Page 8 | Storm - Neighbour's fence panel just collapsed into my garden...

NetZeroZealot · 24/10/2026 22:18

Ilovemyshed · 23/10/2026 18:27

Give them a break. Its hard dealing with an elderly parent/ medical issues/ care homes etc. Especially if the son is also trying to hold a family and job together.

Give them a chance to get it sorted.

This

throwaway3749574 · 24/10/2026 22:24

I think you’re being a bit OTT about it to be honest.

Hollyhobbi · 24/10/2026 23:04

DemonsandMosquitoes · 23/10/2026 18:50

Good grief. We’ve just had a driver plough through and flatten 30 feet of 30 year old six foot hedging in our garden at 4.30am, damage a tree and demolish our bins. Enough damage done to have had him tow his car away and flee the scene necessitating police involvement and the local council come to clean the lane.
I wouldn’t be losing sleep over a fence panel.

About 20 years ago 2 kids in a stolen car, came into out little estate, crashed into a parked car, which then went through the wall of the apartment block next to us! Luckily it was about 3 in the morning and no one was in the front room of the apartment!

saraclara · 24/10/2026 23:15

I'm another one who had to manage a late parent's property, four hours return journey away, for two years, while probate and care debt claims were being hammered out.
It was a nightmare, especially as the care debt was likely to take every penny of her estate, so anything I paid out, I wasn't going to get back.

Nsky62 · 25/10/2026 09:56

Linnende · 24/10/2026 19:37

We had the same problem 2 years ago and our neighbour was in hospital. We just paid for the fence to be fixed. We have 2 small dogs and needed to keep them safe and secure.

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Assuming you have funds

creeeepy · 25/10/2026 14:24

You are very intolerant, not someone I would want for a neighbour.

JudyTeeny · 25/10/2026 14:46

As you had noticed that the panel was damaged, when you heard that strong winds were forecast, did you not think that it would be a good idea to move your pots and lantern out of the way? We need to take responsibility for our belongings.
When my mum was in hospital, a broken fence panel inconveniencing her neighbour would be my very lowest priority.

Badbadbunny · 25/10/2026 14:49

AlphabetBird · 23/10/2026 18:38

Fences come down in the wind. Mentioning compensation straight away makes it pretty clear you don’t actually give a shit about the fence…

Borders between houses don’t need to be boundaried by fences at all by the way, so if he decides just to move it out of the way and not replace it that’s his choice.

Yes, but they DO have a fence and have failed to maintain it and now it's caused damage, which they are responsible for. It would have been a simple fix to remove the panel or get a new one fitted to have avoided the entirely foreseeable consequence of ignoring the problem.

Bellyblueboy · 25/10/2026 15:02

Badbadbunny · 25/10/2026 14:49

Yes, but they DO have a fence and have failed to maintain it and now it's caused damage, which they are responsible for. It would have been a simple fix to remove the panel or get a new one fitted to have avoided the entirely foreseeable consequence of ignoring the problem.

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That is a little self righteous☺️. The wobbly panel was only raised with two weeks ago. Where I live it’s hard to get people to give quotes never mind do the work in that short time, no even taking into account the storm warning so everyone was scrambling to get fences fixed.

Walkden · 25/10/2026 15:04

"It would have been a simple fix to remove the panel or get a new one fitted to have avoided the entirely foreseeable consequence of ignoring the problem"

The owner is an elderly lady who is in a care home. Fixing a fence panel is not simple; just like it's not simple for OP due to her being disabled.

Badbadbunny · 25/10/2026 15:58

Walkden · 25/10/2026 15:04

"It would have been a simple fix to remove the panel or get a new one fitted to have avoided the entirely foreseeable consequence of ignoring the problem"

The owner is an elderly lady who is in a care home. Fixing a fence panel is not simple; just like it's not simple for OP due to her being disabled.

But she's still responsible for the damage caused regardless of the reasons for why nothing was done.

Walkden · 25/10/2026 18:45

"But she's still responsible for the damage caused regardless of the reasons for why nothing was done"

Be that as it may; it is not a simple fix like you claimed if you are old and infirm enough to be in a care home.

And whilst she may / may not be liable ( due to act of god clauses) pursuing the cost of a few plant pots from someone who is very likely near end of life ( or perhaps ultimately her estate) will not be a quick or cheap process and ultimately not something I'd be willing to do.

You do you, though.

WalshSall · 26/10/2026 09:04

Greenseawitch · 23/10/2026 18:25

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?

Maybe you could call round at your neighbour's house and say that you will sort it out for them with a local fence installer however you won't be able to pay for it as it is their boundary.

rwalker · 26/10/2026 09:13

WalshSall · 26/10/2026 09:04

Maybe you could call round at your neighbour's house and say that you will sort it out for them with a local fence installer however you won't be able to pay for it as it is their boundary.

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She in a care home there selling the house
they’ll probably not bother replacing it

Linnende · 26/10/2026 09:54

Nsky62 · 25/10/2026 09:56

Assuming you have funds

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Totally agree, we had funds, so it wasn't an problem.

Berengariaoftheverylowcountries · 26/10/2026 12:07

Unless you are UNDER said panel this is not a big deal. Calm down.

LilacReader · 26/10/2026 13:44

Walkden · 23/10/2026 18:52

"Frankly what a sad place Mumsnet has become."

Another poster who turns petulant and drip feeds when a thread does not turn out the way they hoped....

Was thinking the same thing! I went from 'how can I help this person with advice' to ,not giving a shite' with their attitude.

On to next story/post x

CloveRinse · 27/10/2026 08:48

Greenseawitch · 23/10/2026 18:40

Some rather unpleasant responses on this thread.

Also the elderly relative has been in a home for about a year and the property has gone on sale a couple of months ago so they are not dealing with a sudden crisis with a parent having to be looked after. The son is retired and not having to deal with a job either...

I am disabled and live alone so it is not easy for me to either the fence panel (impossible actually) or to move heavy plant pots and trees.

Frankly what a sad place Mumsnet has become.

Edited

I think you received the responses that you got because you are catastrophising over one fence panel.

I think you need to gain some perspective and realise that a fallen fence panel is not an emergency situation.

I am sorry about your plants/pots though.

Also, please don't make assumptions about the elderly relative in the care home, the retired son etc. You have no idea what is happening with the relative in the care home. Retired does not mean "always free". I don't know why people think this.

It's a fence panel come loose. You have pics to evidence it and you can specify what damage it has done to your plants if you want to be compensated for that.

Just ask them to get it sorted when they can and give them some time to do so.

I am pretty strong and in good health (fingers crossed) but absolutely could not move a fence panel in my garden when it fell in a storm last year. I needed to find someone to help me and it took a bit of time and scheduling. Also sourcing the replacement panel took more than a week.

I don't know when people became so impatient and lacking in grace.

Think about it this way - they don't want a missing fence panel either, do they? Just give them a chance to sort it out.

godmum56 · 28/10/2026 12:44

Walkden · 25/10/2026 18:45

"But she's still responsible for the damage caused regardless of the reasons for why nothing was done"

Be that as it may; it is not a simple fix like you claimed if you are old and infirm enough to be in a care home.

And whilst she may / may not be liable ( due to act of god clauses) pursuing the cost of a few plant pots from someone who is very likely near end of life ( or perhaps ultimately her estate) will not be a quick or cheap process and ultimately not something I'd be willing to do.

You do you, though.

my understanding is that her son is managing stuff for her. I can see that if she has recently left her home and he doesn't live locally, then one fallen fence panel is not at the top of his agenda though!

godmum56 · 28/10/2026 12:47

CloveRinse · 27/10/2026 08:48

I think you received the responses that you got because you are catastrophising over one fence panel.

I think you need to gain some perspective and realise that a fallen fence panel is not an emergency situation.

I am sorry about your plants/pots though.

Also, please don't make assumptions about the elderly relative in the care home, the retired son etc. You have no idea what is happening with the relative in the care home. Retired does not mean "always free". I don't know why people think this.

It's a fence panel come loose. You have pics to evidence it and you can specify what damage it has done to your plants if you want to be compensated for that.

Just ask them to get it sorted when they can and give them some time to do so.

I am pretty strong and in good health (fingers crossed) but absolutely could not move a fence panel in my garden when it fell in a storm last year. I needed to find someone to help me and it took a bit of time and scheduling. Also sourcing the replacement panel took more than a week.

I don't know when people became so impatient and lacking in grace.

Think about it this way - they don't want a missing fence panel either, do they? Just give them a chance to sort it out.

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yup. I am waiting for a planned fence replacement. I told the bloke when I spoke to him that I was in no hurry because he needed to order my choice of special cement gravel boards with hedgehog pop holes in. He's just messaged me to say he is full up with emergency work and do I still not mind waiting?