Replacing a gate attached to neighbours house

[Hjb2410]

Hello
After some advice rather urgently
We are new to the whole house business and we don't want to fall out with our neighbours.

We moved into a house where a gate was attached to a piece of wood and then attached to next doors house.

The gate has been rotting away and in the bad weather keeps breaking away. We have a puppy and for her safety and to stop people being able to walk into our back garden we decided to get the gate replaced.

No nasty comments, we assumed it would be a straight swop and as the previous gate was there would be no issues.

Fast forward to the gate being fitted, next door are saying they had an agreement with the old owners about the gate but as they have moved out where do we stand?

Obviously we have said if they aren't happy we will stop and look for another way round it. They have said they just want them to patch up where any old holes are.

Can I have any advice/ help if anyone has any experience

Thank you

I don't see what their issue is. You're changing like for like? What have they said is the issue? Are they asking for more money? They sound like CF.

If I'm picturing it correctly they're being a bit ridiculous. It's like for like. You'll need to do whatever they want probably as you don't want to fall out with them.

We need a diagram.

Replacing the gate like for like. Ultimately my point of view is yes it's our mistake we didn't ask them first however it is a replacement like for like as the old gate is knackered and we want a new gate for security. If they had a previous agreement for wood to be attached to their house surely that shouldn't change now?

The issue is they are concerned about any damage caused to their bricks and property with removing the old wood and fixing the new gate.

They haven't yet requested money from us, is this something we should offer?

We have discussed it with him and are showing him progress etc he seems ok I think just concerned with any damage.

Is there any suggestions of anything else we can do?

I think the point is that your neighbour's house belongs to them, and you have no right to do anything to it without permission.

Asking first is normal. Paying is not.

If you own the alleyway, you can put a post in the ground, not touching their house. If the alleyway is shared, agreement is needed whatever is done.

This is confusing, but if the issue is they want any old holes made good, then just do it?

So the issue is you are removing the old wood attached to their wall and not just attaching a gate to the existing post? The fact you are removing something from their wall should have made you talk to them first as their wall could get damaged.

They probably wouldn't have had an issue if you were reusing the wood that was there. It's because you are removing the old wood to then reattach something else that has annoyed them.

Just draw a diagram!!!

I don’t get why everyone wants a diagram, it’s easy enough to picture without one.
I would just either dig a post hole in your drive/garden or drill one in if you can’t and attach the gate to that instead.

You cannot just decide to attach something to someone else’s property. Who owns the land between the two houses?

Your neighbours are probably pissed off that you didn’t ask permission to attach a new post to their house and now they have more holes in their brickwork.

All you can do is ask their permission and make good any damage caused. I don’t think you should pay but perhaps a bottle of wine or some gesture of thanks would smooth relations.

When we removed a breezeblock wall between us and neighbours and replaced with a wooden fence we had no idea that our neighbours had attached a gate to the wall. There was no way of attaching it to the fence so they had to put a post in on their side.

As you are removing the old wooden batten from their wall and installing a new wooden batten to their wall you should of course have spoken to them and sought permission.
So long as you now reassure them that you are paying for all work, all holes will be filled and damage from the old one made good and new Batton won’t cause damage and holes sealed etc there shouldn’t be a problem.
I too don’t understand why they would want more money but it probably isn’t worth getting into neighbour dispute over if the sum they want to affix new batton is not much. Repeat I don’t think they should ask for money at all but sometimes life is too short if you can afford whatever it is. Good luck !

Thanks everyone for your comments

Obviously very much aware it was our fault for not speaking to our neighbour prior and have definitely learnt from this.

We have apologised profusely and discussed the situation and are going to get them a gesture of goodwill gift.

Thank you

Don't pay them though. . That is ridiculous.

i can understand, you wouldn't to ask if it's already there and you are swapping the gate for a new one.
i'm puzzled of the neighbour mentioning money,if the previous person paid for it,why ask for more money now.

it is either greed or they don't want you to fix on their side or maybe because you did not ask for permission.
to be honest i'm more puzzled by your neighbour's motives.
one thing, don't fall out with neighbours,but i won't pay and i'll have to install my own post.