This isn't on is it? (photo)

[HotChoc10]

Our NDNs are building some sort of contraption so they can hang their washing outside even when it's raining, but have screwed the sides of the structure to our side of the fence. I have knocked on the door and they were very apologetic and said they'd reattach it to their side, but nothing yet.

If I ask again and they don't remove them am I in my right to just remove the parts myself and drop the parts round to their house?

I have big plans for the garden and this looks so ugly!

I'd have given them a week to take it down after asking and then take it down myself. Don't be such a walkover.

OP, when it's removed, please make sure to remind them that you paid for the fence so they must not be attaching anything to it at all in future as it will damage it. A strong wind would rip your nice fence up too if they were still attached.

That would need planning permission, I think. There’s a maximum height for a fence and you’re not allowed to extend the height. Leaving aside the fact that it’s been screwed to your fence.

Sorry I thought I'd posted a couple of replies but they haven't posted! The family are chinese and only their teenage daughter speaks English which makes it a bit tricky but I will put a note through their door and hopefully she will translate. This isn't just me being a wimp about confrontation, I just expect it will be easier to make the points clear.

They're having their whole house renovated and are living elsewhere, so it's usually just the builders in the house. When they're back tomorrow I'll knock and ask them to give the note to the home owners.

even if it's fixed to other side water will rundown and rot you fence

That is so ugly op. Apart from anything else when the wind blows it down as it will it will.take your fence with it. Having just paid £1100 for fencing I'd be pretty angry.

The cheeky bastards 😳

Wow, OP.

It beggars belief what some people think they can get away with.

They are also going to need guttering on that as otherwise drains directly into your garden 😡😡😡

If the family are not living there then maybe rhe botch builders put it up. You can tell them to remove it and it's your fence and that you will be speaking to the council.

Yeah the builders did put it up, but the homeowners are aware - after we complained to the builders the owners popped round and we said it needed taking down and they said they would remove. (language barrier made it a bit of a tricky conversation though - maybe they don't think they agreed to it!)

@Floralnomad

I’d be telling them to replace the damaged panel and not to attach anything else .

Seriously? You’d replace an entire fence panel because it’s got a couple of screw holes in it? I’d tell you where to put your fence panel.

It’s pretty awful, OP. I’d give them a deadline and remove it myself if they didn’t meet it.

As it is 100% your fence, they cannot attach to it on either side. They need to remove it.

The builders should know better. I would go round tomorrow. Tell them to remove it immediately and that you do not want anything attached to either side of your fence. I would also say the rain will run into your garden and can you see the planning permission details. The builder will fob you off and say you need to speak to the owner so write a note too or speak to the daughter.

@steppemum

As it is 100% your fence, they cannot attach to it on either side. They need to remove it.

This. They can't attach it, even to their side.

Alsohuman If I’d just spent £1000 + on a fence and some cheeky git put holes in it without my permission yes I’d expect them to cough up £25 or whatever for.a new panel , it’s no difference to someone damaging your car .

Flip that is bloody awful! Cheeky. I would just remove tbh.

@HotChoc10

You own the fence. They cant attach anything to it; even on their side. If that structure collapses and pulls your fence down, they wont pay for replace it.

Are you telling them they can attach it to their side, or have you explained that the fence belongs to you and they cannt screw things into it?

@Alsohuman

If you put holes into something which belongs to someone else then you replace it. Doesnt matter what it is.

Wow OP. they are CF’s! I’d ask once, give a week then Rae that monstrosity down myself

@BobbieDraper I will ask them not tp attach anything to the fence. No idea how I enforce this if they do screw it to their side instead though, beyond repeated confrontation.

Maybe I’m too laid back for my own good but I wouldn’t replace a perfectly good fence panel because it had a couple of screw holes in it. We waste far too much stuff as it is and it doesn’t get much more wasteful than that.

Oh my god thats a bloody eyesore. I would be unscrewing that today and dropping it back over their fence. They can't have that

I'd get some trellis of your own up pretty sharpish, OP.

That should make it harder for them to attach anything as trellis is fragile by nature.

Rubbish google example attached for gist!

Also just wanted to thank all of you for replying. I was very ready to compromise on it being attached to their side but hadn't considered half the things you've brought up - eg. draining, wind damage, fence height rules. I'm really glad I posted and grateful for the advice.

If the fence belongs to you, OP, then your contractor has installed it back to front (or inside out). The straight panels (the ones visible in the photo) denote the outside of the fence, so should be on your neighbours' side of the boundary.

Have the neighbours recently moved in and perhaps assumed that the fence is theirs because of the way it's been installed? If they've been there for years and know that it's your fence, then they are being classic Mumsnet CFs!