Neighbour seems to think he has the right to jump our fence

[Twatforaneighbour]

We moved in about 3 years ago and put up a fence on top of an existing low height wall (which we own) across the front of our front garden which has a footpath the other side. We got planning to do this.

One of our neighbours had an issue with this, because his adult son (early 20s) liked to walk across our front garden and hop over our wall to save him from walking around. He put in a complaint when we went for planning saying that if the fence went up, we would need to make it safe as his son would be climbing over! The council made no comment on this.

This has made it inconvenient for him as it adds 5 mins walking time to walk down the road and up the public footpath. Since the fence went up, we clarified with the neighbour (the dad) that this was our property and our fence/wall, to make 100% sure there was no misunderstanding with who owns what, which he agreed.

We have now got video from our ring doorbell of "someone" walking across our garden and jumping the fence. It is unlikely to be anyone else as we are at the end if a small road.

What would you do? Trespassing is not a criminal offence. So far we cannot for sure identify the person as it was at night and not a great image.

They obviously see no issue with doing it so speaking to them wont help, Considered anti climb spikes but have seen you can be liable if trespasser gets injured on your property.
WIBU to get spikes if I put a warning with it?
Any suggestions? If he keeps doing it, it will end in damage to the fence and probably us paying for it

[Werehamster]

It sounds like a good plan. I think whatever you get, you need plausible deniability. That it was nothing to with him and just to keep out stray cats or just to stop birds pooing on your wall. Anything like that and you won't have problems if he complains to the police. The trellis and roses sound perfect!

[notenoughhoursinaweek]

Honey and Turmeric over my walls did the trick. The kids from a neighbouring estate used my garden as a shortcut in the summer, this did the trick and within 2 weeks, no more shortcuts over my garden.

[Gooseysgirl]

That sounds like a plan! Looking forward to the CF landing in horseshit 😄

[Muchmorethan]

Roses like horse manure...

[Twatforaneighbour]

@Muchmorethan Ive ordered some roses and am going to dig a wide flower bed all along the fence line so he will get muddy and prickled! I plan to dig it quite deep so sits below the grass level. I think it will look quite nice in the summer with different colour roses.

Also going to put the trellis up as PP said it will be annoying to get over and I can then go with the criminal damage route if he still tries to jump it, without getting too annoyed if its broken (i'll get the fairly cheap stuff).

@Mirw - I was actually thinking more along the lines of the short plastic cat deterrent spikes to make it uncomfortable to pull himself up on rather than spikes he could impale himself on, he's annoying but not that annoying!

[Happyher]

I’d go with the trellis. Not expensive, little maintenance an can look really nice with a climbing (thorny) rose. It will increase the height but because it’s not solid it shouldn’t affect planning rules. All round difficult to climb

[Muchmorethan]

@Twatforaneighbour - so what have you decided to do about the situation?

[YarnSquirrel]

Berberis. Nice thorny hedge perfect for wildlife as well. Just buy one plant and take lots of cuttings and in a while you will have an hedge that no man nor animal can get through. Good for security too. Just make sure you keep it clipped back from the footpath. You could also dig up the grass along where he nips in and make sure its dug up and nice an muddy so it will get his shoes in a mess should he decide to cut through while its growing.

I had an open plan front garden and got a fence put in. No more dog turds, people wandering across the grass thinking its a public park/area and now I can grow things that wont get trampled on by goofballs! I found that the wildlife/animals tended to get used to it far quicker than some humans who seemed to think they had a god given right to trample across whenever they wanted.

[Stokie38]

How do you prove that you have been trespassing on private property for 12 years. Without admission of guilt and basically incriminating and condemning yourself. Wouldn't this be a bit of a "cutting your nose off to spite your face" situation.

[Stokie38]

Flimsy trellis is a good idea. That way it will get damaged easily and quickly, I'm pretty sure he'd get fed up of being done for criminal damage, having to pay compensation a fine and court costs. Not to mention the criminal conviction on his record. Also you could install an angled piece of fencing overhanging on your side. This would eliminate or at the very least make it extremely difficult to climb over. The goal is to make it more effort than it's worth to take the shortcut through your private property.

[Mirw]

Either you put up and shut up. Or you use anticlimb paint. Spikes should not be allowed as cats get caught on them as do people. Imagine going outside and finding a young person stabbed through the groin on your fence because of a dare! Or a line of cats hung by their collars. Anti climb paint needs 2 signs on a domestic fence - 1 at each end of the fence. And it ruins clothes only, so 1 time over the fence, the person stops unless they have far too much money.

[TheRemotePart]

@Santaischeckinglists
Is Glaswegian.

[Happyher]

@BlankTimes

If someone always walks the same route across your land unchallenged, eventually they will establish a pedestrian right of way over it.

You don't want this to happen as it could cause problems when you sell.

This takes 12 years to establish a right and can be prevented by hand delivering a letter making it clear he does not have permission to cross your property. You need to keep a copy of the letter with the date it was hand delivered. You can back this up with a signed for delivery but keep record of all contact As long as it is clear you have not conferred permission for him to access your property he can’t claim a right to cross it

[Sammyclaire22]

As others have said, anti climb paint and put the warning signs on the pedestrian side, not your own. Doesn't matter that he can't see them exiting your garden as if he tried to claim you can say he was trespassing. Anyone approaching your fence from the public side has a clear view of the warnings.
And if he does jump it and trample your plants, send the bill to the neighbours with stills of the cctv.

[Headinthecloudsfeetinthemud]

Cheeky fkr! I have similar neighbour who, as a young man, should have been taught how not to be a twat. In the first instance this young man (grown adult) needs speaking to directly and told not to climb your fence.

[Mommybean]

That's face it he isn't a child, we are talking about an adult (20) that should no better. Love the idea of the motion sensor splinkers but you, friends, family and post man will probbley get wet too. There are some really nice looking Holly bushes and thorn bushes that flower. You can order them in differant sizes, so you don't need to wait for them to grow. Of course the bigger the more money they cost but insident effect. Remember whatever you do, stay on the right side of the law (warning sign-spikes) private property sign (action will be taken if ignored) use your camera for evidence. If he does it again after putting up warning signs, then write him a letter, with a photo of him jumping your fence and say this has to stop or legal action will be taken. Then if he does it again then you will have to fellow through on your threat. It gives him a chance to stop and understand you mean business. Hope you get the problem sorted out.

[IntermittentParps]

@Mostlylurkingiam

Why did you put up the fence? People are so weird about not letting anyone else walk across a bit of front garden, does it really matter?!

She says 'We also did it because you could see everyone walking back and forth the other side of the wall, looking directly into our lounge. Its much less exposed now'

Maybe you didn't read or comprehend that bit.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Why did you put up the fence? People are so weird about not letting anyone else walk across a bit of front garden, does it really matter?!

When I did it it was because I didn't want lazy sods churning up my lawn and trampling mud down the path.

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

@Mostlylurkingiam

Why did you put up the fence? People are so weird about not letting anyone else walk across a bit of front garden, does it really matter?!

No, some people are weird about being lazy fuckers who think they have a right to cut across someone else's property to save them a few minutes.

OP has said she wants flowers and this twat will trample them.

Regardless - it's her garden and she can do what she likes with it. It's not weird to want privacy and not want strangers walking across your garden.

[ColdCottage]

How about hanging baskets along the top of the fence

[Twatforaneighbour]

@lightisnotwhite

I wish the Op answered how they get onto the footpath.

Sorry I missed this earlier, the footpath tarmac ends and theres a clear line of "kerb" and a different height so you can see it finishes. The neighbours fence kind of sticks out so its very clear it ends there.

[Eeyoresideyestigger]

@lightisnotwhite

I wish the Op answered how they get onto the footpath.

They did
Just RTFT

[brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr]

Put a gate in so he can nip through with dignity

[lightisnotwhite]

I wish the Op answered how they get onto the footpath.

[dontwannasaymyjob]

I wish PPs would RTFH before commenting
It's very annoying when it has all answered yonks ago and more thoroughly - so much idiocy since

So no @Mostlylurkingiam
Way off FGS please RTFT

And kindly meant/ but no @ginexplorer - the council has no place here in commenting even if you think they ought

Op can plant spikey trailer plants which is what police advise ppl do. And it all has been answered so much better earlier on if PPs actually RTFT!!!

Sheesh

I'm sure OP will RTFT!