Neighbour wants to replace MY fence, I don’t want them to!

[Fencewoes]

We have recently had new neighbours move in next door. A month ago they said that they would like to replace all of the fences around their garden (sides and back) which includes replacing mine. They said they will pay for this as they want their garden to look uniform. At first I was on board with this, actually quite pleased at the thought of having a brand new fence as mine is quite old, however they have now said they will be replacing my current 4ft fence with a 6ft fence instead.

I have told them I do not want them to replace my fence with anything higher than 4 ft. They’ve now said that in that case, instead of replacing my fence, they will just build another fence against mine in their garden. So basically, I will retain my current fence, then there will be another in their garden, but I will have double fences on my side! Is this even allowed?

YES I know .... it was a joke. However, if it was on the boundary and a shared fence I could..

Lots of miserable anti-social types on here as usual

I was literally the buyer in OP situation this time last year! We purchased our first house, which was semi detached, but 2 rows of 2 houses, so 4 gardens kind of side by side.

Houses either side of ours had those horrible chain link fences which are about 3/4ft high & had all been in place since the houses were built in the 60s & were subsequently all damaged. We have two boys & an escape artist dog and we spend allot of time in the garden so one of our first jobs was to secure both sides with 6 foot wooden fences, for the kids/dog & also for security. The neighbours weren’t happy as they liked to have ‘chats’ across the gardens in the summer!!

One neighbour in his 80s decided it would look better, although wasn’t massively happy but let us go ahead. Our other neighbour (whose house is actually attached to ours) again late 70s was having none of it & threatened us with solicitors! I ended up doing allot of googling & speaking to fencing companies, solicitors, land registry etc to find out she had no say what we did on our land with regards to fences so we told her we would put the 6foot up on our land & leave the chain link up - less time/work/money for us! She suddenly changed her tune & wanted to be able to see the nice new fence properly not with the ugly chain link infront!!

She caused us a hell of allot of stress & time in our first two weeks of being in our first home & soured the relationship with her threats & abusive language towards us & our builders. All we were trying to do was to stop the dog getting in their gardens or getting out to the road & getting hurt & try to limit the amount of footballs in their flowerbeds.

She passed away a few weeks ago about a year after the incident after having the fence on the other side of her garden replaced with a 6 foot fence as she realised how nice it looked 🙄

They aren't bullying you at all. They offered you a new fence, when that wasn't acceptable to you they came up with a reasonable compromise.

My neighbour did this. I have trained climbers and installed some lovely lighting on every post. My cat likes to sit atop it and glare at him.

It's not hilarious if the OP gets dud advice or dared/egged on to do x, y, z without knowing the practical or legal consequences of what they choose to do.
I live next door to a 4 ft fence and hate it. It's actually my boundary but ndn has been here much longer and likes it. I could replace it with a 6ft fence but have chosen (at least for now) to keep the peace.

Chat to me all you like in my front garden, but when I'm out back I want to be in my own little world and have some privacy.

Look the neighbours should be able to come some agreement to keep everyone happy - remember they have to live side by side for potentially some time - they really should try and resolve this to everyone's satisfaction regardless of who has what rights! Having good neighbours is priceless you never know when you might need each other.

I’m with them, only I’d want 10ft fences. Balls to ‘community’, I don’t want anyone gawping at me or talking to me every time I go outside.

They have! They're putting a six foot fence on their own land..... sorted!

They don't have to see neighbour now, so no issue with being "neighbourly"!

I agree but personally coming on MN for advice is not something I would do - you have no idea who is on here or what knowledge or background they have. If you think there are legally consequences get proper professional advice in rl

You can check the covenants, if no one has one that high, but if it's without the rules then yes they can and I would too. I'd prefer privacy to oeople being able to peer into my garden and if you refuse they can put up whatever they want in their garden, it's not up to you. Given the fence is going up regardless. If they are still offering I'd have them replace yours instead of having a double fence .

So just let them replace your fence

Well that's clearly not how the op feels - the op will probably not be inclined to any favours now - what if they go on holiday and would like a neighbour to put bins out etc.. that ain't going to be the op now is it..so again neighbourly feel gone before it got a chance to develop..

I wouldn't want a 4 ft fence either. An adult standing can see everything. No privacy.

I'm with the neighbours on this.

People behind us have decided to double fence. Ours is falling down (only been here a year and had other priorities) and we had planned to see if they wanted to go halves.

Came home from work one day to find they'd stuck a new fence in, but ended up slicing a bit of their own land off. Doesn't bother me, but not sure why they didn't ask and split the cost.

Only if it is a shared boundary and usually they're not. Most "own" one of their fences, usually the left hand one as you look out.
It will always be on the deeds.
I want to know which fence/boundary is mine · HM Land Registry
Whoever's responsible for the boundary decides whether to erect a fence/hedge or nothing at all. The fence is theirs unless the NDN agrees to pay half. Etiquette would mean you gave the nice side to your NDN even if you bought it but not everyone does this. If your NDN bought/owns the fence and it's their boundary, you cannot do anything to it without their permission.
I'm nice so creosoted both sides. Not all do.
But if you paint or creosote without permission and it's not your fence you could get done especially if you "drip" onto the other side. This is why all good neighbours discuss all this pre changes.

@StarlightLime it's an apartment so I can't put up a fence or anything else that can be on view
I can't plant anything either as the gardeners just mow straight over stuff - I planted some lovely bee bombs which were growing lovely, came home and they had cut the lot

And maybe they won’t take in her parcels or water her plants while she’s away.

maybe some people dngaf apart from polite pleasantries.

If they are going to put up a 6' fence in their side you might as well let them replace yours, at least you'll get a nice new one

Yes agree. We have a shared boundary and fences in our deeds, it’s clear we are all responsible for fences etc.

I appreciate it’s different for many. Interesting about the etiquette with which round fences go - as it happens when we did ours the contractor said this etiquette was disappearing now - as people paid they wanted the “nice” side for themselves which I guess is how these things go…

They obviously want more privacy which is their perogative. You can't stop them from putting up the fences on their side so your only options are leaving your 4ft fences up and having a 6ft fence next to it or just have one new 6ft fence that they're offering to pay for. I know which option i'd choose....

they clearly want privacy in their garden-my neigbours jusr put up their own fence so tere is two doesnt bother me

Yes of course they can .

You’re absolutely correct but personally I think that’s all a bit sad… and correlates with research that shows we are becoming lonelier as a nation. Apparently we’re in a loneliness epidemic.