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.

(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
QueSera · 04/06/2020 11:23

What a nightmare set-up OP! What a bizarre arrangement for a new-build!
From what I can tell, you are entirely in the right. You are not touching their garage wall. Check your legal documents - surely they can't dictate how 'near' you get to touching their garage wall?
However, if I were you, I would build a fence to fence off their garage, because they sound like a nightmare. Though if they object to low decking, they'll surely object to a fence - however if the panels are removable for access, they shouldn't have a leg to stand on. Maybe get legal advice OP.

Out of interest, what if you're playing ball or something in your garden and the ball hits their wall - do they complain? The fence would help with this.

Runnerduck34 · 04/06/2020 11:38

Yadnbu, they are idiots, keep calm and carry on, as long as you havent attached anything to their garage wall you are fine.
If they bring it up again I would reiterate that nothing is attached to their garage and also that they cannot walk into your rear garden without your permission, that is trepassing.

Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 11:55

@QueSera my son has played with the football but luckily he’s not touched it but!! it’s all just crazy

OP posts:
Windyatthebeach · 04/06/2020 12:04

Have 4 fence posts put on your land inside the decking line. Put up reed panels on them and hang some sun catchers or lightweight things on.

What an ugly bloody view for you op.

Witsend101 · 04/06/2020 12:05

I would put a fence up alongside the garage in your garden and then no issue with hanging stuff of it or putting decking up to it

imsooverthisdrama · 04/06/2020 12:18

What you do on your property is your business , if you want to put decking build on it etc it's nothing to do with them . You have left a gap so it's not touching the garage so that's that .
If they are worried about damp etc then they will have to sort a damp course or something but it's your property they can't say no you can't put decking and they can't say it's their land . Perhaps a fence next to the wall would be the answer but I can imaging they'd complain about that .

NoToast · 04/06/2020 12:48

Is the garage a boundary wall or a party wall? I have both party and boundary walls shared with a next door development site. I knew nothing at all about wall stuff but had to call surveyors in (at the developers expense) to address issues with them digging along walls. Any work they want to do now on the party wall has to be subject to Party Wall agreements between us negotiated by mine and their surveyors. They can't do anything to the boundary wall and that excludes some works on their side that would affect the wall.

It's a complex area, the website garden law.co.uk might be of use. I think it's worth you having a clear understanding of this before you put money and effort in. Just to be clear, the magnitude of the development that affects me, is way above anything you're proposing, it made a wall unsafe and caused damage to render. It's been a real eye opener for me and I would be very cautious in the future. Hopefully all is fine and you get to enjoy your decking soon.

mumwon · 04/06/2020 12:58

Posts don't mean you own fence - its just the way it was built - general rule of thumb is left fence is yours BUT the only way to check is the deeds which show a "T" within your garden on the fence line
However drainage is a complicated issue & for peace sake I would move the decking assembly back a bit or have an edging that is perhaps a drainage channel ie French drain (dug out gritted) next to their wall & leading to a drainage lower down the garden away from there

uggmum · 04/06/2020 13:10

My neighbour's garage is built on the boundary.

We have a fence that runs down the side of it. There is not really a gap between.
There have been no issues with it. I did discuss it with my neighbours beforehand. As it is, their guttering overhangs the boundary. I am legally entitled to have a fence there.
I assume you would be too.

I would try not to worry about it. Also ensure that no one can enter your garden. I have a locked, 7 ft gate.

ArthurMrdr2 · 04/06/2020 13:44

Why cant he play football against the wall? What damage could a ball do to a wall. Sounds like they are territorial. Just try to relax and carry on as you were.

Collaborate · 04/06/2020 13:44

@mumwon

Posts don't mean you own fence - its just the way it was built - general rule of thumb is left fence is yours BUT the only way to check is the deeds which show a "T" within your garden on the fence line However drainage is a complicated issue & for peace sake I would move the decking assembly back a bit or have an edging that is perhaps a drainage channel ie French drain (dug out gritted) next to their wall & leading to a drainage lower down the garden away from there
This "general rule of thumb" is a myth.
Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 13:59

@ArthurMrdr2 Iv always discouraged the children from going near the wall out of respect. We have the trampoline there in the corner and I worry they will say the children have knocked it while bouncing that’s the type of people they are like.

OP posts:
packetandtripe · 04/06/2020 14:20

@GetOutOfThereHoggle that sounds like a viable solution.

ChicCroissant · 04/06/2020 14:34

You can remove a fence panel to work on the garage wall if necessary - not so easy with decking though, that's the difference.

I don't think they should have come into your garden and spoken with your joiners no, but I wouldn't like decking that close either tbh.

If it's not the only pair of houses on the estate with that layout do you know what others have done with it?

Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 14:46

This garden looks like mine but it’s not on my estate

(Picture attached)Fell out with neighbours over a garage wall. Help!!
OP posts:
Mytimetogo · 04/06/2020 15:31

What a weird design. Does their access run along the bottom of their garden? Why putt he garage there and not just at the bottom of their garden (with a shorter 'drive')? That would wind me up, seeing the garden I'd 'lost' (OK, I know technically it wasnt ever yours but still). You don't want to live in fear of touching the garage.

longearedbat · 04/06/2020 15:34

If that were mine op I would first of all get their down pipe removed from your property as it could cause all sorts of drainage problems in your garden. I am surprised your solicitor didn't pick this up. I would also be checking what your deeds say about their rights of access for maintenance.
I would then have six foot concrete fence posts installed in your garden just a bit away from the garage wall. It is then easy to slide nice new six foot fence panels out if necessary for maintenance. You can then put your decking down abutting this fence. The advantage of this is that you can hang what you want from the fence to pretty up your sitting area. The disadvantage is you will lose a bit of garden, but this might be a price worth paying. The trouble with some neighbours is that they get all proprietorial on you and reasonable demands (and they are always demands and not requests) can soon become unreasonable ones as they try and browbeat you into submission. You want to nip their moaning in the bud now. I would have been furious to have someone wander into my garden uninvited.
I also would not engage with them either, there is no point trying to appease some people.

Roussette · 04/06/2020 15:58

I don't get neighbours like this, it's so selfish. It's the back of a brick garage, what do they care what you do? They are talking about it like it's a Grade 2 listed building!

You carry on doing what you want. You haven't touched their ridiculous garage, so you can have your decking or whatever you like.

Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 16:52

It’s nearly done and the workmen have managed to double the gap.

OP posts:
Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 16:54

It’s all screwed onto this wood now and it’s a bigger gap much more access for the LN

OP posts:
Lifeisconfusing · 04/06/2020 16:55

See pics

(Picture attached)Fell out with neighbours over a garage wall. Help!!
(Picture attached)Fell out with neighbours over a garage wall. Help!!
OP posts:
Itwasntme1 · 04/06/2020 16:57

If I had a brick wall like that in may garden I would want to attach a trellis and grow clematis up it.

Can’t believe you can’t even put a nail on the wall🤣. Mental

ElectricTonight · 04/06/2020 17:08

The neighbours are being pathetic. You can put decking in your garden.

It clearly looks like there's a garage in your garden even if it's not.

YouDancin · 04/06/2020 17:22

Better gap. How are you going to stop things falling down there now and rolling under the decking?

YouDancin · 04/06/2020 17:22

And did you see the suggestions about having a fence put up that you CAN attach things to?

Swipe left for the next trending thread