Storm - Neighbour's fence panel just collapsed into my garden...

[Greenseawitch]

I live in a terraced house.

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that one of the panels in my neighbour's fence was coming loose.

The elderly owner is in a care home and the house is for sale so I informed her son who said he would look into it during his visit to the house.

The panel has now collapsed into my garden because of the strong winds, causing damage to plant pots, plants and a garden lantern.

My deeds state that I am only responsible for the fence on the right side of my garden so this repair (on the left) is my neighbour's responsibility.

I have texted them and will take pictures of the damage tomorrow.

Frankly I am angry that they just let this happen although I had warned them of the problem but hope it can be resolved amicably.

Can anyone give me some advice on the right steps to take/ the best approach?

I live alone and don't have the strength to lift the fence back I think but should I try to push it back in their garden once I have taken pictures? what can I do if they are slow in repairing this?

If there is damage as the result of a storm - then that will be likely to count as an 'act of god' and you will either have to claim on your house insurance, or may even not be insured...

first step is talk to your insurance company - they will probably be getting a lot of calls with the current weather and will be quite used to it and should be helpful - explain your disabilities etc. and again they should help...

if you are insured then it is up to them whether they pursue your neighbour's insurance company or not - not up to you...

you get it resolved / no need to fall out with neighbours / that is why you have insurance

It's not unpleasant to say that this seems an overreaction on your part. You've let him know it's happened, give him time to sort out. No need to be angry about it, it's irritating, but it's isn't a major issue. These things happen.

As for "frankly what a sad place Mumsnet has become" people are disagreeing with your opinion, that's not sad, it's just normal life.

It’s a fence panel, they blow down all the time, it’s nobody’s fault just one of those things. They’re about £30 to replace.

I think the only one coming across unpleasant is you.

fence panels come down. It’s not the end of the world!

Couldn’t you have asked any of your friends to come and move the pots and lantern?

Well said, it’s over forget about it, it will get done

As mentioned by a PP you need to claim on your insurance who will deal with his insurance if appropriate.a

You doubt you know everything that is going in his life. Do you not have any friends who could have helped you move things about or prop it up with some wood?

I'm sure it'll get fixed as soon as they are able to arrange it, these things can take time, it'll end up all alright in the end.

This is something which happens all the time with timber fencing, OP, and more often now we have more storms. It’s nobody’s fault, even apparently well maintained fences can give up in high winds. Storms are literally counted as an act of God.

We had to leave a collapsed fence down over our shrubs and plants when it collapsed a couple of years ago in a similar storm. Neither we nor our neighbours could move it as it was all connected together and too heavy even for four of us working together to try to prop back up. It was 6 weeks before we came to the top of a very long list of orders from the local fencing firm.

Nobody has been injured or killed, the damage is only to things. I’d be grateful for that and stop thinking about compensation.

That’s unnecessarily unpleasant on a thread about fence panels on the DIY board. Come on now.

What a sad place mums net has become! I was thinking was a sad place the world has become from your post! You are so inconsiderate and quite frankly sound horrid

chill out and give them some time? Why does it need to be fixed immediately?

I think the reaction is normal for someone living alone and disabled. They feel OMG will the entire row of fencing come crashing down and it is worrying. I live alone also, and am fearful of storm damage, it's normal.

However..... the immediate reaction is a bit over the top. But it's probably just worry and a bit of shock to see the damage knowing that there is no one immediately on hand to sort it out.

OP, stay calm, the entire country will be facing this type of thing over the weekend and beyond. I'd leave it until tomorrow and see what can be done then. Realistically it will take some days to fix at a minimum, depending on when fencers will be available.

Is there anyone near you on the other side who will move the pots for you out of any future harms way. These storms are recurring, and the next damage could be on your side to fix.

Yep!

Insurance companies don’t cover fences

So you told a mistruth in your OP. You wrote that you could take photos and push the panel back into their garden.

Then in your second post you state that would be impossible because you’re disabled.

So which is it?

She said she didn’t think she could lift it but asked if she should try and shove it. So it’s not exactly a lie. And it makes no difference anyway

Give them a chance!!!

Maybe the son is disabled also OP
Just because he is retired doesn't mean he is swanning about with nothing to do!
Is the fence holding in your pedigree alpacas, donkeys or other livestock and MUST be fixed tonight?
Speak to your insurance company and if replacing the fence IS an emergency, ask on nextdoor/facebook in your area or another neighbour to lift it up.

Frankly what a sad place Mumsnet has become

What exactly are you expecting by posting this thread? Are you thinking that multiple mumnetters will offer to come fix the fence???

Who the f calls their insurance company over a fence panel?!?!

From OP:

‘I live alone and don't have the strength to lift the fence back I think but should I try to push it back in their garden once I have taken pictures?’

From 2nd post:

‘I am disabled and live alone so it is not easy for me to either the fence panel (impossible actually).’

whats with the pointless quoting? It just proves you've not read it properly before accusing OP of lying

I am a passionate gardener also old and limited in what I can do. I would be sad if my plants were damaged but would be very heigh ho about a single fence panel in a storm. I do think you need to chill a bit OP