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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Fence and boundary dispute with neighbours

57 replies

Bubblybeee · 06/09/2023 16:02

Hi ladies need advice. So few years back i spent £15k renovating my garden. The boundary fence between me and neighbours was about to fall apart and already all their trees and bushes were coming into our side. The owner would always rent the house to druggies or bad tenants so when we asked if they would go half to fix fence they said no .

so the builders built a new fence forward into my land and use the boundry fence as a means to protect those neighbours trees falling into my garden. My extra land is still behind this fence .

fast forward now and the owners have decided to move in and build a 5mtrs extension at the back and have removed all the boundary fences claiming my land as there’s and are planning to use my new fence ? I questioned him and said please do not use my fence as yours and to replace the boundary fence as i don’t want land taken .

the guy start screaming at me and shouting its my garden get lost !

my main concern is him not using my fence as his own and extending his garden into my side thats left.

OP posts:
Wideskye · 06/09/2023 17:59

I suppose you could take out a panel and then put in a rope or metal link fence along the original boundary. Get a letter from your solicitor marking the boundary and that he can't build on it.
However, I like the sound of his garden.
Tress, bushes, living things over artifical grass any day.

QuillBill · 06/09/2023 18:05

I suppose you could take out a panel and then put in a rope or metal link fence along the original boundary. Get a letter from your solicitor marking the boundary and that he can't build on it.

This is a good idea.

LucifersPain · 06/09/2023 18:13

You were beyond silly to not just replace the boundary fence, as you now no doubt know, but lesson learnt. Either move your fence onto the boundary or erect a new boundary even if it’s just metal wire. And get a solicitor involved.

Abitofalark · 06/09/2023 18:31

Garden Law forum is a great resource for this type of problem. There is a general discussion forum for miscellaneous land and property topics but also a dedicated section on Boundaries and one on Fences.

There are pinned articles you can read about boundaries, fences and the law, plus previous posters' problems or post your own for advice. Some experienced professionals post there.

CamomileCream · 06/09/2023 19:23

You should not have put your new fence inside the boundary and you should have cut back anything that was crossing the boundary and offered the cuttings back to the neighbour - hindsight and all that.

If you want to stop your neighbour using those couple inches, you have to move the fence or put up some kind of marker and hope that they respect it - sounds unlikely at this stage.

Did you object to the extension? I'm not clear if it's built already.

Ask any workmen on your property to move immediately and get a ring doorbell or security camera.

Garden law forum is a good resource

ThreeLittleDots · 06/09/2023 19:29

Title plans are not definitive of the boundary line, they are a rough guide.

Move your fences back to reclaim your land, or put a gate in them. If he complains tell him to apply to Land Registry for adverse possession (he has no chance unless you have effectively dispossessed yourself of the land by him making it inaccessible to you for a certain number of years).

Bubblybeee · 06/09/2023 19:41

Objected the extensions on the grounds there were rumours the owner wanted to extend to make it a secret hmo ! Before he would get as many tenants as he could in the house and the place was disgusting ! I live in a lovely neighbourhood . Houses built in 1989. But the only house that looks a state is his!

the lady banged on my door and asked why i objected and like i am moving in i’m not making it a hmo etc . But same time she was saying how she hates this neighbourhood and just being weird . When i messaged her about her workers parking on my driveway she got defensive !

i’ve told all those workers off and now told that owner today hands off my new fence . Guy thinks it’s ok too scream at woman . So i shouted back at him . And the lady claims her husband is such a nice man and respectful etc . Yeah right !

hubby’s tried to reason with the man but him and his workers speak in their language and laugh and stare . Just those typical nightmare neighbours

OP posts:
UpaladderwatchingTV · 06/09/2023 19:53

I would simply erect a post and wire fence on the boundary OP. There's no need to move the current fence, and take no notice of those saying you were silly to put it where you did in the first place. You simply erected a fence on your own land, and hopefully left enough space on your neighbours side of your land, to maintain it. The fact that he's now removed the original fence, does NOT entitle him to use your land in any way, shape or form, so get out there, and at the very least knock in a couple of wooden stakes, to which you can attach 3 lengths of wire, one near the top of your posts, one near the bottom and one in the middle. Alternatively, if you have a little more cash, buy some cheap chain link fencing, the sort you would use for making a chicken hutch, and attach that to two posts one at either end, but please DO NOT delay this for a minute longer than absolutely necessary, as the longer you leave it, the more likely this CF is going to cost you money in solicitors fees trying to protect your own land. Also, don't take any nonsense from his builders, tell them that if they prop anything against your fence and cause damage, not only will they be paying for a replacement, but you will prosecute them for trespass as the land next to the fence is yours, and then show them where the real boundary is.

I went through something like this with a neighbour once, the boundary was ours, but the neighbour had come into some money, so asked if I'd mind if she replaced it with something a bit nicer. I told her I had no objection. The next thing I knew, her builders were in her words 'straightening the boundary', to her benefit!! I was absolutely shaking in my boots when I discovered what was going on, as I knew it meant conflict, but equally I knew that if I didn't stand up for myself it would be the beginning of constant piss taking. I therefore went out and told the builders that I had given permission for my fence to be removed and replaced by the neighbour, but NOT for the boundary to be tampered with in ANY way!! She came out and started getting stroppy, but I just stood my ground and kept repeating myself, so that it was clear I was not going to be bullied into giving in to what she wanted. I then kept watch until the fence had been completed, so that I knew it was going back up where it was meant to. Thinking back on it after the event, I remembered that she'd always had a bee in her bonnet about the fact that I could get my car right up the side of my house, but she couldn't, and she always insisted that that boundaries had been moved, but that simply wasn't the case.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 06/09/2023 19:56

Honestly, it's a few inches. You chose where to put your fence. No one in their right mind is going to fork out for a new fence to stand a few inches inside a perfectly good fence. You could have yours moved but you don't want to do that.
Make peace with it.

billy1966 · 06/09/2023 20:06

Put a video camera front and back of your house.

Get a solicitors letter reiterating that they are not to build on your bounday.

You need to establish your bounday with some wire and poles.

There are CF's everywhere but having cameras up is helpful.

Do not hesitate to record yourself telling any builders where the boundary is.

Any aggression from them, call and report to 101.

HauntedPencil · 06/09/2023 20:35

He isn't obliged to have a fence so if he only removes his own crap fence but leaves yours up that's one thing, he can't build on your bit of land. The issue with this is that over time I would be worried about that being treated as the boundary and losing garden.

Bubblybeee · 06/09/2023 20:46

That’s exactly what that man is doing . Removing his crap fence and wants to use mine as a boundary . Hubby spoke to him bit before and hes now saying he will pave his bit but concrete my bit so theres a divide ? But everything will be on his side ? Should i still worry ? Means he will refuse to put a new fence to split instead pave all his bit of the garden Nd anywhere from his old fence to my fence he said to fill with concrete but he still wants to use my fence and the concrete as his as its on his side? Do i leave it at this or be adamant theres something visible standing upright to show its mine

OP posts:
Bubblybeee · 06/09/2023 20:52

He doesn’t want to ruin the look of his new garden reno after hes done building his extension. But that cf refused to pay anything when i was doing my garden and wanted all those trees removed and have the proper split done then. Proper selfish freak .

OP posts:
wutheringkites · 06/09/2023 20:57

That’s exactly what that man is doing . Removing his crap fence and wants to use mine as a boundary.

He is allowed to do this. You cannot force him to put a fence up.

Hubby spoke to him bit before and hes now saying he will pave his bit but concrete my bit so theres a divide ?

Mark out your boundary on his land with and cheap fence and insist that he does not change it. He has no right to concrete over it.

But everything will be on his side ?

Yes, because you put a fence up inside your own boundary. You did this. Not him.

Should i still worry ?

Yes. You need to maintain your own boundary. He can't change or build on your land but you can't make him put a fence up.

Grimbelina · 06/09/2023 21:02

You just need to put a second fence (as cheap and ugly as you like) where the original one was to keep the boundary intact if your neighbour is not going to do this or respect the boundary. Unfortunately this is a consequence of you putting your fence inside the boundary. It will be cheaper in the long run in terms of solicitors etc.

Bubblybeee · 06/09/2023 21:12

Thanks ladies for all your posts . Will get in touch how this all pans out

OP posts:
billy1966 · 06/09/2023 21:17

Grimbelina · 06/09/2023 21:02

You just need to put a second fence (as cheap and ugly as you like) where the original one was to keep the boundary intact if your neighbour is not going to do this or respect the boundary. Unfortunately this is a consequence of you putting your fence inside the boundary. It will be cheaper in the long run in terms of solicitors etc.

Really ugly posts with wire running between them.
Pink paint to protect them.

Bubblybeee · 06/09/2023 23:31

Just to make it clear that the boundary line was already erected in 1989 with wooden stakes . I know so strange. But The original owner of my house who i bought house from said he put another brown fence infront of it as it was broken but his neighbour ddnt want to remove it ? Anyway in 2018 i removed that brown fence original owner had and put up new concrete posts and fences whilst the woodenstake is still on opposite side splitting the both gardens . And i have few inches from my new fence to the wooden stakes . But now the neighbour wants to remove the stakes completely and leave it bare and pave all the way into back of my fence. Does this make sense why i cant just move my fence back ? As the boundary line is a wooden stake which now is being removed by the next door guy ? So who has the rights now ?

OP posts:
Bubblybeee · 06/09/2023 23:38

He suggested to pave all way to his woodenstake side and concrete my side so his garden wouldnt look naff . But just means all his land will have a 10cm or so strip of my land ? Is this still okay or should i still put up the wire fencing or some sort of posts to mark my position so its clear he cant touch that bit ? He keeps saying he wants to put trees right against my fence but it will be on my strip of land which i dont want . I have little kids hence why i went for agrass and i love it. Did have a beautiful flower bed full of plants etc but those hellish neighbours had massive trees and randoms plants growing on my side all the leaves and random other stuff would fall on my flowerbed and destroy my flowers ! This was another point i made to him which he finally agreed to let me cut down the trees impacting my flowerbed if i paid ! And now he plans to put more large trees in that area when his extension and garden is finished!

OP posts:
gherkeen · 06/09/2023 23:42

He's devious and disrespectful but you shouldn't have moved the fence boundary. It'd created this huge issue over a few inches and I'd honestly be inclined to let it go.

Artificial grass is tacky, terrible for the environment, full.of harmful chemicals... Bit can cause flooding so on the upside maybe you'll get him that way

AdobeWanKenobi · 06/09/2023 23:43

I have a similar set up, but in my case I wasn’t even aware. The front boundary has around a dozen 6 x 6 panels. Last winter one was damaged in a storm. When I pulled it out I was surprised to see a gap of about two feet and a post and wire fence behind it. My house is built on what was originally farmland and it looks like someone at some point decided the old farm style boundary was ugly and erected a fence in front of it.
I have several neighbours on that stretch, but there are thick hedge and bramble bushes on their side butting up to the wire fence so in my case it doesn’t really matter. I had considered moving the fence back to the boundary but the cost would be eye watering.

in your case I think it’s important to get a boundary reinstated on your side asap, be that moving your existing fence back or as has been suggested post and wire etc.

gherkeen · 06/09/2023 23:44

An afterthought. If you ever plan to.extebf in future actually those few inches might need protecting so it doesn't complicate plans

RoyKentFanclub · 06/09/2023 23:49

It’s 10cm. You created this problem by putting the fence in front of the boundary line. Just forget about it ffs, you’re never going to use that tiny strip.

AdobeWanKenobi · 06/09/2023 23:57

RoyKentFanclub · 06/09/2023 23:49

It’s 10cm. You created this problem by putting the fence in front of the boundary line. Just forget about it ffs, you’re never going to use that tiny strip.

How on earth could you possibly know if OP was going to use it? As a PP has pointed out that 10cm might make all the difference if OP decides to extend herself.

Bubblybeee · 07/09/2023 00:25

we will extend but not in anytime soon. Prob the next 10/15 years when we have money. Right now i love the space we have in garden for our kids but its just that side of the house where its become narrow as that extra 10cm or so is on the other side . It will deffo come in handy for any future plans . Really don’t have the money to go into a legal dispute with this guy . We’ve lived here for 10 years . This guy has just decided to move in after 10 years of renting it out and i have never seen him come round to inspect the tenants and the problems they've caused living next to them .

yes i could leave it as its a mere 10cm but i dont want that cf using it for his benwfit way hes treated me today

OP posts:
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