Pls help-neighbours threatening court for 'unsafe' fence

pimento

He told you to 'borrow the money from your parents' for the garage roof? Who the heck does he think he is???

How high is this fence that he seems to be able to climb over whenever he feels like it? Frankly, I'd be borrowing money to put up a full-length six foot high lap panel fence with additional trellis on the top to ensure that he has NO ACCESS to your property at all.

Cheeky !!!!!!.

Honestly, I'm annoyed on your behalf.

paddy's_mum

saraht - how did your fence assessment visit go? Have you been able to put a stop to this daft old beggar's shenanigans?

camper_1982

OMG there are some wierd people out there. I hope i dont get some loonatic neighbours next time, im moving cos i cant stand the ones ive got. buying a semi detached, but i wish i could afford a detached one!
Best of luck, repair the fence, put a bigger one up, and get soundproof plaster board, and do what you want to do in your own house. Tell them if they dont like it to move.

QueenOfTheDesert

In my opinion, no one is going to sue anyone unless they are loaded. We sued once, it took three years and cost £15,000. People throw this threat about and they have no idea what it actually means and even those "Had an accident that wasn't your fault?" merchants wouldn't touch this one with a bargepole as the complainant is obviously and provably unstable and capable of anything.

I'd do whatever you decide to do but take the threat of legal action out of the equation.

Horizon81

He's obviously a crank with nothing better to do with his time than harrass everyone. Can you seriously see it going to court? There are similar old fogies near where I work who take offence at workers parking outside thier houses and put notes on car windows threatening to inform the local authority and police and that the cars may be clamped. There are no parking restrictions in force so it's just the work of a busybody.

There's a nationwide campaign at the moment for anti social behaviour and everyone should be getting a leaflet through the door. As said above, contact your local PCSO/beat officer for advice (and don't give the old duffer an inch).

slummymummyof3

I have a neighbour like yours OP, and we had to get the police involved under the harrassment act - they were fabulous I have to say.

They did have to inform him that it could be counter claimed which he actually tried to do and it back fired on him, to the point where the police were going to arrest him for wasting police time and for further harrassment against me.

Ours tried dictating to us that they didn't want us to do any work on our house and that we should pay for workmen to come in and do any work and that they should check their credentials - I think not!!! What planet are they on????

princeofpounds

As a previous poster said, go look at the neighbours from hell forum (google it) who will be able to give you very specific advice about handling this.

Ignite

I must say reading all of this that if I had to replace the fence and it was mine, in this situation, I would put in a fence that would be perfectly safe but really anoy the neighbour. For instance, you can now get fence paint in many wonderful colours.........

lindos90

A few thoughts for you...

1) check first and formost that the boundary is your responsibility (nothing to do with 'its the boundary on the left as you have your back to the house, or its the side that has the posts facing) Look on your title deed diagram, its depicted by a T attached to the inside of the boundary thats your responsibility

2) if there is a post or two that is rotten, and the fence is unsafe, then get these replaced, you would be daft to replace it all to make him happy, sounds like he will find something else to winge about anyhow!

3) assess the posts yourself, look at them, try and wobble them that will tll you if they are ok..if you rely on getting a quote for 'repairs' the person doing the quote is not impartial, he/she will want to make as much money as they can! (sadly you can't trust everyone to be honest)

4) the person who said he is likely to have damaged your fence when he climbed over has a point, but that would be more likely to damage the panels than post bases.

5) keep all letters to and from him, and record any incidences, but I would avoid contacting the police or council, as others have said this would have to be declared on your PIQ if you sell.

Sounds like he has the problem, whatever it is, and you are not the only one on his list, he will move on to another problem sooner or later, people like this are never happy and always find something to moan about!