Dull fences, boundaries and annoying neighbours

[MrsCampbellBlack]

So we live in a hilly area. Our garden has a wall with substantial buttressing - which is our responsiblity.

Neighbours with whom we share one boundary bought a dog last year and suddenly wanted the fence between our properties replaced. Its a silent boundary so we agreed we'd split the cost. We didn't want a new fence at this time but agreed to it for a quiet life. However we pointed out that their wall which sat behind the fence was falling down and needed looking at. They didn't do this.

So anyway fencing work started and stopped after one day as clear their garden about to fall into ours.

So now neighbour comes round and tell us that as they have to pay to get their wall fixed we'll now have to pay for the fencing in its entirety.

I am pretty raging about this and we won't be paying for it in its entirety but is it me or is it that just really unreasonable behaviour of them?

Not quite sure how to resolve it amicably at the moment . . . any ideas?

What is the cost of the fencing?
Id be raging too but if it was not much more i would probably pay if it meant i had more say on the wall repairs. A crap job on the wall will devalue your place so you want plenty of input! [angry| for you

Or for you rather!

I'd be furious. They're arseholes as I'm sure you realise. I wouldn't want to pay. I'd call their bluff. If their dog comes into your garden then you kick off. And you post any dog shit through their letter box.

Well DH reckons we just wait and see how the wall goes and then say - ho hum looks like we don't have the budget either this year for fencing.

To be honest the fence makes little difference to us - its at the back of our house so not that visible from our garden. We also back onto fields and they're worried the dog will run off into the country so have more incentive than we do to secure their garden.

I'm also concerned that if we take responsbility for a 'silent' boundary that we have set some sort of precedent.

But mostly I'm just bloody raging at their cheek!

Don't think it will devalue our house in any way - anything better than the falling down wall that's there at the moment and also the bloke they've got do do the job is someone I recommended.

So hard though when you want to be fair and keep things amicable. Really makes me want to do a double storey extension now to obstruct their view [but I won't because I'm not evil]

Just be polite and say sorry, can't afford it and change the subject. No need to fall out.

Our neighbour approached us and asked us to pay half the boundary fence as it was a bit tired looking. In reality they'd put a massive summerhouse in the bottom of the garden (3k job) and wanted a higher fence for more privacy.

I just about managed to keep a straight face at the cheek and said no. Pointed out it was his boundary and if he wanted a new fence he'd be paying for it. We haven't fallen out.

Though in fairness to my neighbour I think he genuinely hadn't realised it was his boundary, thats what he said. DH reckons he was trying it on.

I think ours are just cheapskates who think we should pay.

Oh well - we'll smile and be friendly but am not paying for it all.

And thanks for the advice!

Some times its hard to know if you are being irrational or if they are being bloody cheeky.

So they want a fence to restrain their dog but they want you to pay for it?

As if.

By the way, what is a silent boundary?

It means that in the deeds its not mentioned - I checked it with our solicitor as soon as they mentioned the fence.

We've only lived here for just over a year and the house needs a major renovation and to be honest the obvious thing to do is a big extension which would impact on their view and we have good views here. Bearing this in mind - I just don't get why they're deliberately being quite antagonistic.

DH reckons its because they work in professions where they're always obeyed so they don't think we will say no

Stick to the original agreement of paying half the fence cost, it doesn't matter how much the wall costs them. Clearly they only had so much money to do a job, this has now cost more than they have so they are trying to get you to pay more too. Don't.

They should have sorted all of this out before they bought the dog.

Smile sweetly, be very reasonable and just say that you are not in a position to pay for that repair at the moment, and weren't aware that it needed replacing or whatever and hadn't budgeted for it. Being very nice, polite and reasonable always takes the wind out of people's sails if they're asking for something they know they shouldn't be.

Yes DH keen for us to just to stick to what we budgeted so this may mean only part of the fencing is done and not that bit between their garage and our front garden which isn't really necessary anyway.

Thanks again for the advice

You simply say that you can only afford the agreed 50%.