put up another fence on our side, they are nice enough normally but worth not speaking to them for the sake of our privacy.

[montessorinanny]

We had this. We just left wire fence there as it was a boundary fence and built 6 ft solid wooden fence on our side. We needed the fence because our dogs like to jump over or under the wire fence.

[ShinglesOuch]

Err... I'd be in the phone to the company demanding they remove the debris they have fly tipped on your land, or you start reviewing them on every social media platform you can find. Along with a bill for someone else to remove it all. Their choice!

Even if they were your bushes (which they're not!) they can't just dump them on your land, that have to offer them to you, but if you don't want them then they have to dispose of them.

It sounds like complete cowboys didn't the work, no actual reputable company would go fly tipping on a random neighbours property.

[Travis1]

Trees in their garden and fence up.

[godmum56]

@DameAlyson

What do the deeds of your property say? Mine say fences may not be more than four feet except at the end nearest the house, where the back doors face each other. That's because the gardens are small and a six foot fence would take all the neighbour's sunlight.

Plus, some trees need to be cut down, if they're of a variety unsuitable for/have grown too big for a back garden and/or are causing damage to the property.

that may be a limitation (covenant) placed by the builder and there are ways of overcoming it if you want to...they also expire. When we moved in here, the gtass and low post and rail fences had to be kept and maintained but it was only a 10 year covenant and expired.

[aggathapanthus]

Sadsiblingatsea

If you do put up a fence, please leave at least a 3 inch hole somewhere, which is enough for hedgehogs to use as a vital pathway between gardens.

Bless you.
Indeed, please take note everyone. They are struggling right now.

[skodadoda]

@ShinglesOuch

Err... I'd be in the phone to the company demanding they remove the debris they have fly tipped on your land, or you start reviewing them on every social media platform you can find. Along with a bill for someone else to remove it all. Their choice!

Even if they were your bushes (which they're not!) they can't just dump them on your land, that have to offer them to you, but if you don't want them then they have to dispose of them.

It sounds like complete cowboys didn't the work, no actual reputable company would go fly tipping on a random neighbours property.

This. If, as they claim, the trees were yours, then what right did they have to cut them down? It’s criminal damage. Tell the company that you will inform the council about fly tipping.

[bigbluecup]

@ShinglesOuch

Err... I'd be in the phone to the company demanding they remove the debris they have fly tipped on your land, or you start reviewing them on every social media platform you can find. Along with a bill for someone else to remove it all. Their choice!

Even if they were your bushes (which they're not!) they can't just dump them on your land, that have to offer them to you, but if you don't want them then they have to dispose of them.

It sounds like complete cowboys didn't the work, no actual reputable company would go fly tipping on a random neighbours property.

Thanks Shingles. They seem very reputable (or present that way anyway) and even brought a woodchipper to get rid of some other small trees they removed for neighbour at the same time, so the dumping seems entirely intentional and I wouldn't put it past my neighbours to tell them to do it because that's how petty they are. I was under the impression that overhanging branches could just be put on the owners land but I'll need to look into it.

My neighbours had a surveyor in to measure their land boundary to make sure everything was where it should be within a week of buying the house, and the day they moved in their complained to me about their previous neighbours arguing with them over a wall so none of this surprises me at all!

[DoylyCarte]

Put up the fence (with hedgehog hole) - they sound like a right joyless pair 😂

[jennytheonionslayer]

Put the fence up, but paint every panel their side a different colour so it looks like an LGBT flag 🏳️‍🌈.

Fuck em.

[PurpleWh1teGreen]

@MissM2912

I personally don’t like wooden plank fences like that. Think a bit tacky. I would put up posts and wire and shrubs.

Tacky fences. That’s got to be one for Mumsnet madness.

[bigbluecup]

@jennytheonionslayer

Put the fence up, but paint every panel their side a different colour so it looks like an LGBT flag 🏳️‍🌈.

Fuck em.

This is perfect.

[lifeinlimbo2020]

When we were looking at properties any gardens that had less than a six foot fence would've had one put in ASAP when we moved in. I'm friendly with all my neighbours and socialise with them but I want my privacy!

[Bluntness100]

Why’s this even a question, just put the fence up, why would you even consider not doing so.

[Cocolapew]

Put the fence up complete with gun turrets.
Get the company to come back and remove the trees, that's shocking.

[user1471538283]

Put up the fence. When we move I'm putting up the tallest fence I can. Their lack of sun is not your problem. It is your home and you will do as you see fit.