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?

Most people want privacy not 'community feel' - I would hate a 4ft fence

I couldn’t think of anything worse than having a 4ft fence. I want privacy and not to feel looks at when I’m relaxing in my garden.

Mmm good point, people can understandably be very wary of stuff like this.

I hated when I lived in a property with low fences. I felt I couldn't go outside without being looked at, or worse, talked to! Really happy that where I'm now, even though the gardens are small, everyone has a 2m fence. I can still hear people, but have privacy.
Your neighbours have done their best, they aren't asking you to pay, so there's nothing you can do.

If they are going to put up a 6ft fence anyway, you may as well accept the offer that they will pay for it. It would have other advantages too if it goes where your current fence is - assuming your fence is the actual boundary, it would avoid likely boundary line disputes between owners in future. Also, it is the convention that the person putting up a fence puts the more attractive side towards the neighbour, at least on one side of the garden, so you could ask them to do that.

The wise choice would be to agree they can put up the 6 foot one where the 4 foot one is as you get more privacy and there aren't 2 fences and the boundary is clear. The legal issue of who is responsible for upkeep of new fence should be looked at too - first start my looking at the title plan with your house deeds - costs £3 to buy on line. It probably does not have T markings to show who is responsible for the fence repair but do check. Then perhaps agree with the neighbour they will deal with upkeep of the one they put up rather than you. Some people even have that drawn up by a solicitor and registered with the title but most would not bother.
I was delighted my neighbour put up a fence. It was a bit strange he placed it on his land and not where the existing metal posts and bits of string marked the boundary as he lost a bit of land but that was fine by me and I kept the metal in there to show the boundary (and all of that is behind trees anyway so none of it is seen in our case.

This is not relevant. They are within their rights to put up at 6ft fence. If it were me I would just accept the new fence.

Another thought: one thing I would be wary of is growing plants. Currently you’ve got your own fence, which means you can put in wires and vine eyes and train things up it. If you took it down and accepted their new fence, you wouldn’t be allowed to cover it from your side, or paint it.

So I’d let them do their fence on their land, and keep your own: that way you can grow what you like up it – add trellis to the height of your fence and train a plant over it and you won’t even see their weirdly placed fence! And you’ve lost your community feel that side anyway, so it’s no further loss to increase your fence with some trellis and greenery. Then gossip over the other side about the new lot.

Op this post is the exact same story that happened to us a few years back and it didn't end well. We said yes then they put this awful plastic type fence up that looked nothing like our other fences and then had some sort of weird obsession that the fence was their property. It turned them a bit obsessive saying we couldn't plant stuff up it, let the kids kick the football onto it etc. with hindsight I wished I'd said no if you want a matching fence you add a new one I front of mine, I'm happy with mine as they are and I suggest you say the same. They're new fences might match but yours won't any longer and fence wars are so common between neighbours 😬

You don't need a community feel in your garden, that's what the front is for. The back is for privacy.

I think you're shooting yourself in the foot. Just accept their original offer and be grateful. Why would you want a 4ft fence unless you want to be nosey?

I mean they were not wrong. You can’t grow stuff up or attach to someone else’s fence without permission and if the ball broke the fence you would have damaged their property. If they paid for the fence they did own it.

I think you are going to have to agree to this, sorry. It might very well make your property more saleable as most people want privacy these days.
We were a bit put out when our new neighbours replaced the fence on their boundary with one with those enormous concrete posts. But it has weathered (and we let our shrubs grow big and wide) and we don't even notice anymore. Whereas if you had a half meter demilitarised zone between the fences, it will definitely be noticeable forever and ever.
As pp says, the issue will be upkeep - e.g. if it comes down in a storm, legally the neighbour or any subsequent neighbour in that property might point to the little Ts on the deeds and say it's your responsibility to fix.

This! Ewwww to "community feel gardens" 🤮🤮 what that means in practice is "nosy parker neighbours with no boundaries"

It is something to be wary of but perhaps a point of negotiation. Agree to the fence but on the proviso that you can add wires and grow plants up it. Most reasonable people would agree to this.

Is community feel code for you want to do your nosey?

Yes, I know it will be within their own boundary which was why I opened my comment saying they could do this. However, if it’s close to the OP’s fence, the posts may cause damage to the existing fence and its structure when it’s installed. We lost a huge number of flower beds when we installed some fencing a few years ago because of concrete posts. Furthermore, if the fences are close together, there is the likelihood of leaves being trapped in the gap that cause rotting.

Exactly. We have open plan front gardens, and that enables everyone to be very chatty and friendly when they’re on the ‘public’ side of their property, but the 6’ fences at the back means we can all enjoy our own private gardens in peace. They are an extension of our homes, so it’s natural to think of them as private space. I don’t want someone trying to talk to me over the fence when I’m grabbing 5 precious minutes of my break to hang out some washing, or enjoying my early summer morning cup of tea outside in my pyjamas.

I wouldn't want anything less than a 6ft fence as I like privacy. Do you not want a private garden?

I'd be happy for them to cough up for a 6 ft fence. So long as they didn't expect me to contribute and it was a nice one. 😁

They are within there rights to do as they wish to their property , there is some restriction due to road traffic regulations however this doesn’t seem to apply in your case.

They are doing what benefits them as they should.

https://www.prettys.co.uk/newsletters/issues-consider-if-you-are-replacing-your-front-garden-fence-wall-or-gates#:~:text=Fences%2C%20walls%20or%20gates%20that,with%20or%20without%20a%20vehicle.

Community feel 🤣🤣🤣 fuck, I can see exactly why they want a 6ft fence. Just let them do it- your property will look bloody stupid with two fences next to each other.

Take the free 6ft fence! I had no idea there were so many places with low fences where people are exposed to their neighbours and chat to them when out in the garden, sounds absolutely horrendous. I get on fine with my next door neighbours, we've lived next door for nearly 30 years but there's no way I'd want to be chatting or seeing them every time I set foot out the back. Fine to say hello at the front in passing, but my back garden is my private sanctuary. Good fences make good neighbours as they say.

You will still end up with a 6 foot fence even if on the other side of yours, so for uniformity and a tidy view from your side I would accept their offer, as fencing and installation costs are quite pricey, could actually be doing you a favour in the long run.