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?

Community is overrated - we were the ones to change our 4ft fences to 6ft because every time I put the bloody washing out I had to have a 20 minute conversation with my neighbours (and their neighbours if they were out). Best decision ever.

Yeah we did this when we moved in. Nosey neighbours didn't want us replacing their perfectly varnished 3 ft fence so we got a 6 ft fence put up against it. They still managed to stand on upside-down plant pots and peep over though 😐

He's not allowed to build on that land, certainly. But if op has chosen to erect a fence leaving a foot or so of her land behind it, that's nobody's business but hers. She can't force next door to instal a wire denoting the actual boundary!

Our neighbours did this, when we told them their choice of fence replacement might match their garden, but it didn't match ours! No problem at all.

I would hate a 4 foot fence. My first house (new build) had gaps between slats in the fence. Everyone on the estate changed them quickly to solid fencing or grew plants up against them

I'd hate my neighbours to be able to look over all the gardens for this "community " feel. Good for your new neighbours to do this. Of course they want privacy and not have everyone be able to see them every time they step outside the back. I'd be doing the same

Perfectly reasonable of your neighbour. I’ve done exactly the same myself in a previous property.

This is absolutely not allowed, call the police 🙄😂you’re a nosy fucker aren’t you? Hiding under the guise of the “community feel” get a telly 😂

😂 Community feel in a local
PARK Is fine.

In gardens?
Hell no.

She can fix that if she doesn't like it.

Or are you saying that the new neighbours should curtail their rights over their own property, to allow OP to (a) have symmetrical garden fences (b) allow OP to enjoy a "community feeling" over their private property?

I predict all your other neighbours will follow suit with 6f fences anyway.

Christ, I'm having my own fencing woes ATM, the neighbour is threatening violence towards me. I cannot get that 6f barrier up quick enough. WTF is up with some people and their entitlement to peer into other people's gardens?

I agree with you OP. We have 4 foot fences and are sociable with our neighbours. The fences by the patio are higher, so you have privacy there. Putting up a 6 foot fence in our area is considered a dick move - a sign you don't want to be friendly with the neighbours. If you don't like 4 ft fences, don't move to a community with 4 ft fences. Having said that, unless there's unusual by laws, they're within their rights to do it. Have you considered whether you're getting the good or bad face of the fence? You could end up with dogs dinner of a fence if you don't cooperate with them unfortunately.

"If you don't like 4 ft fences, don't move to a community with 4 ft fences"

This is ridiculous!

a) how would you know that till you lived there and b) who cares I'll put whatever sized fence I'm allowed to on my own property thanks.

Op, I understand where you are coming from. I live in a line of houses with 3 ft fences and we talk to our neighbours but give them space.
This means we get the benefit of each other’s shrubs.
Yes they are entitled to do this. I would keep your own fence though as otherwise you will just be looking at the bad side of their fence.
I would just plants shrubs etc.

I would love a 6ft fence in-between us and our bastardfuckfaced neighbours.

Clearly they prefer privacy in their back garden (as would I) and they'd like the fence to be uniform all round (as would I)

Presumably you'll still have a 4 ft one on the other two sides so you can all still see into each others' gardens there (my idea of hell)

Where I grew up we had 6 ft one side and the back and 4 ft the other side. It was fine

The thing that defines your boundary is the line marked on your property deeds in the Land Registry And it will show who owns what

It has nothing to do with which side of the fence or where the posts are.

If they removed a fence that wasn’t theirs without permission they would have stolen / damaged that persons property.

But the fence itself belongs to the person who’s paid unless agreed otherwise.

Deeds don’t often say who is the owner of the fence more who is technically responsible for maintaining the marking of a boundary. Marking a boundary can be a bit of rope or two rocks since there is very rarely a stipulation to have a fence.

Sometimes what happens like with the op, op owns her fence, she doesn’t want the new one, they build their own fence just on/in their boundary. One day op or a new owners removes her old fence and sells up. New owner incorrectly believes the neighbours fence is theirs when it’s not.

Boundary issues and fence issues can be quite interesting. Since most people think they just have the right to paint “their” side of all fences and attach stuff when legally you don’t unless you actually own it or have permission from the owner.

I’d be going back to the neighbours and agreeing to the fence tbh
id rather a 6ft fence I could grow something up than two fences next to each other

they were being more than fair and considerate to ask you and offer to pay in the first place

In fact, when we replaced all our fences, one neighbour contributed (he didn't have to) because he was so pleased to have a new fence!

We have that in our terrace. Neighbours - not even direct next door- hand wringing about how it will impede views. We went ahead and put up a 6ft fence as have most people who have bought houses on the street since.

Unfortunately, your choices are to have 2 fences, your 4 foot one, and a 6 foot one behind it, or a single six foot fence.

It's a shame about the community feel, however high fences make good neighbours. Give it a while, and you may be glad of a 6 foot fence.

Take the new fence
My neighbours have attached trellis with about 100 cable ties to the fence so now I look at that. I would prefer a new fence...

"Gosh I would really love to buy this house but just realised everyone has 4ft fences and I'm a 6ft fence kinda gal. I best not put in an offer and will continue looking instead." Said no-one ever.

The reality is that the days of communal gardens, shared outhouses, chats over garden fences are gone (speaking as someone living in a terraced house with shared garden toilet!). It is not easy to get on the property ladder and people want to protect what they have fought hard to get and privacy is important to people. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years the 4ft fences around you gradually start to get higher as the next generation start moving in.

When we moved into our current house we replaced the fence with one the same height (4ft) because that's what was there and I couldn't envisage a 6ft fence.

Now I wished we'd put in a 6ft one. Our neighbour is very nice and we have no problem with him, it's just that I feel obliged to chat every time he's out there and I don't always want to chat or don't have time to.

Think about if you don't get on with your neighbours in the future and you'll be forced to see them because you have a low fence