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.

www.sure-green.com/chicken-wire-pvc-coated-fencing-mesh-600mm-x-25m-with-25mm-holes.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI153ktOvb9gIVmpntCh2VqAmZEAQYBSABEgJWMvD_BwE
Sorted, for under £30.

Take the panel out replace it with a couple of small hedging plants. If they ask say that as funds allow you are going to replace the fence panels with hedges as it's greener, better for wildlife and as a hedge won't blow down in a storm it will stop this happening in the future.

At some point in the future when you have the money available you may of course change your mind but you don't tell them that.

We always replace fence panels ourselves, it is by far the cheapest way.

Over the years we now have one of these for removing the soil from the hole
www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Post-Hole-Digger---1480mm/p/190347

We use these concrete slotted fence posts: www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Slotted-Concrete-Fence-Post---100-x-60mm-x-2-4m/p/540063
with these concrete gravel boards:
www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Recessed-Concrete-Gravel-Board---50mm-X-300mm-X-1-83m/p/151501

The key is to measure correctly, and it does need 2 of you - one to hold the post - use the concrete gravel board in situ to get the correct spacing and a , the other to measure carefully and reposition post if needed then to shovel post set in the hole, but once done these concrete posts last forever!

Then for fence panels, it does need 2 of you to lift in, as you have to lift above the post to get into the slot - but once in place, they stay in place for years as the posts don't rot and sag.
Wickes do fence panels from £29.50 for 6ft ones. So 3 panels , 3 gravel boards, 4 posts and a post hole digger total £336.50. Plus a couple of bags of post set (about £6 each), plus a spirit level - but you can download one and use your phone, not as good as it is shorter so less easy to use. Should take you 3 hours max. If you could get an extra helper, then even easier/quicker.

If it bothers them that much, they can pay to fix it. Our neighbours were going through a tough time financially when our fence was damaged so we just asked if they'd mind if we got someone in ourselves as all three sides needed replacing anyway. I wouldn't have dared put them under pressure when they were already struggling with essential bills.

Oops sorry I priced for 3 panels, not 3, so taking off the excess = £245 & post set

Urgh fence wankers.

If they won't pay for it (because not their fence), they don't get to paint it or fix anything to it. You can stop that very clear- "even if we replace the fence it belongs to us and you may not paint it".

There is nothing to stop them from putting up their own fence within their boundary and doing whatever the fuck they like with it.

Unless they are willing to pay for it doing they will have to wait until you can afford to do it.
I would understand the urgency if the fence was in such a state it was likely to fall and injure someone.

Some homes don't have walls or fences on their boundary. I'd go back and explain you're not being awkward but just haven't got the money. If you've still got the old fence and posts if there any way they can work with you to get them temporarily into place. If they keep going on, I'd be tempted to get some strong wire and hooks and define the boundary that way. You are not obliged to provide a fence so they can have trellising.

I just love that they want you to pay for a fence so they can paint it there side

bloody cheeky fucks

Like i said its not a legal requirement so just ignore

You can get things called fence buddies. They are strips of metal you put in either side of the broken post and it supports the old post to prevent buying a new one. They are really good and much cheaper than replacing fence

@Eggshausted

www.sure-green.com/chicken-wire-pvc-coated-fencing-mesh-600mm-x-25m-with-25mm-holes.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI153ktOvb9gIVmpntCh2VqAmZEAQYBSABEgJWMvD_BwE Sorted, for under £30.

Do nothing. You're not obliged to!

Sorted for £0

Buy two fence panels and 3 posts, and you’ll have change from £100. Easy DIY job, and massively cheaper than getting a fencing company to do it.

That said you’re under no obligation to fix it if you don’t want to. Your neighbours can sort it if it bothers them so much.

The neighbours need YOUR permission to paint YOUR fence or attach anything to it! Make sure they’re aware of that! So the other option could be that if THEY offer to fix the fence, you’ll let them paint the side facing them.. :)