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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to knock nails back through to neighbour's garden

87 replies

FindingTheBalance · 29/05/2025 18:31

We have obnoxious neighbours that we've had disputes with since they moved in. I made the mistake of asking them to turn music down so my baby could sleep and after two polite requests they said if we ever spoke to them again they'd report us for harrassment. Since then we've had issue after issue with them with them shouting abuse at us, spreading lies about us around our kids school and generally a-hole behaviour like encouraging their dogs to jump up at the fence and bark when we come in the garden.

Anyway, my husband just came in with a gash down his arm. Turns out they keep attaching items to their fence, but use crazily long nails to do so. We were already aware of a new set down one third of the fence so have blocked those off from the kids. But we've now discovered another set of them just behind our children's den that we're dismantling to build a bigger one. It's a blessing our kids haven't been stabbed by them as they climb around there all the time.

Would aibu to just hammer the nails back through? Or cut them flush with the panel? If they were reasonable neighbours I'd talk to them first but that's sadly not the case.

OP posts:
Lonelydave · 29/05/2025 18:40

Personally, depends on how bad the relationship is - are the nails a few mm the other side or are we talking 'take someone's eye out'?
Not too much hassle to trim the nail, although would be noisy (grinder, or metal saw), which could only encourage them to do more.
Take pictures etc.., and make sure that they are date stamped

Get some helium balloons and tie them to the extended nails.....

If it's a deliberate act, it'll be an offence.

Oh just realised, obviously depends on how big the nail is and if you have the tools etc.,, little nails, decent nipper will do the job.

FindingTheBalance · 29/05/2025 21:44

Thank you for replying. They're not nails, they're screws. I always use the wrong word. This is the one my husband caught his arm on so quite prominent.

So they'll need something hefty to cut them or knock them back through. I don't even think this one is holding anything. But the others in a group are so not allowed deliberate. It's hard to tell.

To want to knock nails back through to neighbour's garden
OP posts:
Beautifulweeds · 29/05/2025 21:51

No nails or screws should be coming out of your fence, especially with children. Please report, this is unacceptable from anyone with a brain cell. Xx

TY78910 · 29/05/2025 21:51

FindingTheBalance · 29/05/2025 21:44

Thank you for replying. They're not nails, they're screws. I always use the wrong word. This is the one my husband caught his arm on so quite prominent.

So they'll need something hefty to cut them or knock them back through. I don't even think this one is holding anything. But the others in a group are so not allowed deliberate. It's hard to tell.

I would check on your land registry who is responsible for that side of the fence. If it belongs to you, I’d be taking it up as if those screws were to damage / split the fence then you could end up in dispute of who has to replace it

Timeforsnacks · 29/05/2025 21:54

Screws hold onto wood well so you can't just hammer it through. You would have to use a hacksaw on each one. It would take about two minutes to cut each screw.
But if you do this it may make whatever they have screwed in fall off.
They must be thick as shit to not notice how much deeper those screws are in comparison to the fence.
I agree to check land registry if you aren't comfortable to confront them with a photo

FindingTheBalance · 29/05/2025 21:54

Beautifulweeds · 29/05/2025 21:51

No nails or screws should be coming out of your fence, especially with children. Please report, this is unacceptable from anyone with a brain cell. Xx

Who would I report it to? Both houses are owned so no landlords involved. The fence belongs to the neighbours.

OP posts:
FindingTheBalance · 29/05/2025 21:57

TY78910 · 29/05/2025 21:51

I would check on your land registry who is responsible for that side of the fence. If it belongs to you, I’d be taking it up as if those screws were to damage / split the fence then you could end up in dispute of who has to replace it

It's their fence. We checked the deeds with the land registry when they moved in, as they kicked up a fuss saying it had to be our fence and they wanted the previous one replaced with a higher fence.

OP posts:
FindingTheBalance · 29/05/2025 22:00

Timeforsnacks · 29/05/2025 21:54

Screws hold onto wood well so you can't just hammer it through. You would have to use a hacksaw on each one. It would take about two minutes to cut each screw.
But if you do this it may make whatever they have screwed in fall off.
They must be thick as shit to not notice how much deeper those screws are in comparison to the fence.
I agree to check land registry if you aren't comfortable to confront them with a photo

I don't think they're thick as shit. From years of living next to them we've come to the conclusion that they just don't give a damn about anybody else apart from themselves.

It is their fence. I don't want to damage it but I'm also not happy having screws like that sticking through. We'll get a hacksaw.

OP posts:
malmi · 29/05/2025 22:07

If the fence is on the border then the nails are trespassing onto your side. You can either ask them to remove them, cut/hacksaw them off, or if you don’t want confrontation then screw some bits of wood or wine corks onto them.

parietal · 29/05/2025 22:11

the simplest solution is to screw a cork onto each one and then tell your kids not to play there.

there isn't anyone you can report it to and you don't really want to start spending money on lawyers letters for a few screws.

50Balesofgrey · 29/05/2025 22:12

I'd just put up a fence of your own, given it's their fence. Run it against theirs. You'll lose a tiny bit of garden but hopefully gain some peace

magicstar1 · 29/05/2025 22:12

I'd just cut the screws flush with the fence

ChateauMargaux · 29/05/2025 22:13

Bolt cutters will be easier than a hacksaw..

Ilovemyshed · 29/05/2025 22:14

Cut them off with a multi tool or angle grinder.

Mamadothehump · 29/05/2025 22:16

50Balesofgrey · 29/05/2025 22:12

I'd just put up a fence of your own, given it's their fence. Run it against theirs. You'll lose a tiny bit of garden but hopefully gain some peace

This. Obviously your neighbours are arseholes and you shouldn’t have to but might be the best option for you.

Suntree32 · 29/05/2025 22:17

I'd put up my own fence too. Is it a long boundary?

TY78910 · 29/05/2025 22:20

parietal · 29/05/2025 22:11

the simplest solution is to screw a cork onto each one and then tell your kids not to play there.

there isn't anyone you can report it to and you don't really want to start spending money on lawyers letters for a few screws.

I understand this and agree that it would get pricey to involve legal but it’s the principle here. People would kick up a fuss if a neighbour painted their side of the fence and paint seeped over for instance. Let alone mega screws. OP already said her DH ended up with a cut so it’s not even hypothetical at this point.

Moll2020 · 29/05/2025 22:28

Put your own fence up with a small gap between. You’ll lose a little strip of your garden but much better than the danger of those screws poking through.

ILoveBrum · 29/05/2025 22:29

I’d hammer them back through - we had dickhead neighbours years ago who did something similar. I went ballistic as all I could picture was one of my kids being blinded & to be honest, I think me appearing totally crazy made them back off as they didn’t say a word when I hammered the screws back through & they didn’t repeat it either!

Snowdropsaremyfavourite · 29/05/2025 22:32

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I've had DIY enthusiasts living next door to me and it can be hair raising at times! I thought they were going to drill through my living room wall one day.

I wonder if you could buy some screw end caps (image attached) to cover the sharpness of the screw? Maybe you could hang a bird feeder on it or something ornamental or is it too low down? Sorry, I know it's not ideal but I was just trying to think of some solutions.

To want to knock nails back through to neighbour's garden
glittercunt · 29/05/2025 22:34

Bolt cutters. Much, much easier and quicker. Less obvious to the neighbours when you're doing it. And if you can afford to, a brick wall so they don't get petty and screw through your fence too.

Ohnobackagain · 29/05/2025 22:40

@FindingTheBalance they clearly want a fight so I’d get some champagne corks and screw them onto the screws. Will stop you injuring yourself while not affecting them one bit, so nothing for them to whinge about.

JohnofWessex · 29/05/2025 22:44

I would suggest that you record how many screws and the locations

Also advise them that in writing your husband has been injured by them so if there are further incidents they cannot avoid liability

toottoot3 · 30/05/2025 00:35

If you hammer them at an angle flat down, to the side, which will probably have whatever is hanging twist a bit on their side. They will probably want to complain to you but at that point explain why your hammering them due to danger to kids.

Crispsanddips25 · 30/05/2025 00:41

I think you need to put your own fence up on your side. If it’s their fence and you go knocking nails back through etc it just invites potential further arguments. They sound horrendous. Get something that’s an eyesore on their side!

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