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

[Lifeisconfusing]

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.

Oh got the land registry deeds and in very very small writing it says the boundary line has be adjusted between house A and B requested by the client. Basically I think next door have had something legally binding that we do not attached anything to there garage. Either that or they have somehow been allowed to do something Else to change the boundary will definitely look into this today. They have changed something and they have also double fenced all before we moved in

I think falling out with your neighbours should be avoided at all costs. There is no quicker way to spoil the enjoyment of your own home.

I would speak to them again. Decide between you both if the gap is workable. You don't want an issue in a few years and neither do they. Accept it might make more sense to reconfigure the decking layout.

@JudyCoolibar I absolutely do not want any special rights

@JudyCoolibar what I was trying to say was I now agree it was wrong to say it’s in my garden but if I look out my window it does appear to be in the garden as it’s a party boundary. The wall to look at really doesn’t bother me Iv tried to look at the positives I.e the houses behind me can’t see me etc I bought the house because I love it and the garden is a compromise Iv not attached anything on there garage as requested.

What an awful design for a new build estate. I have never seen anything so odd as having a neighbour’s garage literally in your garden. I think that putting a high fence up would be the way to go, at least the garage would then be on “the other side”.

How incredibly tiring! My Garage forms the back "wall" of my next door neighbours garden and I genuinely couldn't give two figs if they hang a washing line from it, or put up some hanging baskets. I wouldn't be very happy if they decided to drill decking directly into the wall without discussing with me (as I have electrics inside the garage), but then again, the gardens slope away from my garage wall, so I wouldn't be concerned about the damp proof course and they are generally great neighbours so wouldn't think of doing something like that.

I do have to ask though, if you knew that they we're so uptight, why didn't you think to discuss it with them? In your position, I probably would've sacrificed some garden in order to put a fence around the garage to stop this sort of silliness.

Could you move it slightly further away from the garage and add decent height rail to the back to stop people or furniture falling into the gap ? Or even a tall trellis type fence to it so you can hang things off it if you want ? It would also soften the view a bit ? Although that might make it harder to clear rubbish out of the gap.

Why is their garage essentially making your garden smaller though? It blocks the light etc. Why is it not in front/behind their own house? Where are the other garages in relation to the properties? It's absolutely weird that it is directly in front of your property.

@curtainsforme my garage and the neighbourS on left both have our garage attached to our house like right beside the front door much nicer. Having it there honestly never bothered me I knew the rules and I stuck to them

Q

People suggesting fencing around ??? Wouldn’t a fence be the same issue small gaps and not being able to get behind the fence to maintain his order and joy? Maybe I should make him a little gate to get in and out of his garage

In and out to his garage (wall)

Get that pipe moved!

Why is everyone so excited about this. We have next door’s garage wall as part of our boundary. We live on a corner so their garage is next to their house, at the end of their garden. Our garage is next to our property also forming part of our boundary. I don’t think it is that unusual?

Anyway, in a previous house, where my garage formed part of my neighbour’s boundary, they created a pebble garden. Very quickly, you could see the damp creeping up our garage. I asked them to create a channel and they did it. No drama.

I would personally create a bigger gap. Not least because as it stands, you have a perfect rat run.

@Orangesox I know maybe I should have but I really didn’t see the issue if the decking wasn’t attached. Will look into it today I’d rather sort it before it’s finished then live a life time of misery with the neighbours

@BarbarAnna thanks will check it out today

@SmellyBeard so this pipe shouldn’t be in the garden on my side? Right!??

Greedy developers shouldn't be allowed to do this , If I bought a new house the last thing I would want to look at is a ruddy great brick wall I couldn't grow anything up and a potential cause for neighbour disputes.

You need to get the down pipe moved as you'll have water pooling there which will destroy your decking in any case.

Honestly I would move I couldn't live with that arrangement. You will have this issue time and time again and won't be able to put any furniture near it etc.

OP The positioning of your neighbour's garage is odd and it would have put me off buying the property, but as you are living there now, I think you need to check with your conveyancing solicitor to see what the situation is, particularly in relation to the downpipe from the garage which appears to be in your garden. Do your neighbours have access over your garden for maintenance of the downpipe, and structure of the garage, and if so, how do they gain access? I think you need to clarify the situation as the problem over the decking might be the least of your worries.

You don't need their permission to put your decking up, but you do need to be careful how it is laid. See this: www.diydoctor.org.uk/forums/decking-damp-problem-t3657.html#:~:text=This%20has%20been%20caused%20by,was%20lowered%20by%20that%20amount.

You need to make sure it doesn't cause damp problems. If it does cause damp then you may be liable to remedy it.

What they said about needing to keep it clear so they can maintain it is nonsense. You can put whatever you like there. They may be able to secure access to carry out essential maintenance (look at the Access to Neighbouring Land Act here ) but would have to leave your decking (or whatever you have in your garden) exactly as they found it.

Christ when we had a new patio built our builders told us exactly how we had to have it so it didn't cause run off when it rained and compromise our neighbours damp proof course or their driveway.

Not sure why your builders didn't point out the problems that having decking 2" away from a boundary wall could cause future problems.

I would lay the decking further away from the garage and erect a large trellis in front if the garage wall - leave at least 6” between the trellis and the garage wall. You could then dig a flower bed between the trellis and decking and grow some climbing plants up the trellis to hide the garage wall.

@Lifeisconfusing The damp problem with their garage is because the builders have turfed right up to the garage wall. They should have left a drainage area around the garage perimeter filled with gravel. But they have not.

If I were not allowed to do anything with their garage wall that abuts my garden I would put a fence up in front of it. One that is removable for maintenance. They I could paint it and hand what I wanted on it and it would screen the garage from my view.

Could you ask the deck builders to put two high posts on your decking so you can attach a screen and brackets for backets etc to it?

It's also completely rude of the neighbours to come into your garden and also to try and tell you what you can and can't do in YOUR garden. They don't own your property. And like you say, a larger gap would mean your feet might slip down and you may end up causing damage to the wall by things falling on it.

We have a similar set up and have also decked up to it. There's no build up of leaves / debris, despite one of their trees overhanging the equivalent of where you have a fence to the side. We also have gutters on "our" side of their garage which we check out of courtesy.