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?

They don't want a new fence? That's unfortunate. Would it stop me? Hell, no!

I'd definitely put up the fence. I would say if they were nice/reasonable etc to consider a trellis top or keeping it lower, but if they aren't then just do what you need to.

We have a 3 foot fence between our gardens on the left and the sun moves round our right side. Our neighbours garden is about 1-2 foot below ours. A 6ft fence would put at least half our neighbours garden into shade most of the year so we haven't although we have no privacy. Recently though a new neighbour moved in and has requested one which is a relief.

I wouldn’t blame the dog, I’d tel them it was the debacle over the tree trimmings. No question who owns what on each side of a 6ft solid fence.

Might make them think twice about being clever tits in the future.

Also, glad you’re opting for a hedgehog gap 🦔 💖

Get that fence up asap

6 foot fence, all the way. We had a 3ft chainlink thing when we moved in a put a 6ft solid fence up ASAP ‘for the dogs’.

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

Same, look at checkatrade etc, see of the council is interested, social media, I’d be all over it! What a bloody cheek! How did the neighbours persuade the company to fly tip your garden?!

You could put a solid fence to about 4' and make the last 2' of the 6' trellis. Lets more light through, but makes seeing through difficult unless you're very close. And then grow plants up it, which will make the trellis a bit more blocking. It would look nicer than a 6' solid panel.

Could you put a shorter fence up and a little trellis on top. Light will go through. I'm talking five foot plus one foot trellis

@MrsKoala

I'd definitely put up the fence. I would say if they were nice/reasonable etc to consider a trellis top or keeping it lower, but if they aren't then just do what you need to.

We have a 3 foot fence between our gardens on the left and the sun moves round our right side. Our neighbours garden is about 1-2 foot below ours. A 6ft fence would put at least half our neighbours garden into shade most of the year so we haven't although we have no privacy. Recently though a new neighbour moved in and has requested one which is a relief.

We sacrificed privacy here and took out a hedge after we moved in partly because we felt it was antisocial to have a horrible, thick 10'+ hedge that blocked out the light from our neighbour's much shorter and lower garden, and their house too (It didn't affect us nearly as much as our garden is longer). We tentatively went round and talked to them about it before we had the hedge out to see how they felt, and they were totally delighted. (Their next door neighbour, not actually alongside us, also benefitted due to the angle of the light, and they told us they were very pleased too, the back of their house actually had light coming in for the first time in years!). Our poor neighbour had even had to put down astroturf because their lawn got so little light grass wouldn't grow there. Thanks to the hege coming down, during the lockdown they were able to really enjoy being out in their garden.

By all means, put up the fence. I guarantee you that if your dog were to jump the fence and destroy anything in their garden, they would be after you for the full cost of repairs...and probably get it.

^ Is 'put up the fence!' the new 'cancel the cheque!'? ^

Love this!!!

We had the offering of clippings debate with an elderly and vulnerable family member when a neighbour of his wrote a particularly horrid letter and threatened to dump everything in his garden. We countered checking the local council’s information and as I remember, they do have to offer cut down stuff to you if it overhangs, but you do not have to accept it. I may be wrong as it was a while ago.

In this case the oh so lovely neighbour followed up with a letter concerned about pine needles from the elderly family member’s trees causing debris on his patio. They lived in a particularly leafy area. The neighbour’s house being surrounded on all sides by well established trees. It’s a particularly brand of crazy 😜

@TheFlis12345

So either the company illegally cut down your trees without your permission so need to replace them like for like, or they cut down your neighbours trees and dumped them on your land so need to remove them. I would be putting that to them and asking them to pick!

Absolutely this!!

Get that fence up!!

YANBU Put the fence up - end off

I would put the fence up. Tell them, it's because you are worried that your dog might escape. That's why you have gone for the 6ft. If they ask, why you didn't do it, before, you can tell them, that the trees and bushes they removed stop your dog.
So basically, it's there fault, you have to put the Fence up. 😉

I may be bucking the trend here, but put a fence up!

They sound a bit nuts...msybe nothing to do all day except twitch their curtains & check their boundaries...
I'd be tempted to do as another poster said earlier ...
'If it were me I'd get the side of fence facing them electrified (just joking)'...

🤣

@Imnotcrazyjustdrunk

I'd leave the wire fence up and put up the 6' fence on your side

That's what I did years ago when I had nasty neighbours. It was a crap 4 foot chain link and I put up a 6 foot close board on my side and left the chain link in situ. It was a loud message to the CF's who I lived next door. It created other problems but that's a long story and then I moved.

[quote NeedNewKnees]If you get a fence with concrete gravel boards, there are now lots of companies that build a hedgehog gap into them. Failing that, you can cut a hole in the wood fence and use bricks to make a staircase up to it on either side.

www.stockportfencing.co.uk/product/6-x-1-concrete-hedgehog-base-panel-gravel-board/[/quote]
Or you just scoop a small hole into the ground underneath the fence for a cost of nowt!

Yes yes yes put up the fence!! We have just changed our half fence / half trellis with full 6ft fences and it’s the best decision we have made. It’s your garden and you should enjoy your own space in private!

What is it with folks and fences! I have replaced a rotten damaged fence alongside an access road and non adjoining neighbour complained about my new fence despite it being exactly same type as theirs. Adjoining neighbours wouldn't let me replace the rotten hole ridden different height fencing between us despite being willing to cover cost. So I've put up screening panels and planted climbing plants and shrubs. I needed my garden to be pet escape proof so now they have to look at 6' High screens which will be at varying heights due to their fence. It's within my boundary so not much they can do. As for other side I just ignore them as there is a "road" between us and I don't care if they don't like that I now have a tidy higher fence. Put up your fence and make sure they know that they are not allowed to paint it, attach anything to it or hang anything from it. In fact the idea about painting it a colour they will hate seems a brilliant idea (both sides) 😂

6 ft fence won't make their garden dark. Silly old duffers

As Robert Frost said: Good fences make good neighbours. Do it.

A six foot fence does cast a considerable shadow. People who rubbish the suggestion that it affects the light clearly have no idea. My garden is enclosed by a six foot fence which I put up and in the mornings the east fence casts a huge but gradually diminishing shadow and in the evening the west fence casts an ever increasing shadow over the whole garden.
Nevertheless I prefer the privacy.

Oh heck yeah get that fence up.

@openallflowers

6 ft fence won't make their garden dark. Silly old duffers

That's a disgusting post