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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
21Bee · 21/07/2021 07:28

The RICS will provide you with thirty minutes free advice from a qualified surveyor with experience in boundary disputes. You can call their contact centre and ask for a referral 44 (0)24 7686 8555

Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 07:29

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles haha sorry for being unclear. I'm pregnant, quite far along

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 21/07/2021 07:31

The thing people are trying to say is op, that to build a wall you need quite deep foundations, which are then generally filled aith concrete. This base is what the wall is then built on, and effectively the wall, or the first line of bricks is mortared to that base, making the wall completely stable and safe.

As such, it’s difficult to understand how they would build a tall wall without doing this snd then cement it to a fence.

Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 07:31

@21Bee thank you, this is really useful. I will give them a call today

OP posts:
Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 07:41

@Bluntness100

Yes I understand foundations... they haven't put foundations in. It's built on top of a concrete base there is no where to dig foundations. It's a retaining wall as their grass is on a higher level than the patio. If it collapses it shouldn't affect us. Our home is on a incline, higher up.

Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
OP posts:
Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 07:52

I quickly held the phone over the fence

Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
OP posts:
LIZS · 21/07/2021 07:54

Have they not just built up to cover your gravel board?

CastleCrasher · 21/07/2021 07:56

You say you moved the boundary (presumably further in to your property) when you put your fence up- if the wall is touching the fence, does that not mean it's on your land?

picklemewalnuts · 21/07/2021 07:57

There should never be any need to cement in that gap. That is indeed wet rot waiting to happen.
See if you can get your fence panel out, give it a good waggle. I can't imagine cement gripping wood that well.

Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 08:00

Better pictures , hubby is taller. They have actually put In a flower bed which is against our fence

Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
OP posts:
LIZS · 21/07/2021 08:04

Second pic seems to show a gap between wall/flower bed and fence. I doubt the cement is attached to it and any overhanging may break off.

Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 08:05

My husband has just tried, he cannot lift them out the cement comes up to about 2 Slates. The third panel is covered in soil

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 21/07/2021 08:06

The previous owners of our house had a wall with flower bed (but not near the boundary) built on top of the patio with no foundations. It was falling down due to no foundations but had been there some years. But yourneighbours is taller.

We rebuilt it with foundations.

picklemewalnuts · 21/07/2021 08:12

I don't think the flower beds are an issue- it looks as though there is a wooden spacer there which should allow air to the fence. We did similar, a raised bed against the fence but with a good gap behind.

The wall though, yes that's a problem.

I'd suggest a letter informing them that it is an issue as it has damaged the fence and that it will get worse in the future, and ask them to resolve it so you can avoid legal action.

Orcadianrythyms · 21/07/2021 08:17

I was with you until I saw the pictures. They're allowed to make their garden now they want - you don't get to dictate that nothing touches your fence. Were you expecting an exclusion zoneConfused. If you'd put that up on my boundary - I'd have planted a climber asap to break it up visually, which arguably does more damage to those cheap fences. I do think you are being unreasonable but it's hot and you're pregnant. I never understand people who want to have their own way about things like boundary treatments but don't think others deserve the same rights.

yellowsubmarines · 21/07/2021 08:18

If you moved your fence away from the boundary OP then that means the neighbour has built over the boundary? I'm just thinking every time the flowers are watered your fence will be soaked.
Why did they build the raised bit against your fence (rather than keep the entire floor the same level up to the flower beds)? Is that for sitting or standing on or for pots to be shoved against your fence and watered?
If you were already in contact with the local council regarding your fence then I would phone them back and tell them what neighbour has done. Doing something to your fence that prevents you getting the panels in and out is damage I would think? I'm not sure they'll do anything about it but maybe they can give you some advice and hopefully investigate neighbour's dodgy building.

yellowsubmarines · 21/07/2021 08:22

I never understand people who want to have their own way about things like boundary treatments but don't think others deserve the same rights.

The neighbour complained she didn't want the OP's fence built right up to the boundary. The OP tried to make peace by moving her fence away from the boundary and then the neighbour built over the boundary and right up to the OP's fence (which is what the neighbour had asked the OP not to do). How is the OP wanting her own way? Surely the neighbour should build inside her boundary like she asked the OP to do.

Orcadianrythyms · 21/07/2021 08:23

It's not a tall wall looking at the brick courses it's only about a foot - a concrete base is enough for an ornamental wall!

Outbutnotoutout · 21/07/2021 08:27

So you built your fence in a foot from the boundary line and she has buffered up to your fence.

So she has placed the wall on your land, tell her to move it or you will take legal action.

Orcadianrythyms · 21/07/2021 08:30

Come on @yellowsubmarines - if the OP moved it off the boundary it must have been by 1or 2 inches at the most. The picture shows the neighbours house wall adjacent to the new wall and fence.

Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 08:32

The fence was replacing an old fence already there and had been for 30 years!

The panels were moved into our boundary but a few inches so technically they have built the wall in our boundary. That's not my complaint. I don't care that they have built a wall I would have done the same. The problem is the height. The soil is touching our fence. Every time they water it, it will be soaked. The bit you can see is our fence post not something behind the flower bed.

We could have moved the fence further away from the boundary line, however they would have had huge holes in the concrete. We have a wall our side which we have built away from the fence.

Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
OP posts:
CiderJolly · 21/07/2021 08:38

They’ve built a retaining wall really haven’t they to account for your land being higher.

Before you built the fence- what was holding the land back?

Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 08:38

I have marked where the cement actually sits in the fence. The fence is bulging outwards.

Neighbour has attached a wall to my fence
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Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 08:39

@CiderJolly another fence

OP posts:
Original poster
krj2688 · 21/07/2021 08:41

@CiderJolly it's a concrete base with metal structure supports. I'm not complaining that they have built a wall. It around 4ft high but could have easily been 3ft as to not damage the fence. They have built it even higher with the flower bed. It's also higher along our fence line than along the grass of their garden

OP posts: