Neighbour boundary issue

[Theblessedchild]

I bumped into my next door neighbour in town the other day and he mentioned he was planning on popping over to speak to us soon, intrigued I asked why?

He said he was looking at getting new fences and the company doing it may need access to our garden, not a problem said I. Asked if front or back garden, he said both as what's there wasn't really suitable. I left it as just pop and speak to dh about it too.

So thinking about it afterwards I'm thinking that it might be our boundary as he is the end property? (Honestly have no idea if it is or not) and perhaps he was angling for us to share the cost?

Now here's my AIBU. The fences there are what came with the house, a post and wire mesh all along the boundary (huge back garden) They are getting a bit worse for wear but that's because he has planted all sorts all the way along which push on/through/over the fence onto our side, Easily about a metres growth. It is the only issue I have with this neighbour that they don't maintain it, and we really don't have the time to do so.

Would we be unreasonable to NOT pay towards the fence if it is our boundary and that's what he's suggesting?

Would we be unreasonable to suggest that the new fences he chooses contain the foliage to his side only?

You don't have to have a fence, he can put one up if he wants to inside his own land, not on your property. You can cut back anything growing on your land.

Check your land registry plan to see who has to maintain that boundary. If it’s yours be proactive and arrange for a fence of your choosing to be installed.

It might be an expense you hadn’t planned for, but it sounds like the existing fence needs updating anyway, and it’s best you do that on your terms.

You can't know whose boundary it is just by looking at it. You need to check the title plan/deeds.

Our deeds don't say, but there seems to be a consensus that everyone does the left hand fence and the rear boundary of their property.

He hasn't asked you to contribute so I can't really see what's the problem. If he does you just say no. If he puts the fence up and then asks for money you tell him to jog on, you didn't agree.
But - he hasn't even mentioned you sharing the cost, so you'r jumping to conclusions.

Oh and you could ask him what sort of fence he's planning to put up.

I am jumping to conclusions but that's because me and dh (him more so than me) are serial people pleasers so I need to be prepared with sensible and practical questions that don't sound accusing so to avoid being taken advantage of.

Truthfully I don't want a new fence, if I was forking out a shit tonne of money then I would rather spend it on some of the things I DO want (but don't get)

Does it sound bad if we use this opportunity to tell him to maintain his plants so they don't overspill on to our side, it looks a bloody mess and takes hours to cut that we really would rather do other things with that time.

You can ask him but once the plants are over into your garden you have every right to cut them back but are they that bad, is it better just to tidy them up a bit.

If your deeds don't say then boundaries are deemed to be shared. The law on fences is on gov.uk and this is what it says.

I know we can and do cut them back, but there's so many of them and it's takes ages. Time we could do without spending when it's not our choice to do so. Also have to pay for our garden waste to be collected and that fills up our bin.

I don't like them at all, I'm sure many will say they are lovely. I would much rather have planters all along the boundary, some with benches to sit without being attacked by an overhanging tree.

It doesn't sound like he's going to be in any way cheeky about it or ask you for any money so I honestly think you should stop worrying and leave him to it. If he wants new fences and all he's asked for is access to put them up then it seems unreasonable to think he's going to be cheeky.

As for his plants and bushes you're entitled to cut them back but to be honest a sturdy fence sounds like it should keep some of them at bay.

The boundary can be marked by a piece of string, or nothing at all. If he wants to install a fence, it seems he's merely asking for access. If he does approach you re the concept of splitting the cost simply state you're happy for it to remain as it is, it's not a cost you're willing to incur, but for him to put a fence at his own cost with you granting access is fine. You should check your deeds for the actual boundary line if you're concerned he's on a land grab. But he probably isn't.
He can't make you pay for it, even partly.

People seem to be missing the point of the hedges. The OP KNOWS they can cut them. They don't want to have to. It's really annoying to have work foisted upon you by a neighbour planting stuff that by definition you have to maintain as it encroaches into your land. God knows we are busy enough without having more gardening forced onto us. Would piss me off

He can't make you contribute to fencing of his choice, but neither can you prevent him putting up fencing on his land.

You both need to accommodate each other. Certainly a nice fence will stop his plants encroaching onto your garden. It will look much tidier.

Listen to his proposals- make notes so there are no later surprises or misunderstanding. Agree on the height and type. Ask about maintenance - whose responsibility? If he paints or stains his side would your side need doing too and by whom?

If you want some time to think it over that would be reasonable - a couple of days should suffice.

If the contractor needs access to your garden it might just be to remove or push through the overhanging plants, it's easier for them to cut them right back from your side and put the fence in from your side, otherwise they would have to get behind his plants which he may want to keep. I'd say OK to that but not contribute if you don't want a fence or the expense.

My neighbours chose to put up Leylandii against their wire fence. What a PIA - sucks out the goodness in the soil. As they grow they become very unsightly as the bottom becomes woody and of course you have to cut them and get rid of it. They got right pissed with us, when we gave them a severe cut back.

The trouble is you can't actually stop people planting stuff and yes it can be annoying to cut it back when it's not yours to start with but the fence should help with that so surely the OP should be championing him erecting a fence as it will reduce the amount the hedges and bushes encroach.