Neighbour has just lowered the fence!

[draxdomax]

We are end of terrace and are responsible for the fence to the left of us.
Having trouble with the neighbor to the right.

Bit of history: We started off alright but then we caught them spying on us (we are a F+F couple and I guess they find us interesting or disagreeable).
The police got involved and caught them with cameras illegally set up.
There was also evidence they were following us around the street and taking pictures and posting to channels (those pictures eventually reached us).

We didn't talk for 3 years.
Then, a common friend has died and we simply started talking again after meeting at the funeral.
Even started greeting each other and being somewhat pleasant.

Few days ago, neighbor approached and said he's having the fence between us changed.
It is indeed an old fence that would probably crumble this winter.
We asked him how high the new fence is going to be - he answered "as high as the old one".

Today, their fencing worker came with the fence panels and, not only that they are much shorter but they also have a "see-through" top section...
We've gone from 2m cover to 1m cover and feel naked, especially these are unpleasant and conflictive people with VERY keen interest in us.

My partner went to talk to them and the wife just laughed in her face "haha we don't care, it doesn't matter what we said"...

So, we are enemies again :/

1. Can we do something about the fact they promised a certain fence (verbally) and then installed a different one?
2. Can I attach something from my side on their fence? Thinking to get some sort of sheet material that will cover up to 6"... Or at least cover the see-through part of the fence

Any ideas, discussion, suggestions welcome.

Could you use some kind of sail, I see them used for shade but they could be used vertically instead. Just make sure you only attach it to things you own. You might only need a post or two.

Don't go with leylandii - there's a screen of it between my garden and my neighbour's and it's huge and hideous. On their land or I'd chop it down. But an attractive hedge in there would solve the problem.

On one side my neighbours have a 6 ft fence with gravel boards at the bottom so it’s even taller and it is BLISS. You wouldn’t regret putting one on your side of the boundary

This is a good idea!

How small a garden ?

I can send links for amazon.it gazebos. All with detachable side panels and roof. So you can shelter from eyes, but still get some sun depending on the orientation.

We stuck a 4x4 in one corner of our garden because it was the one area without a tall barrier and due to where it was I couldn’t even walk into the garden without being interrogated. They left 7 years ago and we have nice neighbours now. The original fabric panels got battered during several storms (I forgot to detach them before the wind hit us) are long gone. But over the years wisteria and honeysuckle have rambled so it still works for privacy. Which helps keep new neighbours good.

Yeah, this. We've done similar in our garden and it's fine (and even if they don't like it, there's not a huge amount they can do about it).

Honestly, I'd be moving house.

IMO with such a small yard, you've got to go for a fence of your own. Then grow a pretty clematis up it or something.

Leylandii will make your garden feel absolutely tiny, don't do that.

Or move house!

As others have said - it's their fence. They can have whatever kind of fence they want, or no fence at all.

Depending on the size of your garden, if you don't want to put up your own fence on your side of theirs, you can get rolls of screening stuff made of reeds/bamboo that you could put up (provided you don't attach it physically to their fence) which might be a temporary solution at least, perhaps while you invest in a fast-growing hedge or a trellis with climbing plants?

I am always astounded by the 'put up a fence' advice on MN.

It is really expensive getting a fence installed. If I did my 'bad neighbour''s fence as well as my own it would cost be an extra £1k. I don't have that money.
The OP getting a fence means she is paying for fences on both sides instead of one. As well as reducing her small garden by 4Cm or however wide fence posts are, as presumably the neighbour's fence is ON the boundary whereas the new fence would be inside the boundary.

I know there are very few alternative options, but 'Oh just pay an additional £1k for your own fence' isn't possible for everyone.

You can put a higher fence on your side. Don't disturb or attach anything to theirs in the process.

Depends, I think sometimes deeds say one or both parties are responsible for maintaining boundaries.

Max height fencing allowed (go a few cm under in case installing raises the height and they are petty enough to complain). Bonus if it has an ugly side that can’t face them. Grow nice plants up your side.

I'd do this.
Not worth the conflict otherwise.

They sound vile.

Is moving an option??

@EggInANest you're not wrong, however its considerably cheaper than 'I'd just move house' as some PP's have suggested.

I have bad neighbours, £1k for a fence to be installed is worth the mental health. I'm having a similar problem, and looking to spend £600 I don't have on trellising and plants/trees to create a privacy board down the boundary. Honestly, it means a smaller Christmas, but will literally mean I'm not going to be on high dose anxiety meds over next summer.

Just put your own fence up inside your boundary. You can’t attach anything to their fence, and you’ll lose a little space of your garden but just put up your own fence.

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

She has no other option than installing something higher on her own side, since the nosey neighbours are quite within their rights to have whatever fence they choose. She can go with whatever she can best afford and whatever timeframe she can live with.

Hell, do NOT go down the leylandii route- it's hideously awful and terribly expensive to maintain once it's tall- it grows wide, too...
It grows huge and will make your house dark.

A dozen or so fast-growing Leylandii should do it!

As already suggested by @pickledandpuzzled but just a washing line with large sheets attached to it.

If the neighbour can only see into the garden, then as winter is coming you can bring your “washing” in periodically. I’ve seen the washing line thing done in America when their neighbours had cameras pointed at them.

Ive also seen something beautiful on Pinterest where a net was hung at 45 degrees and something like ivy trained to grow all up it. The underside of it was a stunning green tunnel. For this you wouldnt need to put a fence up, but a few posts with either either rope or wood as the cross beams.

Look for something you can grow in slow time. Clematis covers well but can get heavy.

I know you did @CwmYoy i was just trying to emphasise the pots bit because had said bamboo without saying pots but I strongly agree with you.

I bought a room divider from Amazon and initially used the fabric panels supplied, but have since managed to grow a combination of ivy, honeysuckle and a clematis over it, which works brilliantly to keep our small back garden completely private from our neighbours.

dirty pro tools™ FOLDING ROOM DIVIDER PARAVENT SPANISH WALL PARTITION PRIVACY SCREEN PRIVACY SCREEN SEPARATOR (Black) : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

We have a local pain in the arse who put up cameras high up for maximum views trained on neighbour's houses- this person even had a video screen affixed to a TV screen facing outwards that we all could see.

These people aren't right in the head.

No one needs to be videoing neighbours constantly- they sound unhinged to be honest.

People with young children were worried- luckily small trees have grown since then to screen the person out {not leylandii!}

Some people like to make a career out of being unpleasant.

Fortunately no one locally has anything to do with this difficult person- it must be much harder in a smaller town or village.

Put a washing line with a fence and hang a big sheet up in a dark colour. Then on their side peg up some really massive bras with eyes painted on the cups. Make sure to sign it so they understand it's an art installation.