Page 2 | Neighbours got contractor to remove panels from my fence

Finemjen · 2025-07-09T02:11:31+00:00

Thoughts please. Fence was built on my side of the property line in the same place as previous one that had deteriorated, and I paid for it - neighbour was aware l as I gave her the land survey and we talked about it going back in exactly the same place as the old fence for several weeks beforehand, gave her 24 hours notice of fence installation and requested access we needed to her property. Unbeknown to me, my neighbour had contacted our contractor who had installed the fence and told him to remove fence panels - and he did! Without asking me. I was working from home and heard a drill, looked out of window and saw him do it, and then walk off with the panels. He’d parked round the corner so I wouldn’t see him. Can’t believe it! What would you do?

Cannongoose · 09/07/2025 12:18

I would text her - so it’s in writing- that you can put whatever you want in your property- it’s in your boundary and not hers. I’d state that you paid for them and she has had them stolen by a third party and if they are not back in situ within 24 hours you will call the police.
I would text or email precisely the same to the contractor making it clear that he was paid in full to install a fence and he does not own the fence and to take it without permission is theft.
If they don’t do what you say I would call the police because theft is theft and you should not have to do it up with this.

Cannongoose · 09/07/2025 12:21

Caveat - obviously you can’t put a fence that’s above what’s permitted so there’s a limit to putting what you want in your garden but not a six foot fence as it is not against council rules.
I’d tell her also that her preferences are moot to what she has done, which is illegally having your property taken

Nearly50omg · 09/07/2025 12:23

He’s STOLEN your fence!!!! I’d be pointing that out to him and also that he’s caused damage to your property so he either sorts it out today and puts it all back perfectly or you will be calling the police!!

Drfosters · 09/07/2025 12:27

Very bizarre. Looking forward to the update on the resolution. There is nothing stopping the neighbour putting their own fence up in the other side to their own liking.

Genuinely curious as to what they are proposing to go in the gap now the fence has been taken down. Is there just a big hole between the gardens?

Paganpentacle · 09/07/2025 12:33

rwalker · 09/07/2025 05:37

I’ve done similar with my fence it’s just my side of the boundary
and to be fair it’s not very obvious that it’s not a joint fence or just on my land
text your neighbour reiterating that it’s just yours on your land and lf she doesn’t like it she’s free to put her own up parallel to yours on here own land

She's not free to take down neighbours fence and have it removed....

Alltheyellowbirds · 09/07/2025 12:35

I don’t understand any of this.

As your new fence replaces a previous fence, and is in the exact same location, presumably she has no issue with there being a fence, or with its location. Is the replacement very different from the one that was there before? Taller for instance?

She didn’t remove the whole fence, just SOME panels? What was wrong with those particular ones? Were they different to the rest of the fence?

Where they have been removed, is there now just a big gap in the fence? Can you now just walk between your garden and hers?

Steelworks · 09/07/2025 12:41

I’m guessing g that you had the ‘nice’ side of the fence facing your garden, and she didn’t like it. However, she still can’t take it down. I guess she persuaded the contractor that she’d spoken to you and you’d agreed for it’s removal and/ or she said it was on her land.

nb. There no law or moral obligation to say that the person who installs the fence has to give their neighbour the nice side. The person who pays decides which side of the fence they want. The only exception is if the fence is adjacent to a road or public place, and then the nice side has to face outwards.

(one of my favourite mn thread ever was debating this point, and even though it was established early on that there was no law or moral/ethical obligation, people debated for pages that this was the case!)

Ohthatsabitshit · 09/07/2025 12:59

Steelworks · 09/07/2025 12:41

I’m guessing g that you had the ‘nice’ side of the fence facing your garden, and she didn’t like it. However, she still can’t take it down. I guess she persuaded the contractor that she’d spoken to you and you’d agreed for it’s removal and/ or she said it was on her land.

nb. There no law or moral obligation to say that the person who installs the fence has to give their neighbour the nice side. The person who pays decides which side of the fence they want. The only exception is if the fence is adjacent to a road or public place, and then the nice side has to face outwards.

(one of my favourite mn thread ever was debating this point, and even though it was established early on that there was no law or moral/ethical obligation, people debated for pages that this was the case!)

I don’t think “the nice side” as you put it (I assume you mean the side that doesn’t show cross bars) has to face outwards next to the road it’s just safer not to give intruders footholds.

rwalker · 09/07/2025 15:06

Paganpentacle · 09/07/2025 12:33

She's not free to take down neighbours fence and have it removed....

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Which is why I suggested the neighbour puts one parallel to OP’s fence she doesn’t like

Original poster

Finemjen · 09/07/2025 15:31

Steelworks · 09/07/2025 12:41

I’m guessing g that you had the ‘nice’ side of the fence facing your garden, and she didn’t like it. However, she still can’t take it down. I guess she persuaded the contractor that she’d spoken to you and you’d agreed for it’s removal and/ or she said it was on her land.

nb. There no law or moral obligation to say that the person who installs the fence has to give their neighbour the nice side. The person who pays decides which side of the fence they want. The only exception is if the fence is adjacent to a road or public place, and then the nice side has to face outwards.

(one of my favourite mn thread ever was debating this point, and even though it was established early on that there was no law or moral/ethical obligation, people debated for pages that this was the case!)

the fences are the same on both sides, which makes it all the more baffling/weird - we gave her the property boundary plan and advance notice, she agreed to put the new fence back where the old one was (we were replacing a 20 year old fence) and she knew it was in our boundary. Her name isn’t on the contract - it’s between me and the contractor. Tried to talk to her again but being stonewalled. She doesn’t respond to texts other than we’ll talk another time.

OP posts:

Original poster

Finemjen · 09/07/2025 15:37

Alltheyellowbirds · 09/07/2025 12:35

I don’t understand any of this.

As your new fence replaces a previous fence, and is in the exact same location, presumably she has no issue with there being a fence, or with its location. Is the replacement very different from the one that was there before? Taller for instance?

She didn’t remove the whole fence, just SOME panels? What was wrong with those particular ones? Were they different to the rest of the fence?

Where they have been removed, is there now just a big gap in the fence? Can you now just walk between your garden and hers?

Edited

Exactly - replacing the old fence (20 years old) with a new one in exactly the same location as it’s been. It is a new style but still nice (IMO) - honey coloured wood, that is same on both sides (no bad side) but it is 6ft now rather than 5 ft. She said she didnt like the look of the two panels that were removed, and contacted our contractor behind my back to remove them - which he did! I don’t understand it either!

OP posts:

Original poster

Finemjen · 09/07/2025 15:42

Finemjen · 09/07/2025 15:37

Exactly - replacing the old fence (20 years old) with a new one in exactly the same location as it’s been. It is a new style but still nice (IMO) - honey coloured wood, that is same on both sides (no bad side) but it is 6ft now rather than 5 ft. She said she didnt like the look of the two panels that were removed, and contacted our contractor behind my back to remove them - which he did! I don’t understand it either!

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To add - the removed panels were at the bottom (not a gap that would mean we could walk through to each others garden).

OP posts:

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 09/07/2025 15:45

Finemjen · 09/07/2025 15:42

To add - the removed panels were at the bottom (not a gap that would mean we could walk through to each others garden).

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I was assuming that the panels were at the top and it was the height of the fence (or spoiling of her view) that she was really objecting to. The bottom is just inexplicable. Someone, somewhere (neighbour/contractor or both) is utterly bonkers.

Gingercar · 09/07/2025 15:47

I would reply to her “we’ll talk another time” with “we will not talk another time- if this is sorted and apologised for in the next few hours I will be contacting the police and/or a solicitor”.
I think I’d be painting them fluorescent orange on her side before I put them back - see if that’s more to her taste! (Joke!)

Ohthatsabitshit · 09/07/2025 16:20

not to be a weird mn er but can we have a diagram?

do you mean she’s removed panels at the end of your garden??? Why?

WaitedBlankey · 09/07/2025 16:24

I can't picture where these panels would be on your boundary that wouldn't leave a gap you could walk through. Diagram needed!

Alltheyellowbirds · 09/07/2025 16:25

Finemjen · 09/07/2025 15:37

Exactly - replacing the old fence (20 years old) with a new one in exactly the same location as it’s been. It is a new style but still nice (IMO) - honey coloured wood, that is same on both sides (no bad side) but it is 6ft now rather than 5 ft. She said she didnt like the look of the two panels that were removed, and contacted our contractor behind my back to remove them - which he did! I don’t understand it either!

Show quote history

I wonder then if she thought those panels werent up to the standard of the rest of the fence, ie they were faulty? Maybe she was asking the contractor to remove AND REPLACE them, rather than just remove and leave a gap. That could make sense. Fingers crossed that’s what it was!

MissMoneyFairy · 09/07/2025 16:25

Have they been put back now

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 09/07/2025 16:46

Does the contractor still have the panels or has he replaced them?!

Cannongoose · 09/07/2025 16:52

for some reason this has made me so cross! I’d tell her that you won’t be talking later but she’s welcome to report herself to the police before you do.
I would not let it go. (Not saying you will OP) but this is ludicrous from her and the contractor.
What is he saying?

CluelessAboutBiology · 09/07/2025 17:15

Finemjen · 09/07/2025 15:42

To add - the removed panels were at the bottom (not a gap that would mean we could walk through to each others garden).

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Do you mean gravel boards?

GoodQueenBess · 09/07/2025 17:32

Report it to the police.

Dugongs · 09/07/2025 18:32

Apologies if late jumping in but you have definitely checked your boundary?

Google:

Determining Fence Ownership:

Property Deeds:
Check your property deeds, which often include a scale plan with boundary lines and "T-marks" indicating ownership, according to onlinelandregistry.org.uk.

"T-Marks":
The tip of the "T" on the plan points to the property responsible for that boundary.

No Deeds:
If deeds are unclear, the legal presumption is that the fence posts are placed on the owner's land.

Walker1178 · 09/07/2025 18:34

So what happens if she suddenly decides she doesn’t like the side of your house that faces her? Would she have a builder come round and dismantle the wall? She’s crazy, tell her it’s your fence and your rules and if she touches it again you’ll make it 10x uglier than it is now!

MsJemimaPuddleDuck · 09/07/2025 18:39

He didnt take down your fence, he stole your fence.

get the panels back and then name & shame the cheeky fucker all over social media.