Neighbour has put a gate in the fence - should I be worried?

Bogof_Babe

Fix some netting along the length of your side (using your own poles, and not touching his fence) and grow runner beans up it.

ben500

Dig a 12 foot pit your side of the gate and fill it with aligators. This is a tried and tested method employed by white farmers in South Africa.

Ulfar

Once the extension is up blocking his gate, I would then put my own fence up for the remainder of the boundary.

If he ask be firm but polite and advise that he does not have your permission to cross the property.

Running_Horse

For all the legal and practical advice, it sounds like you need to overcome that British stiff upper lip and embarrassment, and talk to the bloke, explaining in simple and polite terms what you will and won't accept on your own property.

System

ben500 wrote: »

Dig a 12 foot pit your side of the gate and fill it with aligators. This is a tried and tested method employed by white farmers in South Africa.

Rather expensive.You would need to import the alligators from the Americas. Cheaper to use the indigenous crocodiles

lesley1960

Van1971 wrote: »

Actually, that is not allowed if it's his fence, you can't attach anything to it. I would plant a thorny bush instead. Or what about that pond that you always wanted?

Maybe a padlock isnt allowed , but the only way he would know it was fitted is if he tried to go through the gate , which he isnt allowed to do

poppysarah

lesley1960 wrote: »

Maybe a padlock isnt allowed , but the only way he would know it was fitted is if he tried to go through the gate , which he isnt allowed to do

But who's going to stop him? Who's going to physically restrain their neighbour?

The OP needs to take some legal advice. The neighbour is a surveyor and will know the intricacies of the law much better - it may be that he's abused his position at his employment by doing this so the OP should ask about this at a solicitors too.

Obviously talking to the neighbour would be a good idea, but not before you've got some legal advice - start at gardenlaw site/cab and free half hour at solic.

simpywimpy

I was under the impression that a boundary fence between the two properties becomes a joint owned thing. I must be mistaken...

rchddap1

Nope. One side owns the fence and hence the boundary and responisibility for maintaining it.

pinkshoes

Or... you could just go round and speak to your neighbour whilst taking them some home made mince pies and a christmas card, and say:

"Oh, by the way, I notice you've put a gate in the fence, which seems strange, as we don't have access to the back garden from the front either now. Is there any other reason you wanted the fence?"

He'll either say no, in which case you can say "well we are planning to grow a hedge down that border, so that should be ok then if you don't need access".

If he says yes, then just listen to his reason, and tell him you don't think that's necessary, so would he mind if you just grow a hedge down the border?