Neighbours/ fence / extractor flu thingy?!

[ItsQuiteHardtocomeupwithaname]

Hi there, this is for a friend. It all started when their neighbours moved in and sent them a solicitors letter stating they need to remove an inch off the slab on the front, as it was going onto the neighbours garden. So they removed it. All was good.

Then they had another letter saying the friend needs to move her wheelie bins to her side of the alley way closer to her house, they were still on her land, but apparently they were blocking the neighbours access to that side of the house ( the neighbours have no gate on that side it's just a bit of gravel then my friends path slabs). So she moved them.
Friend decided to extend her fence which was already there, up along her boundary to the side of the house, so as to move the gate to put the bins here. Neighbours husband said this was great and saw where it was going to go. It has literally moved the fence / gate just up the the friends path, on friends land.
Now.... Friend had yet another solicitors letter, saying she needs to remove fence and gate back to where it was as it is it is too close to the flu extractor (not really sure what its called , but it's the black pipe coming out of the neighbours house, for when the boiler goes on). A boiler guy has been to see the neighbours and has said there should be a minimum gap from the flu extractor to the boundary. So that's why they want the fence moving.
I hope this is making sense. Anyway, the friend is obviously fed up with the situation. She doesn't know if she has any right to keep the fence where is or she will have to move it. The fence and gate are on her land as I said, so I can't understand why she should move it, surely it's the builders fault for not leaving enough room. With the fence where it is, there is still a good enough space to go down the neighbours side of their house, but it just not enough apparently.
Anyone got any advice ?

Oh I know it's dull, but I really would like to help them

Ok, I'm no sort of expert but it seems to me that if the flue is venting too close to the boundary, it's the flue that needs to be moved. Do these neighbours ever actually speak to your friend, or do they just send letters via a lawyer? (A lawyer's letter is no more "powerful" than one written in green crayon by a 5yo, btw.)

It was a solicitors letter, and it says if my friend doesn't move their fence then the neighbours will take them to court!
That's what I think too, but I'm not in the know. The new neighbours never even introduced themselves just have been sending the letters, all abit strange really. The husband spoke briefly to my friends husband, who agreed to the fence, and he even said his wife can be abit fiery and funny.
So I think they know what to do for the best. Take it down or just leave it? Then possibly go to court.

*dont think

I think they don't like the fence and are making a nonsense reason for it's removal.

I think your friend should ignore the letter. I am not an expert however.

It looks like there should be 60cm between your friend's fence and the boiler flue outlet.

This is the formal documentation referred to above.

I guess your friend needs to get her tape measure out. I can understand that she's cheesed off with endless solicitors' letters but this is probably the one issue from her neighbour that she may have to deal with, rather than just because she's an obliging neighbour.

I don't see what on earth the neighbours could "take them to court" for. Using her own land as she chooses? Nah, leave the fence, ignore the loons. Update with the next amusing bollocks they pay some dude to write.

I suspect that, had the fence been there first, the flue would have to be relocated, but as the fence came later, it's the fence that would need to move - providing it's less than 60cm away from the flue.

The boundary was there before the flue, though.

Yeh, surely the measurement should go from the flue, to the boundary line, not to their house anyway. Bit confusing, but I will update when I know more. This has been going on for weeks already !

A boiler guy has been to see the neighbours and has said there should be a minimum gap from the flu extractor to the boundary.

yes

So that's why they want the fence moving. yes....because it avoids them having to pay to get their extractor fan positioned correctly.

Agree with Faster, it's much easier and cheaper for the neighbours if your friend moves the fence, though it doesn't actually solve their problem of their flue being too close to the boundary. They need to take it up with the person who installed the boiler.

The fence has nothing to do with it; the rules are definitely about the distance a boiler flue should be from the boundary - which hasn't changed. I think there are rules about distances from doorways and windows, too. If the flue is too close, they'll have to move it.

The government's planning portal website has details. It's in document J. Sorry I can't link from my phone.

Thank you for the info