AIBU for putting solar lights up

[Stormyweathr]

I have just bought my first home after previously renting, my old house had rented neighbours either side also

my new house has a massive garden with 14 fence panels across the back and backs onto 8 other houses that all own the back fence panels, the garden is currently just turf and a patio area and funds are too low after the move to do anything with it this year. So I bought some solar lights to try and make it a bit nicer just for this summer

I hung several sets of lights across the back fences the lights were on string so small stringy wire. I hung these over the post bit that’s closest to me literally just resting on the post no drilling, no hooks, no nails nothing just them resting on the post. They are hung in my garden and none of the neighbours would see them lit

I came home one day and one set had fallen. I thought it was the wind so I put it back. Every-time I leave the house this one sets seems to fall down (it doesn’t happen when I am home all day and in the garden) I am now thinking this is one specific neighbour who doesn’t want it up

AIBU to say that if it is that neighbour this is petty? I am panicking as I have never owned a house before and now thinking do I need to go knocking on doors to ask permission if I want to paint the fences on my side

You absolutely do need to ask permission if the fences aren’t yours. The paint may also seep through and look terrible the other side.

The lights thing sounds petty though.

Thankyou for your reply I thought that might be the case, in normal circumstances I would normally wait and see what colour the neighbours painted there’s and do the same colour but there is so many different houses at the back that would be possible. I will have to get knocking on doors and speak to them

the lights I am just at a loss with

So have you hung the wire over the top of the fence posts so the neighbours can just see wire around the top of the posts. ? If so then I guess they don't like it and unhook it when you're not about. It's petty but if its their post then they feel justified. Maybe put a few nails in on the posts on your side and drape the lights along that way

I would imagine if you've put the lights just resting on the post, they probably are just falling down?

Does the light spread into the neighbour’s garden?

Light pollution is absolutely a thing, and solar lights may stay lit for hours when you are not in the garden. Lights outside at night are bad for wildlife, especially bats.

However, objecting to a simple string hung over a post is indeed petty.

Do you chat to your neighbours?

Can they see the wire? Sounds petty but maybe they don't like it.

They mustn't like the wire. Can you put some hooks on your side and hang them that way?

@EggInANest no it’s a new build so I haven’t seen any of them yet they are also a few streets away, my garden is that big their house is a fair few roads away from mine

the lights are 100% hanging on my side they wouldn’t see them at all of a night they are not flashing or anything either and only small

@TokyoSushi this is what I was wondering would that be ok to put on my side if it’s their fence?

Yes I think so if it's just little hooks rather than a big structural thing.

I was wondering if I am allowed to do this, it’s a six foot fence I can’t see the top of it without a ladder so they wouldn’t see it I think they are just being picky and laying down the ‘it’s my fence don’t touch it rule’ sad really because I didn’t think nothing of it, another neighbour on my left that has hooked a washing line on the fence that I own I didn’t bat a eyelid

If they're objecting to wire looped over the post I wouldn't be making holes in it with hooks. If it's not your fence you can't fix things to it without permission.

Most people wouldnt be bothered, but it sounds like these neighbours would be and you don't want to antagonise them.

Could you tie some string to the post just outside their boundary on one side, all the way to the post that's not theirs the other side, and then attach the lights to that?

@cushioncovers its a 6ft fence I can’t see it without a ladder. I had a look from my bedroom window and it’s barely visible to me. Oh well I will let them do them! at least I know to not go hanging any baskets or anything just wanted opinions as too if I have done something wrong I don’t want to be the talk of the street in my new home so soon 🤣

Is it definitely their (your neighbors) fence? I'm in a newish build & all fences within the estate are shared ownership so you can do as you please but obviously have to share costs should they need replacing. However fences on the boundary of the estate (ie our back fence) is ours & our responsibility, which we found out when it came down last year - however we get along with our neighbours at the bottom & would dream of telling them what they can & can't do to their side.
Check your deeds.

It's your house. Paint the fences and hang lights on your side if you feel like it - but attach them properly.

They will fall if they aren't fixed. Noone will complain about solar lights. You should ask if you are going to paint the fence of it's not yours if it's yours paint away

I’m amazed that that the back boundary isn’t yours if you stretch across so many back gardens.

If you have t actually attached the lights to the fence then I'd guess they're just falling down. Maybe that's a popular position for a cat to jump up or whatever?

Yeah me too otherwise you're at the mercy of so many different neighbours and if they choose to upkeep the bit of fence that belongs to them

You can't paint the fence on your side if the fence is not yours, ie not your boundary.

For the solar lights, I would put in some garden hooks on a long pole to hang them from Garden lantern hooks

@toomuchlaundry yeah me too I have 10 panels down one side but the other side and the back ones all belong to all the different neighbours

my house was a add on though apparently they said the initial measurements were not estimated correctly so when they built the other houses they realised they had land over so my house with a huge garden went on that spare land

You could attach a sticky hook. I put up a garden light on my wall with double sided nano tape and it's fab - would definitely support string lights.

Definitely don't paint someone else's fence.

You can buy tall hooks (like an inverted shepherds hook) that go straight in the ground and you could put them along the fence on your side (not touching the fence) and wrap lights around them.

You may bat an eyelid if the weight of the washing over time pulls the fence down and you are responsible for replacing the fence!

My neighbours have bright solar powered lights. I really dislike the light pollution all night and you definitely can see the light cast even if the bulb is out of sight. Maybe they don’t like the light all night?

If it's their fence you shouldn't really put anything on it including hooks unless they agree.
Can you get some solar lights that go into the lawn.