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?

Why, my insurance covers my garden items including plants?

Don’t you have an excess?

From what you say it’s unlikely they will bother repairing or replacing the fence
at best will just remove it from your garden

ultimately it’s nothing to do with the son It’s his mother’s responsibility. So I wouldn’t hold your breath for your plant pot to be replaced.

it’s up to you, but obviously you have the option of going to their care home to ask her to replace your plant pot

But I’m sorry it’s just happened when you texted him and then send him pictures the next day if I was in to be honest, I’d just ignore you

Omg I’m so glad to see the replies here . I’m in a similar position to the son and so overwhelmed with caring for mum, my own young kids, my full time job and my own home. I know my mums house (2h away) needs sorting and the neighbours have complained the garden is a mess. Mum did no maintenance for years and wouldn’t let me help either. Now it’s just all my fault according to everyone :-(

I really hope this is a wind up thread !

@Greenseawitch just message once the storm calms down and say “I’d really appreciate it if you could come and fix the fence panel on your side as it has completely blown over in the storm, unfortunately I’m on my own and can’t lift it, otherwise I’d have moved the loose panel back into your garden. Thanks very much”

yup, its only storm damage that is excluded.

that is just silly. If he has POA for his Mum, which he may well, then he will be legally responsible. Even if he doesn't, if he is managing her affairs and caring for the house then its him the OP needs to approach.

This happened to us a few years back. We got it fixed and sent them the bill and they paid it to us quite quickly. Why don’t you offer to find someone who can come and fix it, give them the cost to approve and have them either pay it directly, or repay you? If they don’t live locally you might find it easier to source a tradesperson. Take action yourself.

Take a breath.

Their legal requirement is to maintain a boundary, not a fence - so they could come to remove the panels and replace it with a bit of string, so don’t be so furious about it - they aren’t required to fix the fence.

Had it cause any damage in your garden? They should remedy that, but otherwise - what’s the hardship if it stays like that for the rest of winter?

Unpleasant responses?

You are moaning about inanimate objects, namely plant pots. Is the priority here not the elderly person who is unwell?

act of god, take it up with him/her

Even if he is they don’t have to replace the fence your not obligated have one

No, I know what it's like.

You're overreacting OP and got your knickers in a twist because people aren't agreeing with you. "What can I do if they are slow in repairing this?" It's only just happened fgs!

Exactly this. ^^

My fence blew down a couple of years ago in a storm. I had absolutely no idea it was weak and would succumb. Unless we regularly wiggle the fence posts which most folk do not, we have no way of knowing what might happen in these unusual weather events.

There’s much worse going on in the world. If the neighbor’s son won’t permanently fix it, at least ask him to tidy up. I expect he’ll repair it though cos he’ll want to sell.

Stay calm. Wait & see. There’s more storm to come. Give it time because all the fencing contractors are going to be busy for a while.

yup, but he does have to remove the panel and pay for any damage the fence caused.

A fence panel fell down? One panel? Who cares, get over it. A few plants have been damaged and a couple plant pots… ask them to buy you some new pots if you must but who actually cares? These things happens and if you really need to make a drama out of this then you must have a very small life indeed.

It has taken just under 2 years to get control of my parent's estate when they went into a care home, and if a panel came down I wouldn't have been able to afford a repair out of my own money. And I certainly wouldn't have been able to get something repaired within a week or two - more like 4 to 6 months due to the sheer hassle of getting people into do repairs when you have to travel to an empty home and sit and wait all day for someone to not turn up.

You don't know the details of their personal circumstances so I would give them a break. My advice is plan to find a temporary solution and hope they get it repaired before it sells but bear in mind they have no legal reason to do so, and they may just leave it to the buyers and take the hit on the value of the house (which will be minimal) if the only cash available to the estate is tied up in the house.

Not an hour later during the same storm though.

He might wonder why, as it was the op that told him is was damaged in the first place, and two big storms were forecast, that she didn’t get her pots out of the way.

Considering she’s disabled and can’t move them it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work it out does it? I’m sure he will manage to work it out.

We have been looking after a family member's house for 15 months since they died. We are an hour away and retired but busy and have other family commitments too. You told them it was loose, they said they'd fix it next time they're down...it's just unfortunate the storm came before that. Don't underestimate how difficult they might be finding things with their relative.

It's just a fence panel, these things happen. Our neighbours fence that stretched past 7 houses fell down last year, it took months to fix. Also, a car evading police drove in to my garden a few years ago and almost killed the cat, we had armed police and all sorts running around our garden plus a whole fence that was destroyed.

Shit happens, just be calm about it.

I understand it is a nuisance OP that you want the fence to be repaired asap, but really, it is an inconvenience rather than an emergency.
It may be super important in your world but your neighbour probably doesn't have the same hierarchy of importance..his probably include selling a property, running his own home, caring for a father. You just can't assume other people have the same priorities as you.

If you are going to text photos, perhaps tell them that you are unable to lift the pane because of disability - give him the option of lifting it first and making it secure whilst he arranges for a fencer to come out. If not, do a polite ask on your neighbourhood Facebook - I'm sure a couple of lads will do it for you.

This happens to us - both ways, every year. It will happen more with increased storms. You shouldn't really have fragile things next to fence posts.