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Original poster

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

654 replies

Fencewoes · 27/03/2024 12:33

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?

OP posts:
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JamesBlonde007 · 27/03/2024 14:49

Sorry OP but they certainly can do this, we had to do this when our neighbours got awkward about us replacing a 4ft fence too. Cost us a fortune but we wanted the privacy.

You should then also be aware you cannot damage/paint/attach anything to their fence within their own boundary, without their permission.

Notthatcatagain · 27/03/2024 14:49

We had a 4 foot fence down one side of our garden, technically it belonged to next door which was rented. I offered to pay to replace it so long as he would sign it over to me, landlord couldnt sign fast enough. Best money I ever spent. There have been half a dozen lots of renters in that house since then, the garden is wrecked now, the roof has fallen off the shed. I never see any of it, completely private now and no one comes in to pinch my apples

Beautiful3 · 27/03/2024 14:50

I'd.let them replace it. Because they can build next to it anyway.

DottieMoon · 27/03/2024 14:52

They are not bullying you. Just because you and your other neighbours like the 4ft fences doesn't mean they have to!

Growlybear83 · 27/03/2024 14:53

My new neighbours did exactly the same. We had a 4' high fence with trellis on top which took it to 5' in total. I really didn't want my fence disturbed because of the number of mature climbing plants I had trained up my fence down about 100' of the boundary over the last 30 years. But we realised that it would look really awful if we had to look at a second higher fence so agreed to let them replace ours. Their fencing people were reasonably careful but there was still damage to some of the plants. But I had to admit that the fence did look nice once it was in place, and it gave me an opportunity to plant lots of new climbers. There is also the advantage that the new fence is their, not ours, so we have no responsibility for maintaining if.

NewYearNewJob2024 · 27/03/2024 14:54

I can totally understand why they want a 6ft fence if there's a 'community' feel...in other words...nosey!

Sorry OP, I wouldn't usually be so blunt but I have nosey neighbours and when I moved in to my house, there was no fence and lots of the gardens are open - nightmare! First thing I did was get a fence up pronto! You have to respect that people want privacy!

NImumconfused · 27/03/2024 14:57

Fencewoes · 27/03/2024 12:47

Every other garden here has 4ft fences, it has a real community feel. They will be the only ones in the row that have 6ft fences.

If everyone in your street has a 4ft fence it might be worth checking your deeds - I know my parents house has a clause which says fences can't be higher that 4ft.

whatsappdoc · 27/03/2024 14:58

Just realised everywhere I've lived had 4' fences down the sides and the new house we're moving to also has them. Nothing stopping planting bushes etc that can grow higher for a bit of privacy if needed. I've never 'gossiped' with neighbours or felt I needed to block everyone out. With a narrow garden it could feel very claustrophobic, at least to start with.

grennleaves · 27/03/2024 14:58

You aren’t being bullied - they have a right to a 6ft fence and have very kindly offered to pay for replacing it. and if you dont accept they have a right to put a fence in their own land.
Of course it looks better if all fences are uniform so they are right to do this left and right. Why wouldn’t you accept this? It will look crap if you have your old fence and at the back of it there is a new fence. Honestly, some people...

BruFord · 27/03/2024 15:00

As PP’s have said, they have a right to privacy in their garden. As long as the fence is on their side, they can have it.

We live in a terrace and put up a 6 ft fence to screen our patio from our neighbors’ patio and hot tub. If either of us were having a bbq or they were in the hot tub, the others could see what was going on and it felt awkward doing anything in our garden when they had visitors.

They were a bit surprised when we told them our plan, but they soon realized that the additional privacy was nice

They moved and we now have new neighbors…they immediately got rid of the hot tub, thank goodness. 😂

PrinceLouisWeirdFinger · 27/03/2024 15:00

Do You know how expensive fences are? I’d grab the opportunity with both hands while you can.

oakleaffy · 27/03/2024 15:00

Fencewoes · 27/03/2024 12:41

They have a wide garden so they have said they will just leave a gap between my current fence and their new one.

So it will look dreadful from my side. Two fences with a half metre gap in between. It feels like I am being bullied into accepting their offer to just replace mine with a 6ft fence.

You really are being ridiculous!
They aren’t “bullying “ you at all

I’d hate a low fence that neighbours could look over- they are wanting privacy and this is very normal.
A four foot fence is about as much use as a condom with perforations.

Good fences make good neighbours.
I like my neighbours, but don’t want to see them in their gardens, and they don’t want to see me!💯🙂

whatsappdoc · 27/03/2024 15:02

Posters are saying the neighbours obviously want matching fences as it would look lopsided if they didn't but that's exactly what op's going to have to put up with it!

sweetpickle2 · 27/03/2024 15:02

Get a grip, OP. I've just moved into a property with 4ft fences, I'll be replacing them all with 6ft ones as soon as I can- being able to see into neighbours gardens and vice versa is my worst nightmare!

5foot5 · 27/03/2024 15:03

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.

Is this really the case? I thought it was written in to the deeds who owned and was responsible for each fence. Where we live if the posts are on your side the fence is yours and is your responsibility.

If the neighbours replace and pay for a fence that isn't technically theirs, does it now become theirs? If not, won't the replacement fence have to have the posts in the same place as the old one to retain the ownership?

BTW another one here who would hate a 4 foot fence. No way! I really wouldn't enjoy using my garden in that situation I would feel so exposed.

trumancummings · 27/03/2024 15:03

I'd prefer 8 foot fences if only they were allowed!

oakleaffy · 27/03/2024 15:03

FineWordsButterNoParsnips · 27/03/2024 14:08

Sounds awful. As pretty much everyone on the thread has said.

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Crikey- That sounds like hell to me, too.

Spectre8 · 27/03/2024 15:04

StarlightLime · 27/03/2024 14:34

The owner has no obligation to fence his boundary.

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No he isn't but he is obligated to mark the boundary even if it's just a wire. He isn't allowed to just take that land.

BMW6 · 27/03/2024 15:04

Crikey you don't often see such a consensus of opinion here!

Lavender14 · 27/03/2024 15:06

FineWordsButterNoParsnips · 27/03/2024 12:48

Why would anyone want a community feel in their own garden? 😄

Absolutely this! We have a dog who would scale a 4ft fence like it was nothing, plus I prefer privacy when my ds is playing outside. I wouldn't want people I don't know being able to watch him easily.

They aren't being unreasonable at at, to be honest op your reasoning is very much reflective of your own preference to be very social with your neighbours (which is fine) but not everyone wants that and that isn't unreasonable either. We get on great with both our next door neighbours and socialise often with them. But I wouldn't want anything less than a 6ft fence. It doesn't mean you can't be friendly, it just means you've the privacy as well.

I think let them replace your fence or don't and add a trellis to the top of your fencing and grow something lovely in it.

I think they've been very fair and respectful in how they've gone about this so to call them "bullying" as you have done is very unfair and truthfully you're coming across like a neighbour who I'd definitely want to distance myself from. You don't get to dictate what others do in their own homes and land because you like being able to see into their garden.

oakleaffy · 27/03/2024 15:07

BMW6 · 27/03/2024 15:04

Crikey you don't often see such a consensus of opinion here!

We are all antisocial 😂

OooScotland · 27/03/2024 15:08

Fencewoes · 27/03/2024 12:41

They have a wide garden so they have said they will just leave a gap between my current fence and their new one.

So it will look dreadful from my side. Two fences with a half metre gap in between. It feels like I am being bullied into accepting their offer to just replace mine with a 6ft fence.

Bullied or not I think you should just accept the replacement fence as originally offered. If you don’t you’ll have a double fence which will still be 6ft tall.

Also the gap will fill with rubbish, vermin and weeds and both fences will rot very quickly.

I just removed a single fence from our land that was made by the previous owner. It was built of two sets of boards that were nailed to either side of posts, making the fence hollow with a 6” gap inside it, and it was full of coke cans, crisp packets, climbing plants and millions of spider nests and egg cases. Absolutely disgusting.

On the plus side I gave the boards away on gumtree and the new owner was thrilled.

WarshipRocinante · 27/03/2024 15:08

You’ll find as occupancy changes that more and more people will put up 6ft fences.

If you won’t allow them to change your boundary, then they can absolutely put up a second fence inside the boundary line. They’ll give up a foot of their garden or so, but if they’re happy with that then that’s their choice. They’ll have the 6ft fence and you can’t do anything about it.

Anguish · 27/03/2024 15:09

>My neighbour is doing what they want with their own property that they pay for, is this allowed?!

OP, be serious.

NotQuiteNorma · 27/03/2024 15:10

So basically you could have had a free fence but cut your nose off to spite your own face instead and it backfired. Of course they can put another fence inside their boundary. What did you expect them to do, have 6 foot fences on two sides and a 4 foot on one your side? 😂