Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Garden Fencing

8 replies

stancey · 12/08/2013 13:43

We moved into a new build house and it is our first house. At completion Builder didn't provided any fences in garden apart from boundary poles. It took around couple of month for builder to now put around 2 meters high fencing. The problem is on my neighbour side of responsibility(as per title deed). They didn't wanted this high fences and we both have 3 years daughter which used to play with each other in any of the garden. However I prefer fences for privacy as well garden felt more secure.The neighbour week before came over and said they would like to have a door to our garden so that children can play with each other as they used to. I suggested they use garden door for entry but they would prefer not to let their children outside the main door. Although I didn't like the idea but didn't oppose as I though that it is their responsibility and they could put up whatever they wanted. They immediately remove one of panel but din't provided any gates. Just need a bit of advice in this context

a) I feel insecure personally that any child come without any explicit permission and my dd going in their house without asking us, Even I lock my garden door she would still be able to use their side of door to get out. couple of days earlier their garden might have been left open and a dog in destroyed some items in our garden. Can I ask them to refit the panel rather than fitting the door(they have not yet fitted any doors).

b) Could this access to garden can affect our resale value of house? we may have to move because of my DH job situation.

I would definitely prefer to refit the panels even at my cost but not sure If I can do it.

Although we are in talking terms with our neighbour but when I enquired about their plan yesterday he didn't responded well.

OP posts:
ianhunt84 · 12/08/2013 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

MrsGrumps · 13/08/2013 13:27

I moved to a property where I was end of terrace and the previous owner of my house had let my neighbours put a door in their fence so they could access the road through my garden & driveway for their kids bikes etc.

I subsequently moved in and rather quickly fell out with them over their constant access to my garden and looking into my windows so I placed a padlock on their gate so they could not get in or out.

Pretty petty I know and it is always best not to fall out with your neightbours but in my opinion they were taking the p*ss.

Your situation is different but if you do not like what they have done erect another fence within your boundary which can be of your liking.

Potterer · 13/08/2013 16:19

Personally I would hate this, it surely isn't a problem to use the garden door and walk a 3 year old round. To me this is sounding more like oooh babysit my child for me in your garden. You will have no control over when your neighbour's child comes into your garden.

You can't do anything to their fence however, you can if you wanted to install your own fence, slap bang against theirs and increase the height to 6ft as MrsGrumps says.

Having a gate into the neighbour's garden would put me off buying a house, sorry.

RoseFlowerFairy · 13/08/2013 17:16

I would hate this too. I would put a gate with a lock on your side up on your side to cover the missing panel.

FlatCapAndAWhippet · 13/08/2013 20:58

I wouldn't agree to this...it'll end in tears.

stancey · 13/08/2013 23:45

Thanks everyone,

I do appreciate your responses, I was worried about being classed as bad neighbour and probably gone too far for neighbourhood spirit.

If I do not agree for gate can I ask them to put up the panel back as they are responsible for the fence. I understand by law fencing is not mandatory so probably they can refuse to put the panel back and just leave it or even go ahead with gate.

I am still not sure, what are my options? clearly I can' put lock on their gate if it is placed.

OP posts:
Potterer · 14/08/2013 14:31

You are correct that unless the deeds specifically state a fence must separate the gardens then they have no liability to put the fence panel back.

But, as both myself and MrsGrumps said you are well within your rights to erect your own fence next to theirs. And you can have it as high as the other side, ie your 6ft odd one. So it is up to them, replace fence panel, or have 6ft fence between you.

You cannot put a lock on any gate they put in without their permission as it is their gate.

Have a wander over to GardenLaw forum to see how issues like these can escalate. It is always best to have a really big think on future implications of the stuff you do.

Gardenlaw forum

RoseFlowerFairy · 14/08/2013 15:12

If on your side where the missing post is. You put up two fence panels posts and a gate with a lock on your side, you can have control over who enters the garden, and show willing with your neighbour and stop dogs and random children entering your garden which is what is happening now, you can't control if or what fence they put up so put your own up .

New posts on this thread. Refresh page