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?

I have a tiny garden in a terrace which came with wire fences. Ones by the house were 6ft panels so you could sort sit in privacy.
Over the years we’ve replaced the fences on one side then another. The 5ft fences were fine but our neighbours put in 6ft ones and yes they really did cast massive shadows. We’ve since gone down a foot and it’s much better for the garden.
So yes I’d say get a fence but be kind if you can. Put in concrete posts so you can just slide panels in and out if they are too low or high in the end.

If they are lacking light, they could do a daily walk or take vitamin D supplements 😁

100% that you should put up a fence. It’s your side and you can put up whatever fence you like. Say it’s for the dog (or don’t, as you don’t need to explain why to anyone).

I'm struggling to see how a 6ft fence will plunge their garden into darkness.
Get that fence up! 👍🏼

Yes get a nice fence, the neighbours are just being officious and petty.It will probably make their side look better anyway.

Do it. We've just gotten privacy in our back garden after 15 years and it's wonderful!

Put the fence up. There’s no way in hell I’d have a wire fence in my garden. It’s none of their business. The sun is up in thevsj]my so I’ve no idea how it’s going to block their light!

Robert Frost wrote the line "good fences make good neighbours" - but it came from a mean spirited old geezer in one of his poems. Not from Frost himself, who wasn't endorsing it.

That said, it's reasonable to build the fence, the lowest one you'll be happy with. Not an 8 footer to make some sort of point. 6 foot or less should be more than enough. Depends partly on the width of the garden - if it's only 14 feet wide a 6 foot fence will shade a lot of it in winter. You could have a taller part closer to the house and reduce the height further back.

Fuck em. Put up the damn fence!

Absolutely, it's your garden, you're not breaking the law, they're horrible and you'll be able to relax when you've some privacy.

Don't let them bully you. It's just a fence like most people have for basic privacy. You will feel a million times happier once it's up.

You definitely need that 6 ft fence

Please put the fence up ASAP Op - they sound horrible. I'd also dump the trees back into their garden (if you can manage that!). They really are bullies.

We have covenant saying fences should be 4ft max and open trellis to ‘encourage neighbourly feeling’ or some such bollox. Try keeping a dog inside that. Plenty of people have ignored and whacked up 6ft solid fences. But I am sympathetic to local campaign for route through fences for hedgehogs.

Put up the fence, definitely.

You need privacy and it's allowed. Do it.

Fence up , six foot !! ASAP

What are you waiting for?
Put the fence up quick!

Your updates make me want to go put the fence up for you!

The people who live across the road from us had the nerve to complain when we planted a hedge on our boundary wall , they told us that we were ruining their view 🤣🤣🤣
So not arsed!

If you like them, put up a four foot fence with a two foot lattice top. If you don't, six foot is fine.

You said they put all the cuttings in your garden because they were YOUR trees? In that case point out to them they had no right to cut them down if they were yours.

i wouldnt even be considering it , id have booked for the fence to go up , they sound like a right pair of tossers and i expect part of the reason they cut down the poor hedge and trees was less to do with sunlight and more to do with nosing away at you out in your garden ,

Please update us when the fences go in op