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.

Double thickness row of 5ft willow whips. They grow new whips on the original whip every year (which will gradually thicken into sturdy trunks) new whips can reach up to 10ft tall per season. Leaves drop in autumn, trim back and enjoy new growth every spring.

Right NOW is premium planting time for them to root and go mental next year.

Look beautiful especially on windy days and create a lovely dappled sunlight.

google ‘willow fedge’ you can create a very basic line or get creative.

There are a lot of issues with bamboos in gardens, but if you choose the 'right' variety then not being very tall isn't one of them!

Incidentally, I think the previous poster who mentioned "bamboo screening" meant the stuff you buy in rolls and attach to fences, rather than anything planted in the ground. This isn't the best solution here, as you would need the neighbours' permission to attach something to the fence.

@Dreamstate must have been quite a gap between your new fence and the old boundary fence?

Unfortunately there is about 4 metres where the gap is 10cm wide because their fence had bowed inwards towards my garden and their fence posts in some places were incorrectly installed i.e. straddling the boundary ( a post being 10cm wide so 5cm was on my side).

Anyway the letter has sorted the situation out and they know they can't just claim it for themselves and if they sell their property they have to remove what they have done (the soil and plants). And if anything they do causes my fence to rot they will have to pay damages. Since they never responded back to say they do no agree with the letter they are now legally obligated to adhere to it.

They could of just gone halves with me at the time or put up their own fence when they took their old one down but that's their decision and now they have to deal with the consequences of it. They have removed the bricks that their fence sat on and therefore marked their boundary which will cause them a big problem when they come to sell because they will need to get someone in to correctly determine where the boundary is. All these problems they caused themselves just to save £500 which will now cost them a lot more later on. But hey their problem not mine.

So you’ve essentially given up 4 metres of your land that they can use for their enjoyment but not change?

10cm wide for 4 metres - like a small border if that makes sense. They can only use it temporarily but I have the right to take it back if they break the agreement or I need it back when I do an extension.

There wasn't much I could they were going ahead and taking it for themselves anyway and then I got threatened with violence. My only legal option was to make it clear they cannot possess the land and claim it's their land.

I was having my garden landscaped professionally, we discussed a number of options to hide their fence and my design included climbing plants and I wasn't able to use their fence because eventually the weight of the plant would of caused it to fall down since it was rotting away and then I would of been liable to pay. So I had no option but to put up my own fence.

Live bamboo or bamboo screening which can be stapled onto the existing fence. That or install another fence on your side

https://pin.it/3UGMvj8 this is a privacy screen that you install on your side- where the top of the fence is, you put slanting trellis or similar screen, not attached to theirs but your own posts. Raises the privacy element without installing a whole new fence. The supporting posts are on your side and it can be as high as you like as it’s not an actual fence. Plant some clematis or wisteria to add privacy.

@Dreamstate did you lawyer give you any heads up about adverse possession?

Yes that's why I sent them a letter and it clearly states in it that the land is mine with all the pictures to evidence it. They had 2 weeks to dispute it but they didn't. Therefore because of that letter they have acknowledged the land is mine and therefore cannot claim adverse possession in 10yrs time. Everything was done properly in the letter which also included that they have to remove everything if they break the agreement or if they sell and make it clear to new owners where the boundary is. That's why they have caused themselves more of a headache.

Ah good on you!

what happens if they say they don’t want the land given they can’t fill the gap? Presumably you’d be forced to take down your fence?

Well like any owner of the boundary, they don't have to mark the boundary with a fence its just that's what normally happens, so when they took their fence down they made a huge fuss about the gap and how its dangerous for their kids. I said its not my problem to solve you took your fence down and your legally obligated to mark the boundary as you own it. Piece of string, fence, whatever.

If I didn't have a fence what would they do? They put of put a new one up of course to ensure their kids were safe. They just don't want to spend the money.

So yeah if they don't want to put a fence up then they have to live with the gap cos its my property. They can't make me move my fence to be on the boundary because then I become the legal owner of the boundary and title plans etc need to be updated and then I take on responsibility of having to maintain it.

Given the threats made to me, I compromised and the solicitor put it in writing they are borrowing the land and they can only put soil in it at least 1cm below the gravel board cos I don't want my fence rotting and they could only plant hedging (cos if I remove the fence I can always cut it back to the boundary). There is to be no grass up against my fence as there garden is slightly higher than mine so again it would rot the fence. They cannot paint it or attach anything else. Very strict terms.

Very odd that they have been forced to have your land. And they’re not happy with the gap. I know what they should have done (they were responsible for the fence?) but they now have a bit of land on their side of the fence that has been thrust upon them and I’m curious what their rights are. It’s quite interesting and I don’t suppose a common scenario!

Ah they have been allowed to fill it. Ok mystery over

They haven't had it forced upon them. They can just put up their own fence again because if mine didn't exist they would of had to eventually replace their one anyway. They weren't even planning to replace their fence for years as they told me, they deliberately took it down. They have left one panel up to hook their clothes line onto.

They have zero rights. They have the right to put up their own fence or small wall or whatever they like on the boundary that's about it.

Yes because they refused to remove it and after being threatened I didn't want to go to court for an injunction. I got everything in writing and that's what matters the most plus they have strict terms on how they can use it. So where they were thinking they could just go ahead and paint my fence without even asking me that's all been stopped now and I can live with the current agreement. In the future there will be a time I extend my kitchen and will be taking part of my fence down (mostly the part where the gap is bigger) and reclaiming it back.

I’m guessing you don’t pull each other’s bins in! 😂

😂 maybe if they were such cf I might of just let them have it but they think we all want to hear about their lives, what they have for breakfast and so on they don't talk they shout and at 7am on the weekends in the garden or have loudspeaker calls. Thats pissed off quite a few neighbours especially in lockdown when noone could escape their house and had no choice but to hear their conversations. I ended up wearing headphones alot in my house 😆

Cable ties and sandbags.

Is that you @Dreamstate ?

Yeah I got two accounts cos I forgot my password once and one account is signed in on laptop another on phone and I can't be arsed to sort it out 🤣

OP how about just putting some shrubs / small trees in large pots or planters along the boundary. You could choose evergreen specimens like conifers (blue arrow or sky rocket junipers for example), holly or even nice cherry blossom trees (not evergreen.)
Saves you worrying about a land grab if you put up your own fence and they remove their fence. And it would be more wildlife friendly and would look nicer than bamboo rolls for which you’d need to erect a frame to support it.
I’ve had my own issues with a difficult neighbour and have spent thousands trying to regain privacy (pergolas, summer house) which have helped but at the end of the day I have planted a new thuja hedge about a metre inside my boundary fence as I have the space to do so and I find hedges more effective than anything in providing privacy.

That sounds like a great plan. Keeps the boundary visible, and it would be hilarious if they ripped their fence down and found you'd painted yours on the back. I'd go for a very bright rusty red with light green polka dots, very messily painted. That would be really annoying.

Please do this. 😂

Simple. You can put a fence or screening in on that boundary up to their fence, provided it is self supporting (ie doesnt rest on their fence) and on your land ie your side of boundary line.