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Unfenced land belonging to neighbour

12 replies

GoodNewsAndBadNews · 16/04/2025 16:32

Would be interested in legal opinions and WWYD here. My neighbour’s garden has always been a tip. The house is rented and neither the owner nor the tenants have bothered keeping it in any sort of decent state. The back fence, which adjoins my plot, has been broken for years. The tenants recently changed so the landlord was forced to tidy up the garden. He has put up a new fence halfway down his garden and thrown all the crap over it, so the view from my kitchen window is even more of an eyesore than before.

My choices are:
1 - put up with the view
2 - put up a fence at the bottom of their garden to improve the view
3 - clear the crap (it’s mostly old fence panels, empty paint pots, broken paving stones) and pretend it’s part of my garden with some pots and maybe some garden chairs

If I do 3, the landlord may get wise to the area being cleared and move his fence to the bottom of his garden - which is a win win in my eyes, anything is better than the existing view. What are the downsides?

Perhaps there is a solution 4 that I haven’t considered?

I have previously written to him about his fence and been ignored, and the previous tenants also tried to speak to him - they couldn’t let their dog out - but he wouldn’t secure his boundary. I don’t see any advantage to trying to speak to him but happy to be corrected.

Thanks for reading

OP posts:
Whaleandsnail6 · 16/04/2025 17:10

I thinks I'd go with option 2, put my own fence up and block out the view

I'd be reluctant to do option 3... you'd make the area lovely but you'd be the one doing all the work and they would likely then decide to just change the placing of their fence... I'd feel resentful at them benefiting like that!

Gundogday · 16/04/2025 17:11

Put a fence up at the end of your garden.

itsgettingweird · 16/04/2025 17:13

2 of you do t want to do all the work to lose the space.

3 of you’re willing to do the work and risk losing the space and will see it as a win at the end still!

GoodNewsAndBadNews · 16/04/2025 17:40

I agree - I could do all the work and they could benefit. Legally, could I be in trouble for clearing the eyesore? I would be ‘destroying’ someone else’s property even though it’s rubbish.

OP posts:
Whaleandsnail6 · 16/04/2025 18:23

GoodNewsAndBadNews · 16/04/2025 17:40

I agree - I could do all the work and they could benefit. Legally, could I be in trouble for clearing the eyesore? I would be ‘destroying’ someone else’s property even though it’s rubbish.

I hadn't thought of that...he may decide he wanted the rubbish for future projects or whatever if you chucked them and I wouldn't know where you would stand as the stuff doesn not belong to you.

I would definitely go with option 2

RuffledKestrel · 16/04/2025 20:18

Offer to buy the land from them and extend your garden legally?

buckeejit · 16/04/2025 20:54

I’d offer to buy the land if possible. Otherwise would speak to the council about the mess with a view to putting up my own fence. You can’t touch someone else’s property & dispose of it even if it is a pile of rubbish

GoodNewsAndBadNews · 16/04/2025 21:39

RuffledKestrel · 16/04/2025 20:18

Offer to buy the land from them and extend your garden legally?

That’s a good idea but I wouldn’t know where to start with valuation?

OP posts:
GoodNewsAndBadNews · 16/04/2025 21:41

buckeejit · 16/04/2025 20:54

I’d offer to buy the land if possible. Otherwise would speak to the council about the mess with a view to putting up my own fence. You can’t touch someone else’s property & dispose of it even if it is a pile of rubbish

Yes, I wouldn’t want to finish up in court for clearing it. Realistically I doubt the landlord would care but you never know.

OP posts:
johnd2 · 17/04/2025 00:08

GoodNewsAndBadNews · 16/04/2025 21:39

That’s a good idea but I wouldn’t know where to start with valuation?

The land is not really worth anything to anyone but you and the current owner due to presumed lack of access (and maybe a neighbour either side at a push) so you can work out your maximum price and then offer what you think they will accept as a starter.

Lolapusht · 17/04/2025 20:54

DIAGRAM!!!

😜

JohnofWessex · 19/04/2025 19:33

Contact The Local Authority, they can force him to clear it up

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