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

Just buy some cup hooks and attach to posts your side so no one the other side knows you have hung anything.

It might be petty but I wouldn't want to see wires around the top of my posts, although I would tell you rather than just knock them off.

The fence / wall to your right I think is the one that belongs to you

My neighbour on the right asked me nicely if he could attach build something up against the wall on his side

I had no objections and couldn't have cared less so obviously I said yes. Others might have objected though and said no.

Sorry but having been the neighbour on the other side, they are annoying! We had a neighbour who hung solar lights off of our fence, they constantly blew over the top onto our side and I was throwing them back over daily when I hung out my washing. I wouldn't have cared if they had stayed on their own side instead of swinging onto our side.

To be honest it would likely look a mess especially if they have quite a small garden.
Also if the fence is theirs you can't really do anything with it as the whole fence will be on their land. Even if you fix something only on "your" side it would still be trespassing.
The common solution would be to build your own fence with the whole thing on your land. Our deeds say the bottom fence was originally ours, but the current fence was put in by the house at the bottom as it goes across the bottom of about 10+ houses and it would be silly if they had to put up with all the different broken fences.

Quite simply buy 2 bamboo canes, sink into the ground 6 inches in front of said fence and then stretch the lights across the canes.

There, problem solved.

Be courteous and ask.

Clear command hooks, attach them to your side and hang lights. Job done.

I live next door to a guy that lights up his garden like a Heathrow runway every bloody evening. It's bad for wildlife and lights up my back bedroom with a horrible orange glow.

If there relatively new houses. And the fences are the same through all the garden and look original then you own the fence too by buying the house and the neighbours have no claim to painting hanging ect. It is polite to let them know if painting thou. But check that too. It's only thing I can think of that hasn't been mentions in other comments. If you have 8 house at the back of you then sounds relative new and might be original fencing to which no-one else owns more or less than you! Worth checking.

Don't get into a dispute over a few solar lights, it is absolutely not worth it.

Our neighbours have solar lights, they come on automatically every night even when the neighbours are away. It’s really bad for wildlife and adds to light pollution. Maybe your neighbour has similar objections.

So no one owns the fences in new builds but one side is responsible for replacing it? 🤦‍♀️