Fence

[IFeelTheNeedTheNeedForSleep]

Hello
I wonder if anyone could help. We are the second house from the end in a row of semi detached houses - there is a panelled fence runs right along the back of the houses. Two panels are in the first houses garden and the third panel starts in their garden, continues into ours and then there is one that starts in ours and continues into the next door and so on and so forth.

Next door (house 1) has started being a nightmare about fencing and has now decided that the panel that starts in his garden (so from the post in his) and continues into ours is our responsibility and he wants us to pay to have it replaced so there is no overlap. There is nothing on the deeds to show who is responsible for which panel. Am I right in thinking we are within our rights to say we're not paying for this, if he wants that done then feel free but it will be at his cost??

Thanks

So everyone has 2 1/2 panels in their back garden? Does he want the shared panel taken down and replace it with a narrower panel in his garden? That would mean you would have to do the same. Does he expect you to pay for a 2ft wide panel his side and a 4ft wide panel your side? That would involve new posts.

Is there anything about having shared fences in your Land Registry or buyers documents.

Ask him for legal confirmation he is correct...

No nothing in the documents unfortunately. We have asked him to provide proof but there's been nothing forthcoming but he just won't stop going on about it. He's been awful since he bought the house tbh, it's been one demand after another and half the time they've been completely unreasonable but he seems to think if he pressures long enough we'll fold

@IFeelTheNeedTheNeedForSleepNormally I would say he wants it changing so he has to pay for it but...

If he removes the panel that straddles his garden and yours, inserts a fence post and slots in a narrow panel, surely you are then left with a hole in your fence run?

Wouldn't it be prudent for you to split the cost and then a post gets inserted that straddles the boundary, you attach your new panel to your side or slot it in (if it is a concrete post) he does the same on his.

If there is nothing wrong with the fence in terms of condition why is he pushing for this? Plus if there is nothing in the deeds surely it is a shared responsibility. It is usually marked on the title plan with a T or written into the separate document that covers covenants, rights of way, no keeping of livestock etc.

@BluePaintSample absolutely nothing wrong with the panel - we actually replaced it before he moved in because it was damaged and foxes were using it to come in (the house was vacant next door at the time so we just did it). He just wants it changed because it doesn't match the new fence he's put in his garden. And to add insult to injury - he's putting a shed in front of that section so it won't even be seen anyway

@IFeelTheNeedTheNeedForSleep Ah, so just an arsehole then.

If he wants a fence to match then he could just put his own fence in front of the rear fence.

Tell him you can't afford it, end of conversation

Can you just ignore him?
I assume you have already had a discussion and expressed your views of it being unnecessary.
When he mentions it say "no", when he mentions it again say "I've said no" and if he mentions it again say "I'm not engaging on this subject any more" and just ignore him.

It might also be worth pointing out that although the panel belongs to you as you have replaced it recently the obligation to fence his part of that boundary is nothing to do with you. Furthermore as the panel belongs to you he isn't allowed to damage it and if he removes it, it must be returned with no damage.

Thanks all - we have taken photographs of it as I think damaging it will be his next tactic. We have repeatedly told him we will not be changing it but he's like a terrier with a bone!

Cctv up at the fence..