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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can't afford to fix fence

113 replies

mommaneedssleep · 22/03/2022 19:50

Been going through a tough time financially recently (like many people!). Our electricity bill has more than doubled, nursery and school club have both put their prices up. Basically we are being stretched further than we can manage. We've been trying to cut down where we can and have done some drastic measures to bring bills down such as getting rid of one car ect.
Our fence broke in the bad storms we had in February, we live in a long line of Victorian terraced houses and the fence that has broken is our responsibility. With everything else currently going on we just can't afford to get it iced. It requires 2 new fence panels and 3 of the posts. Neighbour has come round tonight asking when we are getting it fixed. I explained that at the moment we aren't able to but will try to do it over the summer. They said that as the weather is getting nicer they now need to paint their side and get their trellises planted ect so need it doing asap.
I understand that it must be annoying for them, but I really can't afford to do it at the moment. To be clear there is no gap or fallen fences ect, the fence is still standing but is just bowed (if that's the right word??) to one side.

OP posts:
mommaneedssleep · 22/03/2022 19:52

Fixed not iced!

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 22/03/2022 19:52

Will your home insurance not cover storm damage?

alexdgr8 · 22/03/2022 19:53

too bad.
they'll have to wait.

TheFlis12345 · 22/03/2022 19:53

Unless there is a specific covenant you are not obligated to have a fence at all! And if you have one they have no legal right to paint it or attach trellis or anything else to it. If they are so bothered about it they can put a new fence up their side of the boundary.

Tothemoonandbackx · 22/03/2022 19:53

To out it politely, tell them to f**k off. You don't HAVE to put a fence up on your side, if they wanted to put a fence up, they can do it along their border and if you did put a fence up, they have no right to paint it anyway.

Prettynails · 22/03/2022 19:54

@TheFlis12345

Unless there is a specific covenant you are not obligated to have a fence at all! And if you have one they have no legal right to paint it or attach trellis or anything else to it. If they are so bothered about it they can put a new fence up their side of the boundary.
This
Whitefire · 22/03/2022 19:54

They are being cheeky in wanting to paint in and fix a trellis to it so no don't replace if you can't afford it. I don't think you even need to have a fence, it is just something that is common practice.

alexdgr8 · 22/03/2022 19:54

or loan you the money to do it sooner.
how would they react to that suggestion.
don't be bullied.
just sound vaguely regretful.

HalloVegBot · 22/03/2022 19:56

There was a thread on the other side of this debate earlier. Most people thought she was bonkers for demanding that her neighbour fix the fence... YANBU if you can't afford it, you can't afford it!

mommaneedssleep · 22/03/2022 19:59

Thanks for the comments. Been feeling really stressed about it as I thought I had to replace it. Obviously we do want it fixed but it just comes very far down on our list of priorities at the moment!
Have checked with insurance and they don't cover it unfortunately

OP posts:
Movingonup22 · 22/03/2022 19:59

Should be covered by your home insurance??

GabriellaMontez · 22/03/2022 20:00

Are they suggesting you share the cost?

Ignore them, you're under no obligation to fix it.

cansu · 22/03/2022 20:00

Tell them openly that you can't afford it. You will do it when you can. If it is very important to them, they are welcome to replace it at their own expense or they wait until when you can. Do not give them a date and be clear it is a low priority.

Grapewrath · 22/03/2022 20:02

Take no notice. Tell them firmly you will fixit when you can. You have no obligation to do so and why should you put yourself in difficultly for their trellis ffs.

Leftbutcameback · 22/03/2022 20:03

Insurance basically never covers fences. Which is annoying. Around our way after the storms there is no fencing available and everyone is booked up for ages so you wouldn't be able to do it even if you could afford it. We're in a very similar situation but it's a joint fence.

Whitefire · 22/03/2022 20:03

Fencing is fairly difficult to get hold of at the moment, it was difficult enough prior to the storms.

carefullycourageous · 22/03/2022 20:05

You need to clarify who owns the fence and who is responsible for paying for the repairs - if it is your fence, you can usually do as you wish and as stated above the neighbour should not attach their trellis to the fence.

Do not be a doormat!

mommaneedssleep · 22/03/2022 20:06

@GabriellaMontez

Are they suggesting you share the cost?

Ignore them, you're under no obligation to fix it.

I did originally suggest we get a quote and jointly fix it as I wasn't sure whose responsibility it was and that is what we did with the neighbours on the other side when it broke last year. With that one there was never any debate about who paid we both just agreed to share it as we both use the fence. However when I suggested this her DH instantly came round with a copy of the deeds stating that they didn't need to pay anything as it clearly shows that fence is our responsibility so they weren't willing to pay anything. Which is fair enough but it's put my back up a bit that now they are demanding it is done so they can use it
OP posts:
Whitefire · 22/03/2022 20:07

It took us about 8 weeks to get a fencer - I think he squeezed us in in the end as it was a relatively small job, as originally he said 12 weeks. I got it sorted after storm 1, will have been longer I guess for those after the next one's.

Blimecory · 22/03/2022 20:08

If it’s your fence, not only can they not attach trellis or anything to it, they can’t paint it either - because it’s yours.

Vallmo47 · 22/03/2022 20:10

We had a similar issue recently OP and I completely understand. In our case, our next door neighbour insisted he wanted to go half with us on cost (which is kind as it’s legally our side that we own). I took his word for it, he got a quote for £1800 (feather panels, the whole shebang). We couldn’t afford it and explained as much. He’s now in a right huff with us because we HAD to go for a cheaper option and refused to pay towards it. Fine as our fence, but he can’t get shitty with us for money that we didn’t have.
When money isn’t there, what on earth can you do.

Good luck, I feel your pain. Ours had completely come down though so we had to do something quickly. Glad that’s not the case for you.

GabriellaMontez · 22/03/2022 20:12

clearly shows that fence is our responsibility so they weren't willing to pay anything.

Then it isn't theirs to paint or attach things to!

OK. So they're CF. As a pp said you'll have to be very firm. Don't give a date. Don't apologise.

Grapewrath · 22/03/2022 20:12

Honestly tell them to jog on, you aren’t responsible for their garden projects.

Firawla · 22/03/2022 20:12

It’s your fence, so you can decide whenever to sort it out. The husband coming round with the deeds to show they won’t be paying, yet demanding you sort it out asap would get my back up so I would purposely leave it longer.
I had similar with one of my neighbours, it is ridiculous - people can’t demand of you to spend your money just for their own whims. They either leave it and let you sort it on your own time and own way or they volunteer to pay it themselves if they are that bothered

IncompleteSenten · 22/03/2022 20:13

Stay firm.
I cannot afford it. I will be doing it if and when I can but my children have this nasty habit of needing food and they are a bit more important than a fence.

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