Neighbour issue ....

[Trisaratops]

Three years ago my neighbours back garden fence blew down (separates our gardens). 3/4 panels of 6 foot fencing ... It's her side, not mine.

I'm very house/garden proud and when I look out my window and see 3 panels gone and a broken up 4th that I've tried my hardest to manipulate into something that resembles a piece of fencing... It just makes my lovely garden look shit!

I know she's not poor, so it's not a money issue, it's a she can't see it because her shed is situated in a way that it's not in her sight line - but it's entirely in mine.

We get on fine, chat all the time, but for things like this, she's not approachable ... so I can't really say anything..

Am I being unreasonable to want the fence fixed now?

My fence blew down out the front recently when we had those really strong winds (currently our front gardens are one big garden and I hate it) and I'm having it replaced imminently with a bigger and better one... why can't she do the same?

Why not just tell her you've got someone coming to do yours, and would she like them to do hers at the same time. And if so, it'll cost X amount and you'll need it in advance.

I don't do confrontation/animosity. Nothing to do with not being an adult. She's very fiery and I don't want to piss her off. It's called wanting to remain living in a peaceful environment.

So what exactly are you suggesting the solution is, then? She isn't legally obliged to put up a fence on her boundary if she doesn't want to, regardless of how ugly it looks, and if it's been three years she clearly doesn't care about it looking crap. The two potential solutions are for you to tell her very firmly that you do care and that you would really like assurance over when it will be fixed, or for you to put up a fence that is to your liking on your side of the boundary. Neither of those solutions are acceptable to you, though, and that's on you I'm afraid.

It's her fence, if she doesnt want to or can't be bothered to fix it, there's literally nothing you can do

Lots of people work in London and earn pennies do you think there are no low paid jobs in London?

[quote Trisaratops]@Cheeserton

It's very obvious. Her clothes. Her car. Her job! You don't work in London and earn pennies.... we don't live in London so it's cheaper here! So don't be confused that she's paying London house prices .. The woman is very very comfortable! Comfortable enough to replace fence panels. Comfortable enough to be driving around in a brand new BMW series 8! [/quote]
I'm bit confused. Do you mean she works in London? But lives outside of London?

The car could be on finance. Working in London does not always mean your well paid . (Why do people think that )? She could have a lot of debt. You don't know what she needs to pay out .

Well, obviously don't do this, but what you could do if you were a confrontational trouble maker would be put up a really cheap unsightly fence that land grabs a chunk of her garden. She will either shell out for a solicitor (unlikely), or she'll take it down and put up her own in the correct place.

People go crazy over boundaries. I reckon she'd have a new fence in place in days.

Better idea would be to talk to her.

Just ask her politely if she plans to fix it in the near future. It may be one of those things she’s been meaning to organise but hasn’t got round to because other things in her life have been more important. It’s not necessarily about the money - and you are only guessing as to the state of her finances - more the hassle of getting quotes etc.

You’ve got nothing to lose by talking to her. She might decide to get it fixed. She might say she’s not going to, but you’re no worse off than at the moment and will know whether you need to make your own arrangements on your side of the boundary. Chicken wire is a good cheaper alternative to dog proof your garden on a temporary basis.

1. Ask her to fix it as it’s annoying you.
2. Don’t ask her to fix it and fix it yourself
3. Put your own fence up around your side
4. Don’t do anything about it and live with a broken fence that pisses you off

You say you don’t like confrontation, but how do you know it’ll turn into confrontation? Have you had arguments over silly things in the past?

@Trisaratops

It's HER fence - on HER property. She's told me she'll fix it ..... many times, but nope.

Talking to her like an adult - that comment is absurd since you do not know her!

I am not expecting her to fix MY fence why would I go ONTO her property and pay someone to fix something that isn't mine!????? Is that really a thing... dishing out for someone else's fence? Don't think so. It's an eyesore .... it's looks shit.... surely after 3 years she'd naturally want it fixed?

I mean, you are totally right OP but do you want the eyesore gone? Sadly the reality might be that (even though it is ridiculous) you pay for it. It's a what's right vs what you need (a new fence) and ultimately which one outweighs the other.

Could your dog escape through the front of her property or either side of her fences if you allowed it on your garden (and potentially on to hers)? If not, you could allow your dog to roam. Legally, it is as much your responsibility to keep you dog off her land as it is for her to enclose her land to trespassing dogs.

Maybe that will force her hand.

Legally, it is as much your responsibility to keep you dog off her land as it is for her to enclose her land to trespassing dogs

It's not the neighbour's responsibility at all to enclose her land to trespassers. The responsibility is all on the part of the dog owner.

You don't have to have a fence, so she is probably not bothered about it. You have the option of putting up your own fence, or asking her again to fix it, but she has no legal obligation to fix it, if she is happy as it is.