Can't afford to fix fence

[mommaneedssleep]

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.

@Cakesnbiscuit

I’m petty, even when you have the money I wouldn’t fix it. I would wait a few more months just to annoy them. Technically you didn’t state which summer? And tradesman are hard to come by.

And cost of wood is through the roof too so it’s going to take a while for that cost to come down as well

OP, fencers are extremely busy at the moment.

We can't get ours fixed until July!

I had a similar issue with my Victorian terrace. I had a fence up half way along the garden at the front because I had nasty neighbours and it gave me privacy as they hurled abuse at me. (They were alcoholics)

When they left I didn’t take the half fence down. Then a new neighbour moved in and asked me to repair my fence as it was “missing” the end panel and their dog could escape.

I said that the fence was only ever two sections long and if they wanted to keep their dog in to build a fence. They told me it was my responsibility.

So I took the fence down completely. They soon put up a fence!!! Problem solved.

@ASaucerfulOfSecrets

I remember a tale on a neighbourhood forum of a man who had twats for neighbours. He installed a lovely new fence at considerable expense and the following day the neighbour came out and painted ‘his side’ of it with a fence stain that then leeched through into fence owners side looking extremely unsightly.

‘‘Twas a glorious moment when fence owner lifted and rotated every panel so that newly stained side faced him.

So should you replace the fence I’d advise to wait until the NDN has painted it and turn the bugger round 😂

That is brilliant 🤩

Write them a letter (and keep a copy) stating that you can't afford it at the moment AND that when you do install one you do not give permission for either painting or anything to be attached to it.

You will however be happy for them to erect a fence, that they own, should they wish to do this.

my neighbours fence went over at least over a year ago and what with a huge loss to her family plus lack of money i assume the panel is still missing , shes put up a metal gate thing in place of it , but it doesnt bother me in the slightest , i mean it would be nice if she replaced it , but iv got used to it not being there

id just ignore it and next time he comes around knocking asking when its getting done , just briskly reply sorry we just dont have the money . it will get done when we can afford it , if he wants to get all shirty then just point out to him the facts that have already been laid out in all these replys , if they are that desperate they will have to pay themselves

If the fence isn't required, I would just remove that part completely until you can afford to fix it.

They complain to you. Just say you've decided not to replace it.

Problem solved.

@ASaucerfulOfSecrets

I remember a tale on a neighbourhood forum of a man who had twats for neighbours. He installed a lovely new fence at considerable expense and the following day the neighbour came out and painted ‘his side’ of it with a fence stain that then leeched through into fence owners side looking extremely unsightly.

‘‘Twas a glorious moment when fence owner lifted and rotated every panel so that newly stained side faced him.

So should you replace the fence I’d advise to wait until the NDN has painted it and turn the bugger round 😂

@ASaucerfulOfSecrets

This is brilliant!

@Whitefire

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.

This. We had our fence finally mended yesterday. It’s taken 3 months for the contractors due to weather, materials etc and his work backlog due to previous weather and material availability

Plus the cost was frightening…he showed us on our outer how the cost per panel (concrete posts and wall boards) has gone up 50% in last 12 months

Tell your neighbours that unless it is actually down that you are not paying the stupid prices just now and you can’t just get someone to come round

Can you/they insert some sort of posts on relevant side to stop it bowing?

Others are right. Unless there’s something in the covenants attached to the property you don’t have to replace it at all. You can also refuse to allow them to paint it etc.
The only thing I would add- is you don’t have to have it fixed provided it’s isn’t dangerous- do if there are some collapsed or overhanging panels you might want to remove them entirely.

Personally, I’d remove it completely, sit tight and hope they knuckle under a pay. If they do- the new fence needs to be on their side- not the boundary line.

Are the posts intact, and is it just the lapped panels. You can easily get lap panels in Wickes for not much money and as long as you have another helper and can gain access to their garden (if it's a tricky access point) you can easily slot in (well 'easily' is moot, it can be a bugger) but is well inside the capabilities of most people and doesn't need specialist tools. If it is the posts, you can dig around the base and mix sand and cement or use Postfix products (google them to see which one). If there are holes anywhere you could even attach some feather edge board as a temporary fix.

www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Dip-Treated-Overlap-Fence-Panel---6-x-6ft/p/540053?gclid=CjwKCAjwiuuRBhBvEiwAFXKaNO2f9bNudfDRT1ISAyhpQejDVrPjx-sg7lfqE_ZF63hjSaO26gfEQxoCjSYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.toolstation.com/drive-in-repair-spike/p80996?store=JQ&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=_dc&pcrid=560261087208&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=CjwKCAjwiuuRBhBvEiwAFXKaNOxBb01OndAG9V0_H6bbckyCmijNhapZi6VqilZawKrmaOf0uXlHlRoC-SoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@TiddleTaddleTat

If you do end up budgeting to do this yourself I’ve found wickes best for this and will deliver. Still not cheap (ours is £500 for 5 panels, 6 posts, gravel boards and postcrete inc delivery) but much cheaper than getting fencers in.

Bloody hell, we just had 10 panels , concrete posts and concrete gravel posts replaced. Cost was double that. Including labour at a full day 2 blokes. I thought that was really high price due to stupid material prices. It was clearly a bargin 🤣🤣🥳 We got local timber guys to do that make their own panels so maybe that’s why…

I would use the painting and trellis as leverage.

Be naive and innocent, say whilst you're fence actually don't need to put one up and Also it's criminal damage to paint it etc.
However you will let them paint it and put trellis up if they can wait polity or free to chip in

If you leave it until you can afford it you never know, they might get so pissed off in the meantime that they replace it!

yes, I have done fences myself and I've found Wickes the best price (the local timber yards are weirdly much more expensive) for the lapped panels whereas Toolstation is the cheapest for post fixings.

Seriously, a mallet and a post driver and a ladder and decent spade and pickaxe should do the job

@FangsForTheMemory

I would tell them you're actually planning to plant a hedge as it's better for the environment and that if they specifically want a fence, they can put it in themselves.

This!

I'd remove the panels just to thwart them.

Tell her it is still providing an effective barrier and you will replace once you have the funds. If it’s not to their suiting, they are welcome to pay for a replacement themselves.

They have very foolishly shot themselves in the foot with the painting and trellis thing.

I would write back, thanking them for clarifying ownership of the fence with the deeds. You will replace the fence panels at some point but as this is your fence you expressly do not give them permission to paint it or attach anything to it. Should they want a fence which they can paint and attach trellis to, you suggest that they erect their own on their side of the boundary.

I think it's nice to plan all these scenarios of revenge and tit for tat... we all do it.

However, given that you have to live next door to these people and potentially declare disputes if you move, I would steer clear of deliberately trying to piss them off.

I would nod and smile and explain that money is tight and there is a shortage of workmen available; do they have any suggestions as you are conscious that the boundary looks unsightly? Perhaps they have a workman friend or know someone who is handy?

However, I would recommend getting the best fence you can possibly afford. We used to have shitty cheap fences that came down at every minor gale. We invested in some concrete implanted motherfuckers at ££stupid but they've survived 6 years of gales and storms so far so it's been a long term financial win.

@saleorbouy

I'd be weary of neighbours putting up another fence on their own land as some have recommended. Moving the boundary line can cause havoc when selling a property especially if the deeds are not amended and the fence is not erected on the original boundary division. As a scenario, moaning neighbour erects fence on their property and puts up trellis but it is not legally recorded. OP removes their fences as it dilapidates. Over the years the boundary between the properties naturally moves to the new fence erected and owned by the neighbour. OP wants to sell but boundary line is not correct on the drawings, they also state that OP legally owns fence, not the neighbour. House sale flounders as boundary, land and ownership are not clearly defined. Solicitors make lots of money as boundary and fence ownership are contested. Please ensure any boundary and fence, wall hedge ownership are correctly recorded.

Realistically most title deeds don’t show boundaries down to the millimetre, or even down to the foot – it’s a smudged endlessly photocopied and scanned old drawing; a fence that follows the same line, an inch to the left of where it used to be, isn’t even going to be noticed. Even less so a hedge as the stems may have been planted to follow the boundary but hedges grow!

@rwalker

Tell them you are doing without a fence and will be taking it down shortly

This.

Tell them you will be replacing it as it falls down with hedge.

To emphasis the point buy a couple of TINY hedge plants and place them near fence.

They shouldn't be hanging trellises on your fence weakening it.

They probably have damaged it.

Dont apologise, they are CF's.

@IncompleteSenten

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.

“Hi neighbours, we’ve been looking into the fence issue and will fix it when we are able. But just to let you know that you would understand able to paint or put trellis on our fence anyway, so if you want to get on with your garden works you might be best sorting that out on your side of the boundary”

My neighbours don't like my fence, it is fairly old, some mismatched panels, which doesn't suit their garden which they have recently had 'landscaped' at great expense, however it keeps my dog in my garden, and on my side is covered in roses, and clematis. They requested that I get it replaced, I refused as it would cost well over £1k, so I just replace/repair any storm damage as it happens. I am in my 70s and have some savings, but not enough to splurge on fencing so that their newly built garden room and bar have opulent surroundings🧐

@Leftbutcameback

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.

Was going to say this too. Storm damage is normally specifically excluded.