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?

Then put a small hole in?

So let them build it. Then remove your fence, and you’ve gained half a metre of garden .

You’re right, it will look ridiculous. Don’t know why you wouldn’t just accept a brand new, free, 6 ft fence. Do you want to be able to look into their garden and them yours?

No you do not. An unmarked boudary is still a boundary.

so do they climb over the low fences but not the higher ones?

Not everybody wants to turn their garden into a stockade.

I'd be curious what you'd do if you lived next to us and refused a 6ft fence.

Our dog could clear 4ft with very minimal effort so no doubt you'd soon be knocking about the dog being in your garden.

"community feel" honestly sounds like a horrible nightmare. You're basically all just gossipy and nosey..

Because your feelings of alienation aren't going to make two shits of difference if you live in an area where people are allowed a 6 foot fence and exercise that right. Any more than OPs will, in the absence of restrictive covenants.

If they are going to leave a gap between theirs & your fence can you plant a climber/bush to cover up and soften the higher fence? Although if they are leaving the gap I guess technically the gap is still on their land so might not work out. Or put trailers on top of your fence and grow something

Trellis on top …

You’d certainly gain use of it, unless they are going to suddenly remove and rebuild their new fence. Then over time that would become the established fence line and it would probably get forgotten about.

I'm failing to see any benefit in the arguement of 'a nice new fence'

For starters the fence will match the neighbour house & clearly mark out their property not the OP's & depending on the style of OP's house/other fences will look out of place anyway ??????????

BUT I agree there's not much you can do about it (other then to remove your crumbling one so you don't end up with 2 fences) & look into planting bushes along the side of it...

@Fencewoes the reality is, you're going to have a 6ft fence boundary on their side. Rather than an unsightly asymmetric double fence, surely better to let them replace yours as they originally suggested. It might feel like you're being managed to suit them not you, but you will have a much worse outcome if you stick to your guns.

I get why you don’t want it, high fences are ugly af and I don’t know why so many people get them, but it’s perfectly allowable as long as it’s on their land.

Ha! I get you and your meaning, but that’s exactly why I like living somewhere with a community feel. Because we all DO give two shits about each other’s feelings, despite “the absence of restrictive covenants”. And I’m certain that’s in part due to the fact that we don’t wall ourselves off from each other in little pockets of isolated privacy with six foot fences all around us.

but as I say, horses for courses.

Well, if your neighbour love language is low fences then let's hope there are indeed restrictive covenants...

You don't 'gain the use of it', you'd be using someone else's land, and when they inevitable move their fence back onto the boundary, they'd 'gain' any plants that you'd put there. It wouldn't change the legal boundary one bit if they didn't get around to it for a couple of years.

OP what it comes down to is that they are allowed to put up a fence, and they've told you their plans to put up the fence whether you let them take yours down or not. I don't agree with other posters that four foot fences make for gossip and nosiness, but six foot fences make for privacy, and that's obviously what they want. So there's nothing to be done really, you lose what you like either way and they gain what they like either way.

You and your sacred covenants! 🤣

It’s not inevitable that it would be moved back. Fence lines often get moved by a few inches here and there for various reasons. It usually just gets forgotten about and accepted that’s where fence is.

20 years ago my neighbour got a new fence built. Their contractor messed up and I gained a 6 inch strip of garden. Since then that house has had 2 new sets of owners. No one is now going to kick up a fuss, or even realise that the fence is in the wrong place.

No harm in the OP making using of the land and planting a bit of grass or something. Nothing lost if the neighbour does claim it back one day.

It’s just a fence OP. Tell me about the ways it ruins the “community feel”? Can’t have a nosey into their garden easily?

Farking legislation!

FFS! They're not offering to put a 6ft new fence around OP's property! (Admittadly your the 20th person to mention this, sorry)

They're putting a 6ft fence around their own property

OP will still need to pay for the other 3/4's if she wants it too match her side as the other boundry fences will still be 4ft & also ensure "her side" of their fence is paintable/decoratable so that it blends in. Not a free fence at all but alot if hassle actually if the street/properties are already sorted

Let them lose a bit of their garden if you can afford to replace your fence later (which sounds like it needs doing) but also request that they sort out maintence of the strip of grass/weeds to stop it overflowing into your side & request an idea of what they have in mind style wise if you change your mind about

Whilst I agree high fences are ugly what's the alternative solution to stop the dog escaping ?

what?? you can make a small hedgehog entrance in a new fence

Yes sorry if it’s to contain a dog I understand