Cows Licking Window and House!

[Marchar]

As trivial as it sounds but just after some advice.

Our house backs onto a field in which there are cows. The house is built right up to the boundary and our kitchen window overlooks the field. The farmer, who recently acquired the field, has now put cows in said field. He had erected a barbed wire fence but it’s about a foot from our house wall and so the cows are still able to reach over the fence (undeterred by the barbed wire!) and constantly licking our house wall and window. I presume it’s the salt that takes their fancy as we live by the coast and the initial attraction to the house is because they are such nosey creatures.

Now I know in the grand scheme of things it’s a minor inconvenience, but I’m getting fed up of having a smeared window that I can’t actually clean due to the proximity of the fence to our house and having to go onto the farmer’s land and reach across the barbed wire fence to do so. I’m also concerned that the more the cows are able to reach my house wall and touch it, the greater the likelihood is of them dirtying it and/or damaging it which mean the need to repaint / repair.

I’ve read all sorts about it being the cattle owner’s responsibility for any damage caused by trespass (Animals Act 1971) but does anyone know if this would fall into that category or am I going to have to live with it?

Can you not get down the gap between the wire and the house and put something that tastes disgusting to cows on the glass, frame and walls? Not sure what though .

Or ask for an electric fence, but further back so they can't stretch over it?

sorry OP! But it is a very funny image in my head!

Could you ask the farmer if he would move the barbed wire back a couple of feet?

Why cant you just ask the farmer to move the fence another foot back? I mean they are not gonna damage your house by licking it. They tend to be quite inquisitive animals and they lick a lot of things tbh. They also like testing fences to see if they can find a way out. Just talk to the farmer.

Have you tried asking the farmer to move it back a bit? If he’s responsible enough to put the fence up in the first place hopefully he’d also want to be helpful by moving it a bit for you.

You bought a house with a boundary on to a farmers field....

Have you spoken to the farmer? He might not be aware of the issue. A chat might be all it needs.

I bet they really enjoy it. Let them have their fun for a bit before he moves the fence, poor sods

put the telly on in another room, so they can look in a window they can't lick....they should find that more entertaining

Open your windows and put your dirty dishes there. Solves 2 problems!

I’m sorry but this is my idea of heaven, I’d be sticking my head out talking to them actually I’d probably end up wanting to save them for slaughter as I had named them all but I’m just a crackpot animal loving vegan. There’s a field of young cows where I walk the dog and I go pat them and get them some of the grass just out of their reach

with you sweet i'd love it too glad i'm not the only fruit cake who does this stuff

Has the exterior of your place been damp-proofed or weatherproofed at all, if so, there may be some anti fungal treatment on your exterior walls which won't be good for the cows.

That may be a factor for the farmer to move the fence back a bit further to keep them off.

The farmer is well aware. The fence has only been up a few weeks and, according to his labourer that put the fence up, he told him to “put it as close to the house as possible”, so I can’t see him moving the fence now! I’ve been in contact with the farmer to advise him of what’s happening via text message but he hasn’t replied, and calls go unanswered. I’ll keep endeavouring!

I’m also aware that I bought a house that was built up to the boundary (which in an idea world it wouldn’t be but I can‘t rewind the clock back to 1983 when it was built!) but that surely doesn’t mean that the farmer doesn’t have a responsibility to keep his livestock away from my property even if it is as trivial as ending up with dirty windows.

I don’t want to annoy the farmer and end up in a tit for tat battle with him, but equally I’d quite like to have a kitchen window I can see through. Maybe I’ll have to Google harmless cow repellent! Just bog standard Exterior paint on the wall so doubt it’d be harmless to the cows.

You can get unpleasant tasting stuff called cribbox that you paint on things to stop horses chewing them to maybe you could paint it on and try and deter the cows.

Ooo thanks EmmaC78, I’ll look into that.

Clean your windows with vinegar, it cleans a treat but will taste vile. A silhouette of a bird of prey could work.

You aren't actually entitled to go on to the farmer's filed to wash your windows. The rights that people have to enter neighbouring property are contained in the Access to Neighbouring Land Act www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/23/contents and only covers essential maintenance. You may find that cows licking your windows will be the only way to get them cleaned.

Keep a jar of horseradish on your windowsill.

Sorry op but that sounds like my dream 😂 i love cows and wished they were at my windows.

Ask the farmer to buy a salt block for them or offer to get one, they aren't expensive and may distract them from your window.
If you think it is salt they are seeking.

Collaborate - is there anything more specific written in terms of what defines maintenance under the Act? I would’ve thought window cleaning came under maintenance of a property but stand to be corrected.

You'll have a much harder time long term if you don't speak with the farmer directly. It's important to know your rights but don't assume a battle before there is one. Most people are reasonable when you approach them reasonably.

Labourer sounds like they might be a bit of a stirrer, give the farmer the benefit of the doubt and see if you can grab him for a tea or a drink now the days are a bit shorter and just explain that the windows are a bit of a pain, ask if he has any advice about deterrents (like the equine example given by PP) and if he'd consider having the fence that little bit further back (possibly offer to cover the labour to move it) just so you can access the windows.

We used to have the same problem and ended up talking to the farmer and using an electric fence.

I tried chucking water on the cows from an upstairs window - they ended up liking that and coming back for more.

We ended up enjoying our bovine neighbours, they were really inquisitive and would peer through the windows whenever the piano was being played!

Ah I love cows! No help here really, but it did make me laugh, sorry!

Cow fan here too. 🐄♥️

that surely doesn’t mean that the farmer doesn’t have a responsibility to keep his livestock away from my property even if it is as trivial as ending up with dirty windows.

I haven't studied law in quite some time, but I don't believe the farmer does have a responsibility to keep his livestock from your property. Presuming they are licking your windows from his land and not coming onto yours, at least. He would have the responsibility of fixing any damage caused by the cows, but they aren't likely to cause much damage from licking your house.

I do sympathise, I am very scared of cows and would hate this, but I don't think that legally you have much of a come-back at the moment, and you might be better to approach the farmer directly as you'd be relying on his goodwill to get this fixed.