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

Davesnave

paddy's_mum wrote: »

This is getting sillier by the minute - alligators, big holes, gay lodgers!

Many responders are forgetting that the neighbour has the absolute right to erect (in its proper place) any kind of fence he wishes. It can be skybluepink chainlink highlighted with tartan ribbons if the neighbour so wishes. No offence has been committed. Similarly, if the neighbour should trespass, that is a civil matter and the only remedy is a long and expensive trek through the civil courts.

I would suggest that those responders who suggest that you should (or possibly might) take legal action against your neighbour have either never been in that horrid and stressful situation or have deeper pockets to light heartedly pursue litigation as their hobby than most of us have. Legal action against a neighbour is likely to take between 3 and 5 years and cost upwards of £15,000. Having a gate may be a little mindboggling but as yet no offence whatever has been committed.

Perhaps those who have said that they would "put a stop to it" would kindly outline their lawful proposals since surely nobody is advocating physical threat, harrassment, intimidation or violent assault upon the neighbour, are they!

I have already outlined my own suggestions for ways to remedy the situation in a reasonable and lawful way. Sink a heavy steel stake into the ground close to the gate to prevent it being opened over your property. (Should it be that the gate opens inwards, a length of cheap but sturdy fencing will achieve the same ends)

OP Take good legal advice so that you can rest easy that you have acted wisely in your own interests and don't make the foolish mistake that so many on here have. Your neighbour may be a quantity surveyor and know as much about land law as you know about the breeding patterns of predators of the anopheles mosquito!

Thanks, Paddy's Mum, for outlining all the salient points that need to be made here. I quote the whole post again because it is so good.

loopy_lass

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo eck

Squish_21

Put a shed in front the gate!!

Dunno what hes playing at but its as security risk as thieves could access in or out of this gate from either of you gardens.

He has no right of way through your garden so block it up!

Bogof_Babe

Another thought - he's not paranoid about getting trapped if a fire should break out is he? If there is no other way out of his back garden, and the front of his house was on fire, he'd be a bit stuck. Actually "thinking outside the box" (literally lol) it might not be such a bad thing to have it as an escape route for either of you, should the other one's house go up in flames.

It's being so cheerful that keeps me going...:o