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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Gardener fixed the wrong side of the fence

148 replies

ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 09:21

The gardener has replaced the fence on the right side of my garden looking out, which I think is not mine, but not the left, which I know is. He did it whilst I was away for the weekend. I'd given him clear instructions beforehand and I've paid him. He's not a cowboy, he's been used by many friends. But he fixed the wrong side.

In the meantime there's still the rotten fence on the left side of my garden. It's not as bad as the one that's been fixed which was like sponge, falling down and a strong wind would have blown it over.

I've spoken to him and he feels silly but of course he needs paying. He's suggested I talk to the owner and ask him to reimburse seeing as he is actually responsible. He's happy to confirm the state of the fence with him

The guy who owns next door is tighter than Ebenezer Scrooge however and he may just refuse. AIBU to ask?

OP posts:
pinkdelight · 04/02/2026 10:27

Because they're not maintaining the property in a fit state for their tenants. It would have fallen down very soon anyway

I've seen people say several times on MN that there's no legal obligation have any fence/wall/bushes at all so it wouldn't come under maintaining the property in a fit state etc. He could have let the fence fall down and disintegrate without being obligated to replace it so you can't expect him to pay for your mistake now. Pay for it and enjoy the better fence, it's not like you don't get the benefit.

youalright · 04/02/2026 11:00

pinkdelight · 04/02/2026 10:27

Because they're not maintaining the property in a fit state for their tenants. It would have fallen down very soon anyway

I've seen people say several times on MN that there's no legal obligation have any fence/wall/bushes at all so it wouldn't come under maintaining the property in a fit state etc. He could have let the fence fall down and disintegrate without being obligated to replace it so you can't expect him to pay for your mistake now. Pay for it and enjoy the better fence, it's not like you don't get the benefit.

Exactly this I've paid for a neighbours fence before it was worth it, it means I have 3 matching fences and looks so much better then the rotting fence i had before

ChurchWindows · 04/02/2026 11:06

I'm a gardener by trade.

How specific were you about which fence needed doing?

Did your gardener see the fence with you and you show him the EXACT work that needed doing to the EXACT fence. Did you point it out? Did you draw a diagram? Did you make a mark or put a note on the fence that needed to be replaced?

If you had done any of that and then I had replaced the wrong fence I would consider it my mistake and would do the other side at my expense.

If you weren't clear on it, I would consider it your mistake.

I would want to be 100% sure I knew which fence you meant before starting work. Are you confident you made that clear?

Original poster
ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:09

@ChurchWindows I am absolutely clear and am absolutely clear the gardener was absolutely clear too. I didn't mark anything or draw anything but he definitely knew. He's been round several times before.

OP posts:
ChurchWindows · 04/02/2026 11:14

@ZoobyZoobyZoo Then why did he do the wrong fence and why did you pay him?

Tillow4ever · 04/02/2026 11:19

It’s annoying but you can’t expect your neighbour to agree to pay this. In fact, you might find they ask you to rip it out and replace it with the original fence, or insist as it’s your fence that it is fully on your property. I’d also be very wary, because if this fence now comes down at any point and were to damage something next door or injure someone, they may have a claim against you/your insurance as a result of this. The landlord certainly sounds like the sort that would play dirty to avoid paying out for anything so I’d try to get something in writing confirming he’s happy with the work done and transferring ownership of the fence to him.

I would definitely tread carefully with this one, and regardless of your opinion of the landlord, sadly the law is on his side here - YOU removed HIS property without his permission. And now you want to ask him for the money for this? It doesn’t matter what YOU think about the state of the original fence, it only matters what the owner thinks. As others have pointed out, he didn’t even need to have a fence, so he may have been planning to leave it til it fell down.

You should not have paid the gardener. It should have been him going to your neighbour, cap in hand, profusely apologising for the mistake and asking if they’d be prepared to pay given the state of the original fence (maybe by saying they got mixed up as that fence was in the worst condition of the two). The gardener should be doing the other fence for you FOC. At most you should be paying for materials (if he’s VAT registered only bet price). I think you’d be generous to offer that, but it might be worth it to have both fences looking nice.

pinkdelight · 04/02/2026 11:26

ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:09

@ChurchWindows I am absolutely clear and am absolutely clear the gardener was absolutely clear too. I didn't mark anything or draw anything but he definitely knew. He's been round several times before.

But you don't say how you know that he definitely knew? Did you stand in the garden and point it all out to him. Him having been round several times before isn't the same as you and him agreeing on which side it is when standing in the garden or writing it down. And even saying left/right gets woolly unless you're clear which way to face. He can't have been absolutely clear or he wouldn't have done the wrong fence. I'm not having a go, just saying that's a vague answer about clarity and doesn't make sense given he did the wrong fence. Unless you were super clear in person/in writing and he chose to do the opposite because he's forgetful or something, in which case then it is on him really.

KilkennyCats · 04/02/2026 11:29

ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 09:38

He did beforehand. That's not the question though really. I'm wanting to try to get the owner of next door to contribute.

Show quote history

Why should he? It’s literally your fence now, not his.
His boundary, your fence…
Your issue is with the gardener who didn’t follow your instructions.

Original poster
ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:31

ChurchWindows · 04/02/2026 11:14

@ZoobyZoobyZoo Then why did he do the wrong fence and why did you pay him?

Because I stuffed up.

OP posts:
Seeline · 04/02/2026 11:33

I would be expecting the gardener to do the correct fence free of charge. IF you are absolutely certain he knew which fence he was supposed to be fixing in the first place, and/or he has owned up to the error.
I can't imagine why you paid him for the wrong work in the first place.

You haven't got a leg to stand on as far as getting money from the NDN.

KilkennyCats · 04/02/2026 11:33

the fence on the right side of my garden looking out, which I think is not mine
Actually, unless your deeds say differently, I think it is yours.

purplecorkheart · 04/02/2026 11:34

You cannot make your neighbor pay. It is does not matter that he is a landlord or that the fence was about to fall down anyway.

Did you show the man who fixed it which side or did you tell him which side? How did you tell him? Did you just say the right hand side fence or did you tell him the right hand side as you face towards the house?

If you just said the right side then I can see how it could be mixed up as it depends of the direction you are facing. If you said the right hand side as you face the house then I would expect the gardener to take the loss.

Seeline · 04/02/2026 11:35

KilkennyCats · 04/02/2026 11:33

the fence on the right side of my garden looking out, which I think is not mine
Actually, unless your deeds say differently, I think it is yours.

It is my fence at my house
But at my Mum's she owns the LHS fence looking out.

watchingthishtread · 04/02/2026 11:35

There's no harm in asking. The worst that can happen is he says no.

Original poster
ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:40

purplecorkheart · 04/02/2026 11:34

You cannot make your neighbor pay. It is does not matter that he is a landlord or that the fence was about to fall down anyway.

Did you show the man who fixed it which side or did you tell him which side? How did you tell him? Did you just say the right hand side fence or did you tell him the right hand side as you face towards the house?

If you just said the right side then I can see how it could be mixed up as it depends of the direction you are facing. If you said the right hand side as you face the house then I would expect the gardener to take the loss.

Yes I stood in the garden with him. The neighbour's fence was far worse than the one on the left, and I told him it was not my responsibility.

OP posts:
spongebunnyfatpants · 04/02/2026 11:48

If it's the gardeners mistake then he's the one that needs to pay for it.

You absolutely cannot expect the neighbour to pay for it. You removed his fence without prior warning and replaced it without his permission and now you expect him to pay for it. Good luck with that. 🤣

MissMoneyFairy · 04/02/2026 11:49

ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:31

Because I stuffed up.

Show quote history

Presumably the fencer will now replace the ones he was supposed to replace free of charge

Original poster
ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:51

spongebunnyfatpants · 04/02/2026 11:48

If it's the gardeners mistake then he's the one that needs to pay for it.

You absolutely cannot expect the neighbour to pay for it. You removed his fence without prior warning and replaced it without his permission and now you expect him to pay for it. Good luck with that. 🤣

I didn't say I expected him to pay. I came here to ask if I would be unreasonable to ask him.

OP posts:
purplecorkheart · 04/02/2026 11:53

ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:40

Yes I stood in the garden with him. The neighbour's fence was far worse than the one on the left, and I told him it was not my responsibility.

Show quote history

Then I would expect the Gardner to take the loss of the incorrect work or else he can ask your neighbor to pay. Personally I would not be paying or asking your neighbor to pay. Gardner's mistake so it is up to him to sort it.

spongebunnyfatpants · 04/02/2026 11:54

ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:51

I didn't say I expected him to pay. I came here to ask if I would be unreasonable to ask him.

Show quote history

Yes it is, very unreasonable. The mistake lies with the gardener, it's his mistake to fix.

schoolfriend · 04/02/2026 11:55

All you can do is ask. Obviously no-one here knows what they will say but it sounds as though they will probably say no. Either way, just ask.

schoolfriend · 04/02/2026 11:57

ZoobyZoobyZoo · 04/02/2026 11:51

I didn't say I expected him to pay. I came here to ask if I would be unreasonable to ask him.

Show quote history

Of course it's fine to ask. He might laugh in your face or he might say yes but a polite question is not unreasonable.

BillieWiper · 04/02/2026 11:59

If you're friends with the tenant and they were not happy about the fence, you could speak to them and ask if it's OK to tell landlord you fixed it but to try and seek reimbursement? He could say bugger off but if tenant backs you up it might work.

But yeah you still need to pay the guy and I presume fix the other side. I mean it does seem odd he fixed the part that was facing into someone else's property? Wouldn't he have needed to be in their garden to do that?

Dancingsquirrels · 04/02/2026 11:59

Gardener should be asking the neighbour. Not your job to fix this

C152 · 04/02/2026 12:00

Your instructions were clear, the gardner made a mistake and, presumably you mean he admitted to the mistake when you said he "feels silly". He therefore needs to swallow the cost of his mistake and fix your fence panel for no additional cost. If he doesn't you can take him to the small claims court.

If I were the neighbour, I'd be delighted to have my fence fixed for free - they didn't ask you to arrange to have it repaired, didn't give you permission to do anything with their property and didn't agree to any sort of price so no, there's no way you or the gardener can force them to pay and it's cheeky to ask.