I'd appreciate your thoughts on this, bear with me.
A buys a house, a semi detached property. The estate agents leaflet and a note from the seller when you move in saying the fences in the not tiny garden are your responsibility and you are responsible for their upkeep, their maintenance and all aspects of care.
When you speak to B, the neighbours on one side you see a newish, well made fence about 6 feet tall. The neighbours B, say the fence is theirs, is built entirely on their property and it is about 5 cms on their property. They show plans, old fence posts and explain that the original fence had been in place for 80 years, had rusted, the wire was corroded and sharp. Children in the property had previously played on it and they had asked the person who sold the house to A to pay towards a new fence (they were absentee landlords). He had refused any requests to replace or contribute to a boundary fence: so they had built the fence themselves at their own cost on their property.
You are A - are you delighted that a fence dividing your garden from Bs garden and leave it, or do you try to convince yourself that the fence is your fence, despite the evidence?
Next, you,A are in your garden and B asks if they can access your garden at some time to paint the face of their fence as they are painting the other side and other fences. You decline, as you are still wondering what colour to gave your garden. B politely reminds you that the fence is theirs, on their property, but asks that you, A to discuss colours with B as some paint will fade through or mark edges. A agrees.
A few months later A is painting another wall which has been indicated as Bs property, paid for by B and on Bs side of the property line. B says "please do not paint my fence without my permission" A states it is a boundary wall, which B denies, pointing out that it is again entirely on their property. A says "I need to speak to your Man". B says she can deal with any issues as much as her husband and requests any painting or amendments to their property be in writing. A says "I don't want to talk to either of you ever ever again.
Do you A, apologise for painting their wall and agree to ask in writing or do you demand B apologise for upsetting them, and decline to talk to them, ever.
You are B. The fence needs to be painted on it's far side, the side you don't see, but is on your property and is obviously seen by A. A has refused you access to paint it from their side.
Your options seem to be -
stand on the 5 cms of your property, on the other side of the fence, holding onto the your fence with one hand, the paint brush with another and the paint pot with a third hand, whilst avoiding your big bum overhanging into As garden, or
climb a stepladder to roller the fences other side. You will not get as good looking a finish but, hey you don't see it and also-
do you paint it the same light brown your other fences are or do you do rainbow stripes as you suspect that A is not altogether on favour of diversity - or if you knew he was an Everton fan, paint it red?
Im being flippant with the last bit. Aye right.
Thank you for reading, any thoughts? ( Oh don't say move because you've upset a Man - ain't gonna).