To think neighbour is wrong about fence?

[FencesFences]

My new neighbour has moved in and immediately changed the boundary fence between our houses. In the deeds it's their responsibility, nothing was wrong with the old one but they wanted to raise the height, fair enough.

However, they have removed the top and bottom 'shared' posts at the ends of their boundary fence (which form part of front and rear fences), detached the brackets from my adjoining fence and replaced the wooden posts with concrete posts that only they can use. My front fence and rear fence are now 'loose' with no post to attach to.

I believe that as the shared posts formed part of the front and back fences they should have left them (see diagram). They could have left or simply replaced these posts and reattached my fence as previously. They are refusing to do this or anything to resolve amicably.

Fwiw I also can't put in an adjacent fence post to secure my existing fence as their new posts are concrete not wood, therefore the 'footing' underneath prevents another post being close.

As it stands my only option without their cooperation would be to move my front and rear fences a couple of feet forward or back, which is costly and will look stupid as we will no longer have a symmetrical fence line.

'T's on diagram denote who maintains each fence, orange dot is one of the two previously shared fence posts now replaced.

NB due to the central shared posts being removed my garden gate has also collapsed and my garden obviously not secure, my fence now flaps in the wind. I've been nothing but nice to them, so quite upset about their behaviour here.

They are arseholes to have done this like this without any discussion or attempt to ensure nothing is broken. Unfortunately that doesn’t bode well for trying to fix things. Have you tried talking to them?

Technically, if the fence is on the boundary, they shouldn’t have put in a fence post with a footing that goes further than the line of the fence and intrudes onto your land. But trying to force that issue if they aren’t willing to change it when you point it out is likely to be expensive and stressful.

The most certain way to secure your garden is to put your own fence along side theirs and secure your rear fence and gate to that.

I don’t understand. If they have put a fence up why do you need one as well?

It looks like the fence splits front and back. So neighbour owns the fence down the middle of the gardens, but the posts at the end are shared for when the fence separates.

We used something like this fence post bracket and then the attachment to secure the fence panel at 90°. I can find the link to the exact one but they were simple to use/fit. Can't see the neighbours complaining.

Can you post a photo. I bet there is an easy solution. Maybe the bracket the PP suggested or something similar

Seems a bit muddled. Yes they should reinstate posts which previously supported your gate/fence. What have they put up instead?

I still don’t understand, the orange bit is partway down the fence they put up surely if it was at the en it would be further up?

Here is a photo of one end - my unattached fence on the right, it is now loose, their concrete post replaced the shared wooden one.

So is the issue that you cannot attach to the concrete post? Tbh your fence looks a bit rickety.

If their footing was encroaching on my land, which presumably it is as you have said you can't install your own fence post within 1-2 ft of their footings, then I would consider it trespass and remove it so that I could install my own post. If that caused their post to collapse then so be it.
They have been petty and unreasonable, so I am afraid I would be too.
If you don't wish to do this then you have no option but to move your fences so they are not symmetrical.
The fact that your new neighbour has behaved in this way does not bode well for future amicable relations. Do not engage in any way.

Attach a baton to their concrete post and attach your fence to that. Job done. It’s how our gate is attached.
I would gorilla glue and screw the baton to the concrete fence post if feeling extra petty.

Thanks. My fence is painted green but the light woos parts are where the brackets were that previously attached to the shared central (wooden) post.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 unfortunately I'm not able to attach to their new concrete post, as they've prohibited it. So I'm a bit stuck.

Trespass is a civil matter. What you suggest would be criminal damage.

I would screw it into their fence post anyway. If they object, tell them you'll remove it when they remove their footings from your land.

Or drill into their footings to put a bracket to hold the post up right next to theirs. Something like this
https://d3d71ba2asa5oz.cloudfront.net/12019422/images/bis-800161__7.jpg
They can't object to you drilling into something that is in your own garden.

@FencesFences My response would be “then remove your post from my garden. Alternatively shut up and put up like I’m having too. “
Remember they have damaged your fence and gate by altering theirs.

Your neighbour has been a complete arsehole but all this removing footings from your land bullshit assumes you are dealing with someone reasonable, this person is far from reasonable. And you never know when arsehole tips into crazy neighbour who will do anything to make your life hell.

So looking at your fence are the arris rails (horizontal rails top middle and bottom) are they on your side of the fence in your garden? Because you are either looking at the arris rails or they are on your neighbour's side. I am assuming a lot from one photo, posts are usually spaced every 6 feet or so and the arris rails are attached to the posts and the upright slats are then attached to the arris rails.

Can you not position new supporting posts for your fence slightly away from where his concrete post is? Supports can be added to a fence, they just cut the arris rail notches out of the post.

@HideTheCow do you mean remove some of my boards and put in a new post, then have three or four boards that butt up to (but not attached to) their concrete post? I guess it would look quite odd, but would secure my fence...could be a solution.

NB agree that trying to reason with these neighbours seems hopeless, they are very selfish and unpleasant.

@FencesFences I honestly think just do what works for you to secure your fence and re-establish the gate. If you get a fencing company out they will advise you on what to do, they have all dealt with arsehole neighbours before so it won't be anything new with the whole you can't touch my post situation.

@HideTheCow thanks I really appreciate it. I've found the whole thing very stressful tbh, I can't even put my bins out since they collapsed my gate.

Luckily have very nice neighbours the other side, we always do things kindly and considerately.

I don't like the way that they have gone about doing this but I can understand why they don't want your fence attached to theirs. They will have paid a lot of money for their fence so I can see that they would want to not have additional weight on it. It's easier if they have there's and you have yours and they don't rely on each other.

I'm not excusing their shitty behaviour but can understand why they've done it like they have.

It's definitely not worth getting into more arguments with them. There will be a way to support your fence without using theirs.

There is no way attaching an extra fence panel to a concrete post will damage it.

It will be as it doesn't have a post securing it now

I'd attach to their posts anyway and say well I didn't have a choice cos you muffed my fence up

I think most people are reasonable when interfacing of this sort is necessary so they must be pretty badly behaved if they are not allowing you to implement a solution.

OTOH I can see why someone might not want a gate attached to their post (if it were wooden anyway) because it puts extra stress on the post and probably makes it more prone to failure eventually. That wouldn't be the case with concrete though.

I think you will just have to dig in a support as close to their footings as possible and attach to that. And be glad that they have put a strong fence up.

It is a bit of a crappy thing to do. But couldn't the concrete posts be drilled to accommodate your fence brackets? That is one we did with one corner of our fence line where dissimilar fences meet.