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(Picture attached)Fell out with neighbours over a garage wall. Help!!

210 replies

Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 01:18

What’s you opinion.
Moved into new build property in December detached house with a detached house on both sides. We unfortunately have our neighbours garage in our garden no big deal (right)???
we had nearly completed the sale and the woman in sales office said ‘oh before I forget you can’t hang attached anything to your neighbours garage I.e hanging baskets basketball hoop etc etc. We said oh that’s fine we totally respect that.

Moved in thought both sides where lovely both respectable, both sides have young children ideal I thought as I have 3. I gave my neighbour clothes from my little girl that she had grown out of Iv bought her a gift when she had a baby Basically got on well and everyone was happy.

With lockdown like most people we decided to get garden done. We chose decking to go along the back where we get the sun to put the chairs on etc. When the workmen came I advised that we didn’t want to attached any of the wood to the garage wall and to leave a gap this was all agreed all good to go. When the workmen started putting the posts up I thought I’d just txt next door to say btw we are getting decking but we totally respect you and we haven’t drilled or screwed anything to the garage. She hadn’t seen my message as literally minutes later she knocked to say she had Hurd drilling (it was a saw) and that she was wondering what we where doing? I explained that i had just txt and said not to worry we have left a gap!! We chatted about other bits and pieces then she left. 10 mins later she came to the door with her dh and 2 little ones and the dh asked if he could have a word with the lads!!!! I said yeah go round the back so off he went round the side he was asking the workmen what they where doing and how etc and then said that the decking is too high and would affect the damp proof in the garage the workmen said if they do it to this height all the rain water will run onto the grass not his garage wall. He then said if he needs access to maintain it he couldn’t!!! the workmen said he could get into point or damp proof or what ever he thinks he may need to do can’t see much maintenance on a brand new house, but anyway!! He then left and I thought that was that.

I was looking out the window a few minutes later and I seen a man I’d never seen before along with the dh in my garden,I immediately got my back up as he’s complaining about Me touching his property when he’s just walked on my property without even knocking on me first to explain that he wanted to bring his dad round to have a look.

The dh and the dad was grilling the workmen again and the same thing was repeated,I told the dh that I was upset he’d came into the garden with his dad knowing my dh is working away and I thought it was intimidating I advised I was guttered as I thought there where a lovely family and there basically causing unnecessary trouble!! I got myself upset and went into the house.

His dw Txt and said it wasn’t there intention to upset me but that We basically should have told them that we were getting Decking done and made sure they where happy with our plans.
My argument is we haven’t touched there property we have respected that from day one, we only advised them of this because we are courteous but I don’t feel the need to run over my plans with them. I said that unfortunately there garage is in our garden and we have to make the best of the garden working round the garage!! Her reply was which pissed me off was ..... technically your garden abuts onto our garage which is our land not your garden!!!

It doesn’t matter how she try’s to dress it up the garage is in our garden.
Right if you’ve got this far what is your opinion Iv been as fair as fair can be,I’m so upset that we have fallen out but I haven’t done anything wrong.

(Picture attached)Fell out with neighbours over a garage wall. Help!!
(Picture attached)Fell out with neighbours over a garage wall. Help!!
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Thisismytimetoshine · 04/06/2020 08:39

potential’ need in the future to gain access to the side of their garage?
They'll have a legal right to access for maintenance purposes.

Clymene · 04/06/2020 08:39

Have you checked your deeds about what your allowed to put along the boundary?

You should talked to them first. The fact you didn't is what has caused all this aggro

Itwasntme1 · 04/06/2020 08:41

They sound incredibly uptight. Some people are if they are worried their property might be damages, particularly if they don’t have much experience and catastrophise.

To be hones, I wouldn’t have bought a house with that layout. It does look like someone came along a built a massive garage in the middle of your garden😬.

But move on, accept they will get nervous everytime you do anything in The garden, And decide if you want to reassure them or ignore them.

headlock · 04/06/2020 08:43

As a pp said, fence off their garage. That will make life much easier for you.
It's a strange layout.

TinkerPony · 04/06/2020 08:46

The water sprout should not be on your property as it not yours.
It should be on the garage driveway side.
Hopefully ye still in snagging stage and request builders to sort it out.
You don't want that to become a wet flood area which will then affect your decking and rot it hence rotting/damping their garage too.
You can even point this out as you made no complaint but do make them aware.
Why haven't they notice this too when they went into your garden.
I bet they will be sorry seem high maintenance.

Lock for the gate too.

GetOutOfThereHoggle · 04/06/2020 08:47

What a nightmare OP :( sorry if this has already been mentioned above, but one thing you could do is get a little draining channel between the decking and the wall, it's like a little pipe cut horizontally with a grid on top.. it could maybe be screwed to your decking and not his wall and would mean that when it rains no water splashes above his damp course... it's called ACO hexdrain, just googled it. Mum in law has one...

HeronLanyon · 04/06/2020 08:49

It is not in your garden and I’d 100% avoid ever saying that to them - aggravating when so wrong - even though I see how you ‘feel’ it is. Really odd layout.

Your decking is incredibly close to their brick and damp proofing etc I too would be worried about damp NOT for me but having just sold I can easily imagine it would be the kind of thing a surveyor might comment on if they were ever to sell. I kind of get why they are a bit worried. Can the decking be moved outward even by a few more inches so you can get a brush/garden fork down there Every now and then to keep it Clear/aired ? To be honest you’ll want to do this for your own decking.

They haven’t handled it well.

Good luck op. Btw excellent photographic exhibits to help us understand !

Roussette · 04/06/2020 08:49

It would have been considerate and prudent to have talked to them about your plans before going ahead. Leaving a tiny gap and not touching the garage isn’t being a good neighbour, it’s obeying the letter of the law

Why? Out of courtesy I would let neighbours know I was doing something but the decking is on the OP's land, she sent a text, she's respected their requests not to touch the garage. What is she supposed to do? Just not have decking because the neighbour is so precious about his garage? It's brick built, what on earth is going to happen to it. It will have foundations, it will be built similar to a house, a few leaves under some decking isn't going to make it fall down!

Some neighbours would have trellis covering up the bricks, and putting up hanging baskets, then ignore the neighbour. That of course is wrong but OP, I would get some big plants to cover up the look of their stupid garage.
Oh and I would be very pissed off if neighbours took it upon themselves to talk to my builders without consulting me first.

I think OP you have been totally reasonable. It's your garden, you consulted them, you have totally abided by what they wanted.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 04/06/2020 08:50

They were mad to buy a house with a garage in that position. I don't understand why a developer would do this - it's an eyesore for the OP and potentially problematic for the neighbours. I can see why everyone is pissed off! Can the builders not raise their damp course? (Sorry, that might be a stupid question). I think I would move the decking back a little bit and fill the gap with pebbles so that you don't get leaves and mud down there. I would also consider putting a little fence up if the DC are in danger of falling. You could please everyone without losing much useable space I think. But you haven't really done anything wrong - they were stupid to buy a house set out like that.

Roussette · 04/06/2020 08:51

When I say 'I would get some big plants to cover up their stupid garage'... I don't mean attach anything to the garage, I mean plants in pots.

p.s. If it were me, I would not care a damn if my neighbour wanted to put up hanging baskets and a trellis on the back of my garage, because backs of garages are just that... the back I won't see.

GetOutOfThereHoggle · 04/06/2020 08:53

Or another alternative would be to dig down and put your decking level with the garden... bit of a nightmare to dig it out though.. hope you get it resolved... we have issues with our gas tank being on a neighbours property... we didn't buy it like that, it was shared land when we bought.. loooong story but the developer messed up and it took ages to come to an agreement without having to pay for solicitors...

Roussette · 04/06/2020 08:54

Isn't this like fencing? My NDN has a rambling rose growing against my fencing. I'm quite happy with that.

TinkerPony · 04/06/2020 08:57

Bet they will be awkward about the wall on the other side of the next owner of that house opposite if that area back garden too.
The garage should be next to the house if theirs are the end house on your row not behind next door neighbour's missing fencing.
Either the builders or the complainers could put fencing there if that should make boundary more clear and solve the gap between wall and decking. Plus you can hang fairy lights etc on your fence.

curtainsforme · 04/06/2020 08:57

That's a really awful layout tbh. Who does the garage belong to? Looking at the pictures you took out of the window there are no houses except the ones to worth's side of you, both of which have no garage encroaching on their garden space/view. I realise it's not in your garden but at the same time it's nowhere near the potential owners gardens either Sad

GetOutOfThereHoggle · 04/06/2020 08:59

Here's the drain link OP incase you're interested... you could remove the last slay near the garage and put this in instead..? It's cheap too xx

https://www.waterirrigation.co.uk/shop-by-brand-1/aco/aco-hexdrain-drainage-accessories.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl5ilutXn6QIViKztCh2liAWmEAAYASAAEgKsHDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

HeronLanyon · 04/06/2020 08:59

I have a property with shared septic tank (shared with A property) in a field Belonging to B property being used by C farmer for cows (D-N lets say) with a telephone post belonging to O company in same enclosure with access only across private track owned by B and P-T properties.

This thread has given me slight collywobbles Confused

TinkerPony · 04/06/2020 09:07

Honestly the garage should have been in front of their garden.
How did they get away with having it push back into your side.
They must have paid alot extra to have it there and it had bitten their arse.
I think it bugging them that you are making the most of the wall like a feature background for your decking and not being overlook.

SoupDragon · 04/06/2020 09:25

@curtainsforme

That's a really awful layout tbh. Who does the garage belong to? Looking at the pictures you took out of the window there are no houses except the ones to worth's side of you, both of which have no garage encroaching on their garden space/view. I realise it's not in your garden but at the same time it's nowhere near the potential owners gardens either Sad
The house to the left of the photo I assume. There is a gate in the rear fence.

OP, you have done nothing wrong at all.

SoupDragon · 04/06/2020 09:26

The house to the left of the photo I assume

RIGHT

Ffs.

Thisismytimetoshine · 04/06/2020 09:29

@TinkerPony

Honestly the garage should have been in front of their garden. How did they get away with having it push back into your side. They must have paid alot extra to have it there and it had bitten their arse. I think it bugging them that you are making the most of the wall like a feature background for your decking and not being overlook.
What on earth??
icansmellburningleaves · 04/06/2020 09:34

I can’t believe you didn’t foresee that it would be a problem having your garden right up to someone else’s garage. So many people buying new properties without a thought to any potential problems. They were always going to have to come into your garden if there was an issue with their garage. I wouldn’t have put the decking there. It’s obvious it would cause a problem.

JudyCoolibar · 04/06/2020 09:36

as Iv said before it’s a joining boundary but if I look at my garden I can still see an un attractive garage wall in my garden

But you knew that before you bought the property, so it doesn't give you any special rights.

However, so long as your decking is on your land they have no rights o object. But it would be an idea to put some sort of barrier between the decking and the garage so the damp issue doesn't arise. I think, with that set up, I'd want to set up something like a free-standing trellis so I wouldn't have to look at bare bricks.

Roussette · 04/06/2020 09:37

I do not understand when people talk of 'issues with the garage'. It is brick built. It will have foundations. It's the same as building a house, why would neighbours need to come in with issues?
Our garage is similar and 30 years later, there are no issues.

And why shouldn't the OP put decking in the sunny spot in her garden?

SoloMummy · 04/06/2020 09:44

@Mintjulia

Tbh, I can see the neighbours’ point. A gap of only an inch can get bunged up with wet leaves and weeds quite quickly if it isn’t constantly maintained. , Yes, it could cause problems if the top of the decking in above the level of their damp course. I wouldn’t be thrilled either.

If their damp course is breached as a result, they could reasonably require you to cut back your decking away from the wall.

I'd like to see them try... There's no legal basis. The only specifics were to not attach anything, which they haven't. If op had laid tiles with no run off they'd be in an even more precarious position re potential damp in their garage.
Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 09:46

Thanks for the messages, just to clarify again I 100% now know that I should I NOT have said that there garage is in my garden. Technically it isn’t it abuts my garden I.e party boundary !! But I still have to work around this garage which appears to look like it’s in the garden.

Looking back maybe I should have told them I was getting decking but I never thought about damp all I was thinking is I haven’t attached anything to there wall /garage.

The owners are the neighbours on the right. One post said I have a don’t give a shit attitude I absolutely do give a shit this has kept me a wake all night but the thing that got my back up was the dh coming in the garden with his dad like the Mitchel brothers demanding to know what the workers where doing when we had only just told him. Feel like taking it all apart Hmm

OP posts: