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Original poster

Neighbour ruined our fence...

209 replies

Scottishgirl85 · 27/05/2022 20:44

Our neighbour has painted their side of our fence, and it has seeped through to our side... As you can see, it looks ridiculous! This affects about 50foot, but we have about 150foot more of the same fence around other parts of our garden. It's a very open garden so I think we'll need to paint the whole lot. I could cry, we're busy working parents with young children so could really do without this. Do you think neighbour should offer to compensate us? Will be speaking to them tomorrow...

OP posts:
Aconitum · 27/05/2022 21:06

Afterfire · 27/05/2022 21:02

Well, no, they’re perfectly entitled to paint their side of the fence. But to have it go through to the other side like that is dreadful.

Show quote history

No they are not entitled to paint "their side" of the fence. It is not their fence it is OP's and what they have done is actually criminal damage.

MuthaHubbard · 27/05/2022 21:08

This happened to us once - replaced huge area of fencing and about a week later, ndn used RED stain on her side. Which seeped through making it look like Michael Myers and Freddie Kruger had been in our back garden having an absolute ball.
I was furious and would happily have splattered her blood up the fence panels. NDN just shrugged her shoulders.
When we painted our side, I made sure plenty seeped through her side.....
#petty

pizzaand · 27/05/2022 21:08

No they can't @Afterfire

If your neighbour owns the wall or fence
Your neighbour doesn’t have to change a wall or fence just because you want them to, for example making it higher for privacy. You can’t make changes to your side without their permission, such as painting it.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/problems-where-you-live/if-you-disagree-with-your-neighbour-about-a-wall-or-fence/

henkon · 27/05/2022 21:11

If they didn't ask permission to paint your fence then i would be asking them to pay for all new fencing on that side. They actually have no right to paint your fence. If they didn't like it then they should have put their own fence up infront of yours so you can both have fences you both like. I would not be happy at all if someone did that to my fence that i had spent my money on.

easyday · 27/05/2022 21:18

I painted my fence black but was super careful that it didn't seep onto the other side. I did mine first then invited the other neighbours to show them it hadn't seeped so I could get permission to paint their fence (on my side). Surely people are aware that paint will seep through if applied carelessly and that they should not paint a fence without permission. With care it won't.

TheRealHousewife · 27/05/2022 21:31

Could you re- board your side? Crass of the neighbours!

TheRealHousewife · 27/05/2022 21:34

Forgot to add its looks like you have a fabulously large garden and I bet your home is equally fabulous!

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 27/05/2022 21:49

Trellising the whole back of garden might be good solution, thanks for suggestion! Honestly it looks like tar, no idea what stuff they've used. And it's a decorator they've paid to do the work!

OP posts:
Rollercoaster1920 · 27/05/2022 22:16

Do you have legal cover with your household insurance? They might be useful. I have a similar issue. The neighbour has damaged your property. You should get it replaced, but get two quotes. Then you claim the damages (cost) from the neighbour. You can take them to the shall claims court if they refuse to pay.

Obviously the first step is to talk to them in a friendly way, but don't take any repair or repaint crap. The affected fence must be replaced. Perhaps offer them the old painted fence if they would like to erect it on their own property.

TheSpottedZebra · 27/05/2022 22:17

We're you there when it was being painted?
Was anything said?

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 27/05/2022 22:25

@TheSpottedZebra no we've been out all day. We'd been home for a bit and our 4 year old said "mummy why does the garden look like a leopard?". I stood for ages thinking it was some kind of dappled sunlight shadow effect, then reality hit when we trekked up to the end of the garden!

OP posts:
worriedaboutmoney2022 · 27/05/2022 22:30

I think there's every chance if you got them round to show it to them they would be totally mortified. I'd do just that and let them take the lead in the conversation but if id done that id be mortified

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 27/05/2022 22:53

I emailed them photos and they have just responded, starting with 'oh shit'. They are definitely mortified! They are coming round on Monday as they're going away for weekend and have said 'we'll get this sorted'. So fingers crossed!

OP posts:
Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 27/05/2022 22:54

That’s good news! Fingers crossed for a mutually acceptable outcome.

Justwingingit2005 · 27/05/2022 22:58

When we had a new fence I mentioned I wanted to paint it dark grey the carpenter doing it said be careful as grey and black are popular but are causing 'neighbour issues'.

MustardCress · 27/05/2022 22:58

Nightmare. Yep, they’re going to need to put that right and pay to have the 50’ section of fence replaced with new panels to match the unpainted originals.

You shouldn’t feel forced to paint the rest to match when they have been careless with your property.

FAQs · 27/05/2022 23:01

Blimey, my fences are grey and no leak and the neighbours painted their side a bright orange colour and no leak my side?

tcjotm · 27/05/2022 23:03

Scottishgirl85 · 27/05/2022 22:25

@TheSpottedZebra no we've been out all day. We'd been home for a bit and our 4 year old said "mummy why does the garden look like a leopard?". I stood for ages thinking it was some kind of dappled sunlight shadow effect, then reality hit when we trekked up to the end of the garden!

Your four year old and I are on the same wave length, I was quite admiring the leopard look (while also agreeing it’s a terrible thing they’ve done )

Snowflakes1122 · 27/05/2022 23:11

YANBU - why do people think they gave the right to paint someone else’s fence without asking?! Seems quite common that people think they somehow own the side facing them.

SoupDragon · 27/05/2022 23:14

That is truly awful!

Unless you want a black fence, I would expect them to replace it.

Houseplantmad · 27/05/2022 23:17

That's a good start that they're mortified. It sounds as if they'll be open to a solution.

tcjotm · 27/05/2022 23:19

@Snowflakes1122 to be honest I never thought about it before I started reading mumsnet. I mean I also didn’t go around damaging people’s fences and I like to think I would’ve read up on it before painting or attaching stuff, but I never considered how the ownership side worked. Growing up all houses seemed to have the same rough unattractive wooden style (not nice like OP’s) and it seemed like the fence fairy must’ve just provided them.

CombatBarbie · 27/05/2022 23:21

Afterfire · 27/05/2022 21:02

Well, no, they’re perfectly entitled to paint their side of the fence. But to have it go through to the other side like that is dreadful.

Show quote history

No they are not if its OPs boundary responsibility.

I would be going going batshit!!! We too have a large boundary which we own, if my neighbour done this they'd be getting a letter to replace the panels or taken to small claims court.

ThatPosterIsSoRight · 27/05/2022 23:24

That’s a good start but I bet they won’t agree to pay to replace the fence.

I wouldn’t accept them painting the fence for you, as then you’re stuck having to regularly repaint the whole garden. I like your trellis, could you get them to pay to have the trellis along the whole section they’ve painted? Would that look odd compared to the rest of your garden?

TitoMojito · 27/05/2022 23:40

Crikey. Normally I'm the first to say fence wars are a bit petty but this is bad. I can't think why anyone would paint a fence black knowing it backs onto a neighbour's garden. Regardless of who owns it, it's just not a smart idea. All my fences are red cedar paint. If someone painted black on the other side, it would be a mess.

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