To divide up the garden we share with the neighbours?

[notanumber]

We live in the downstairs flat of a maisonette and the garden is shared with the flat above us.

The garden isn't a bad size and the arrangement is that we have one side and the neigbours have the other. There is a long washing line straight down the middle which indicates the 'boundry' and we use half of that each.

We would really prefer a bit more privacy than the current arrangement. They are not neighbors from hell or anything, we would just like to be able to eat lunch in the garden in the summer for example, without being interrupted by the neighbours popping out to hang out their smalls!

We'd really like to remove the washing line and replace it with a fence, putting umbrella style folding washing lines on each side (obviously we would pay for all of the costs).

Obviously it's a bit of a tricky one. We don't want to offend the neighbours, and we see that it could easily be interpreted as a big "fuck off, we hate you and don't want to talk to you" gesture, which it really honestly isn't. We just want the (relative) privacy of having our own outdoor space.

We've thought quite hard about whether such an arrangement would inconvenience the neighbours, but we really don't think it will. While they do peg out their washing, they never use the garden otherwise,(to sit out in or whatever), and so the fence wouldn't impact on them at all in terms of shade or space. The only thing we can forsee being a problem is that they might think we're being really rude.

We own the property and the neighbours are tennants - I don't know if that makes a difference? It would perhaps be easier to come to an agreement about a fence if they owned their flat, and I presume their landlord would have to be consulted?

So, would it be really "off" of us to go ahead with this plan? Clearly we'd discuss it with the neighbours but wanted to canvass opinions from impartial people before broaching the subject!

Am fully prepared to be told I am BU, but would be grateful if people could avoid comments along the lines of, "well you should live in a big detatched house if you want privacy you moaning cow". If we could afford to live in a mansion with our own grounds then that is what we'd be doing, but we live where we live and are just trying to think of ways we could make it a bit more pleasant and private.

Also be aware that agreeing something with the current occupier or owner doesn't mean that any subsequent one will agree.
We had an arrangement with our next door neighbour about our overhanging guttering and soffit boxes.They then sold the house some years later and the new family are now trying to contest it.

If you are leaseholders and the freeholders own the top flat, they own the freehold to your flat as well don't they? So if it's just you and the old couple there why don't you have a chat and if the old couple agree it's a good idea, you could approach the freeholders jointly. If you just put the fence up, then the old folk may even ring the freeholder about it and things could kick off from there. It seems hardly worth the waste of money and time if you have to take the fence down again.
If the freeholder agreed to the fence, then should the freehold change hands, you should be able to keep your fence.

Sounds like a brilliant idea if the neighbours go for it. They'd probably like the privacy too. Also if they move at a later date and you get new people who dismantle half a dozen old cars in their garden, your fence will be a fait acompli and not disputed so you wouldn't have to see their mess.

I think its a good idea if the neighbours are happy.
But putting up fencing would create some shade as Framey says.

You could go for something like this instead (attached to fence posts), cheaper and would create less shade
www.primrose-london.co.uk/reed-screening-c-320.html?source=googleads&gclid=CMqAypvw958CFaFi4wodYxf4Y A

Or would it be an option to split the garden in two the other way, so they get the first half and you get the second?
I know some shared gardens are split like this, perhaps would be easier to divide up, subject to access?

I thought we were the only ones with such a tricky garden share. In the summer I hated it! Again neighbours were fine, just the lack of privacy, dd chatting to them all the time - very difficult to give and have privacy.

We never got round to fully dividing the garden as their landlord decided to sell, house currently empty. But they fenced off the end part of their garden and a section between our houses where we could see in each others windows.

We just did it, both private renters. As long as you're both fine with it don't see why anyone else need get involved. As you own, check the boundaries and make sure the fence is on your land and bobs your teapot!

(That's taken my mind off feeling sorry for myself!) X