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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence

90 replies

krj2688 · 20/07/2021 22:06

Hi all

Next door neighbour has had a wall built in their garden. Our property sits around 2ft higher than theirs.

We don't really get along with the neighbour due to when our fence was fitted, she was demanding the company moved the boundary lin me by a foot 🙄

We have a fairly new wooden fence with concrete posts and concrete gravel boards.

They have built their wall so high, it's been cemented to our concrete posts, gravel boards and wooden fence panels. We will Not be able to remove these. Rain and water will now be sat on our fence panels rather than the concrete gravel boards. We paid extra for the concrete gravel boards to prevent this.

Does anyone know where we stand?

I'm quite pregnant and just cannot face her at the moment as she's quite rude

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
DynamoKev · 20/07/2021 22:19

No idea where you stand legally but it’s quite hard to picture what you mean.

worriedatthemoment · 20/07/2021 22:24

Yes struggling to picture how they have built a wall attached to your fence as wel? And also why

Original poster
krj2688 · 20/07/2021 22:28

Not sure if that's clearer😬

Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 20/07/2021 22:29

Are you sure? High walls need foundations, what you’re saying sounds unlikely.

Original poster
krj2688 · 20/07/2021 22:29

The dark bit in between is the cement 😂

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 20/07/2021 22:30

That doesn’t sound right op? That’s not how walls are built.

Original poster
krj2688 · 20/07/2021 22:31

I'm pretty sure! It's a double layer wall around 4.5ft high. They have also built a 6.5ft concrete shed at the other end using breeze blocks with no foundations.

OP posts:
MrsTulipTattsyrup · 20/07/2021 22:31

A fence can’t support a wall. The wall would fall down.

percheron67 · 20/07/2021 22:32

Quite pregnant - I think you are pregnant or not pregnant. Bit like being a bit dead.

Newchances · 20/07/2021 22:33

I don't understand either 😕 if the wall wasn't attached to your fence but also in that position would water not still gather ?

Original poster
krj2688 · 20/07/2021 22:34

About 2ft is below the level of our property as we are higher up and 2.5ft is above which is attached to our concrete gravel board and fence panels. Will try and get a photo tomorrow. 🙄

OP posts:
parietal · 20/07/2021 22:37

I can understand your picture. It looks like the wall supports the fence more than vice versa.

if the top of the wall is done properly so water drains off it, then I don't see why the new wall would make your fence get wetter than before.

if you ever wanted to take your fence down, it would end up as a mess. but otherwise I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Original poster
krj2688 · 20/07/2021 22:37

@Newchances no because our fence/property is 2ft higher up that their patio/garden

OP posts:
HandlebarLadyTash · 20/07/2021 22:38

Is it a lift out fence panel?
Can you see the cement squeesing through the wooden slats?
If its not lift out you should be able to unscrew the concrete gravel board.
Confirm its attached
Once confirmed either request in writing or in person that they detach without damaging the fence that you paid for.

Original poster
krj2688 · 20/07/2021 22:42

@HandlebarLadyTash

Thank you! That's a helpful comment!

Will give that a go tomorrow.

The fence was put up about a year ago which doesn't need supporting. The wall was erected this weekend.

They have put a top on the wall which means water cannot run out. It's will sit on the wooden fence and rot.

OP posts:
Butterfly44 · 20/07/2021 22:49

Tbh if they've built it on their side of the boundary and it's less than 6ft tall then there isn't much you can do about it

NumberTheory · 20/07/2021 23:18

You might be better posting in legal or on the gardenlaw website. AIBU is a poor place for knowledgable responses about legal responsibility.

My (also untrained!) opinion would be that they are not entitled to attach the wall to your fence in any manner without your agreement or some sort of covenant or the like granting them that right. Also, if they are causing water to sit against your fence, they may be liable for the damage that causes to your fence. However, enforcing your rights can be difficult, time consuming and more trouble than it's worth (on the other hand, letting people walk all over you can also be costly).

As well as asking strangers on the Internet check your insurance/union membership/etc. to see if you have access to a legal helpline or something that may be able to give you a more qualified opinion of what steps you can take.

memberofthewedding · 20/07/2021 23:23

Good advice above. If you paid for the fence NDN is not allowed to attach anything to it or even to paint it without your permission.

gardeninggirl68 · 20/07/2021 23:24

a structure over 6 feet with no foundations? that cant be right

Unsure33 · 20/07/2021 23:29

If that wall has no foundations it could be dangerous ? Especially if children playing near by ?

Postdatedpandemic · 20/07/2021 23:29

Without some sort of wall there, your garden will slowly slide into their garden. There must have been some sort of retaining wall there previously.

Houseplantmad · 20/07/2021 23:44

Similar thing happened to two friends who both live either side of a CF neighbour. One took the nicey nicey approach. Nothing changed and they’re now left with a damaged fence. Other one went straight around and told the CF (in more graphic terms) that she had 24 hours to get the wall removed. CfF removed wall and that friend’s fence is fine.

OnTheBoardwalk · 20/07/2021 23:49

Check if you’ve got legal advice with your home insurance and give them a call straight away. This sounds very dodgy

Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 06:43

@gardeninggirl68

The shed/building was made with a concrete base above ground and the built a single breeze block wall around it around 6-6.5ft, it's tall enough for a normal door. They Then rendered the outside. My husband said over the winter it will crack and he was worried about it collapsing. It has double glazed Windows. I would take a photo but that would be outing.

Thank you all for the advice. Apologies if it wasn't particularly clear, it was late last night when I posted, tired brain!

Those asking about the foundations behind the wall it's a complete concrete block, with metal support structures. It might not have looked nice which is why they built the wall, it's their garden, their legal right to do, but they didn't need to build it so high or cement it to our fence and gravel boards 😕

I will be seeking legal advice this morning. Im sure my home insurance covers it. I'm not sure there is any point talking to her as she won't remove it, she can be quite a difficult neighbour, no one along the road speaks to her.
My husband has just said the cement has been angled down toward out fence too. So wouldn't be surprised if it's done to be spiteful from when the fence was fitted originally (we did move the boundary line as much as we could to try and keep the peace, we were told by the council we didn't have to as it was on the boundary line originally)

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 21/07/2021 07:19

@percheron67

Quite pregnant - I think you are pregnant or not pregnant. Bit like being a bit dead.
Grin That was my first thought too!