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Original poster

Advice! Can’t afford repairs

30 replies

Justgonamless · 06/07/2021 16:19

Help- we are skint- desperately trying to pay off 2 credit cards - 1 used to pay electrician and the other for a car. So not for exciting things like holidays.

My problem is our shared fence is broke - my neighbors want a new one (she rents) but I just haven’t got the money to go halves.
Also our felt on our garage (which backs onto another neighbors garden) needs replacing and she and badgering us to get it fixed. The back of our garage is the back garden wall.

I just don’t know what to do! I can’t take out another credit card when I applied to take some money out on the mortgage we were told NO not until our credit cards are paid off. Hopefully these will be gone by end of 2022.

Can I just tell my neighbors No that I haven’t got the money? Can they take me to court?

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 06/07/2021 16:23

One property of the other must own the fence surely? It’ll be just inside the owner’s boundary. Find out who owns it. If it’s next door, they can pay for it and if it’s yours you can decline until you can afford it.

LawnFever · 06/07/2021 16:23

Why is the fence shared, it’s normally owned by one side or the other?

Can she pay it and you pay her back? How broken is it, does she want a new one because it’s a bit scruffy or is it actually falling down?

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 06/07/2021 16:25

The fence belongs to and is the responsibility of whoever has the fence posts on their side.

HollysBush · 06/07/2021 16:27

Just tell them you can’t afford it at the moment. Don’t spend money you haven’t got.

MaggieFS · 06/07/2021 16:27

Boundary fences can be shared.

Of course you can say you can't afford either at the moment. Don't take on more debt. Just make sure you aren't causing damage to either of their properties.

I don't believe there's any compulsion for there to be a physical boundary, so with regards to the fence, if it's definitely shared, you could ultimately be happy for there to be no fence... of the neighbour could have their own just inside the boundary.

Original poster
Justgonamless · 06/07/2021 16:27

I’ve checked our deeds and all fences are shared except the back one which we are all responsible for- weird isn’t it!
It hasn’t fallen down but I don’t think it’ll last another winter.

I’m just worried that someone will send me to court as when you take out a mortgage is says in the paperwork that you are responsible for upkeep and maintenance. I honestly want to cry.
We are so frugal and I feel like we try so hard to keep everything afloat but then there’s always something that goes wrong 😭

OP posts:
purplesequins · 06/07/2021 16:29

concentrate on the most urgent - the garage roof - to prevent further structural damage.

wrt fence, you don't have to have a fence unless you need one to contain a pet.

do you have anything to sell? can you rent out the garage?

Andthenanothercupoftea · 06/07/2021 16:30

Fences aren't owned it's the boundary that needs maintaining by one side or the other.

You have no obligation to have a fence at all, let alone pay for half of it.

As for the felt, I assume it's not causing any damage or blockage to the neighbours? They'll just have to wait (although you might want to check it's watertight, assuming it's the roof felt).

You may end up with slightly pissy neighbours, but you don't need to spend any money at the moment.

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 06/07/2021 16:33

No one can successfully take you to court for not paying for a new fence. Unless you have a dog you don’t need a physical boundary there.
Just say you can’t afford it and if they want one they’ll pay or the landlord will pay. Even if you’re presented with a bill you don’t have to pay

DogsSausages · 06/07/2021 16:34

There is no legal obligation to have a fence, why is ndn not going through her landlords if she rents.

purplesequins · 06/07/2021 16:34

and with any repairs, look up on youtube how to diy.
some things are relatively easy and cheap to do. others needs professionals.

BunnyRuddington · 06/07/2021 16:37

Agree with all of the others, just tell them that you can't afford it but make sure that the garage is water tight.

As did paying off the credit cards, are you able to move your debt over to a credit card with zero interest? As someone mentioned above, sell what you can and are you able to take on more work either of you?

Not to fix the fence obviously, to get your CCs paid off more quickly.

Dillydollydingdong · 06/07/2021 16:40

Stop worrying. If you haven't got the money, you haven't got the money. There's nothing the neighbours can do.

SushiGo · 06/07/2021 16:40

Forget about the fence, you're not obliged to have one.

The garage is a bit trickier. What kind of leak is it? Is it feasible that you could teach yourselves how to fix it on YouTube? If not, I would be getting lots of big tarps.to cover the leaking parts to keep as much water off as possible, and paying to get it sorted when you can.

Because if you can't afford it, you can't afford it.

Original poster
Justgonamless · 06/07/2021 16:41

Thank you- that’s made me feel a bit more calm.
My neighbor that wants the fence repaired has given me her land lords Agency number and told me to sort it between us- and now just keeps asking have I sorted it yet. I’ve rang them but they haven’t got back to me.
My husband is going to patch up the garage as best he can.
I live in an area where everyone thinks they are a bit middle class- they are not. All my neighbors are so interested in keeping up perfect houses and gardens which is great I’d you can afford it but we just can’t.
The neighbors with garage were just so casual and said when you get your garage redone we will have ours done at the same time as theirs was looking a bit shabby.
It’ll cost £750-£1000 to have our garage refelted- That May not be a lot for some people but that would take me a year to save that kind of amount

OP posts:
Original poster
Justgonamless · 06/07/2021 16:43

The garage isn’t leaking yet! It’s just some of the felt on the side has peeled off. My husband is going to hammer some felt on to patch it up

OP posts:
DogsSausages · 06/07/2021 16:52

She needs to contact her landlord, not you. The may not want to pay either or think it needs replacing, they may want to come and have a look. Next time she says anything say you are waiting for them to contact you. Does the whole roof need refelting or just a patch on the side that has peeled off.

cansu · 06/07/2021 16:52

You need to be much firmer with the neighbour. Next time she asks tell her it isn't a financial priority at the moment and you will not be contributing to any replacement. Dont apologise or try and be vague. Just be completely clear.

BunnyRuddington · 06/07/2021 16:52

@Justgonamless I think you're worrying too much. We've been making so with some of our fencing for years, just keep doing repairs and painting it.

As for the garage roof, it took us years before we had the money to replace it.

Do not go into debt because a neighbour wants new fences, she could be gone in 6 months anyway.

MaggieFS · 06/07/2021 16:53

You don't even have to explain you can't afford it to the tenant ndn. Just tell her to take it up with her letting agent/landlord. Be firm. Repeat. Don't engage in any further conversation.

friskybivalves · 06/07/2021 16:55

GAH. Just tell the neighbours that your garage roof is not a priority, ditto the fence, and walk off whistling a jaunty tune. You poor thing. Awful to be getting nagged from two sides at once.

JennyTractorRiderGo · 06/07/2021 16:56

@WorkingItOutAsIGo

The fence belongs to and is the responsibility of whoever has the fence posts on their side.
This is simply untrue nor is if you look at the left hand side etc. If I have paid hundreds possibly into the thousands I would want the nice side of the fence, not the posts.

The only way to determine responsibility for a boundary is to look at the deeds/title plan because it will tell you in there. If there is no T then the boundary is shared and it will usually be stated in writing.

There is no responsibility to maintain a fence unless is specifically states that in the deeds, mine does, it says all walls and fences are to be maintained and not allowed to fall into disrepair however my house is 30 years old so many older properties won't have this clause.

If the neighbour wants a new fence so badly they can just pay for it themselves, in full. You simply cannot afford it and there is no obligation to have one. I don't know whether you have looked at MoneySavingExpert about transferring your credit card debt onto a single 0% card and pay as much as you can each month until it is paid.

Garage wise, I agree with PP have a look on YouTube is there anything there skills wise to help you either repair or at least temporarily repair the felt to prevent further disrepair?

Re taking you to court? The maintain the property bit is so if you default on your mortgage payments the house is worth something to the bank for them to sell it and recover what you owe.

After the 18 months we have had with Covid and people losing jobs left right and centre lots of people cannot afford repairs. You are not alone.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/07/2021 16:59

God I would be telling her to keep her nose out! For all you know the landlord doesnt think the fence needs replacing. And your garage is your concern not hers (her landlord).

You dont have the funds. End of.

Next time she mentions it, "weve had to put the fence on the back burner for this year as we dont have the funds to chip in on a replacement, and our garage roof has had some repairs done thanks"

LawnFever · 06/07/2021 17:04

Ignore her, you don’t need to speak to her landlord and you don’t need to replace the fence, job done.

Bargebill19 · 06/07/2021 17:12

Try asking on Facebook - someone may have an old tarpaulin or off cuts of roofing felt that you could get for free.
As for the fence - hammer and nail for the nuts that can be repaired. Or the next door renter could pay herself in full. For all you know the landlord may not be willing to pay anyway - so could be a totally moot point.

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