Shared Fence - adding trellis - neighbour not happy.

Hopejack

We bought a new house last year and had a lot of work done (although we tried to be as accomodating as possible with the neighbours I think they did get fed up at the end as it was a long project). We moved in, all OK but relations were stretched during that time I think.

We'd like to get the garden into shape for the summer and one of the issues is that we have typically, 3 fences surrounding our back garden. The back fence is about 6 ft high and so OK for privacy (plus neighbour has a tree at back so that helps) but the side fences (either side) are only 5 ft high and actually dip at every other board (like a tongue & groove type of thing so about 4.5 ft there). They are sound so I thought if we could put up trellis panels at 6ft high by about 1 m wide all along we'd have an extra bit of height for privacy and also to grow up plants - currently there is nothing on the fence and it looks horrible - very bare. Both neighbours have a profusion of plants growing up their other fences.

I asked one neighbour and they weren't very accomodating. They said they have climbing plants (a clematis montana!!) growing up their side of the fence and it stands higher by about another foot or so in the summer. Meaning with a 6 ft trellis it would be much higher at it's peak. Now bearing in mind on the other side of their garden they have a 6ft fence completely covered in plants and also at the back of their garden too. So it's only our shared fence that is 5ft - they said they like the fence and wouldn't be keen to have anything higher.

Is there anything I can do? 5ft really isn't giving us enough privacy but we don't have room in the garden to start growing trees etc to add a hedge effect - we have children and want them to be able to play so wanted to maximise floor space but keep it looking green by growing up the fence. I think they are being incredibly selfish and can't see how one 5ft fence matches the other two 6ft ones they already have!! Surely 6ft would be better and have it all the same height... As it happens on the other side of their garden their fence is 6ft as I said and has plants growing up it which increase the height of the fence as they state they don't want on our side?? They said it's because their other neighbour isn't nice....

Sorry if this seems a bit jumbled. I'm quite upset about it. I didn't even plan on growing vigorous climbers (unlike them), but now I think this might be our only option Surely it's better to grow them against a trellis, attached to a fence rather than grow directly to the fence and over as a result of the height (5ft) which in this case is what is going to happen.... Climbers also can pull down fences if not properly supported which is what we were planning to do with trellis panels attached by posts.

Help.... I haven't even spoken to the other neighbour yet but their sketch is the same, our shared fence is the only one of theirs at that low height too. It seems odd not to want your boundaries at the same height? It's nothing to do with sun either as the sun sets directly on the house in summer so no shadows from the side fences. I feel that our garden is very overlooked and had thought this was the ideal way to deal with it whilst covering the bare fences.

I get the feeling it's payback time for all the work last year as they certainly grumbled enough about it at the time....

ic

So in a nutshell you've asked neighbours on both sides if they'd mind you extending the fencing height and both said no?

Firstly I'd like to congratulate you on actually asking them - so many people seem unable/unwilling to talk to their neighbours.

Now obviously it depends on what relationship you want to have with your neighbours, but it seems you have three options:
1. Do nothing.
2. Find out who owns the fence, it might be you, it might be them, or you might share ownership. Proceed accordingly ignoring your neighbours wishes.
3. Build a new fence altogether within your boundary against the existing fences. Obviously more cost, but then that is yours and you can do with it as you please.

jennifernil

There is nothing stopping you putting up a freestanding trellis immediately on your side of this shared fence. If it has its own supporting uprights and is not attached to the existing fence, there is nothing they can object to.

ormus

just plant a dozen leylandii on your side.
or a russian vine.

The_Blue_Hatter

Offer to replace the current fence (at your cost) to a 6 foot fence. They may currently be unwilling because a) they may think they have to pay towards it or b) attaching trellace to a fence that isnt exactly the same is just plain ugly. If you feel so strongly about it, build a 6ft fence within your own boundary and there is nothing they can do about it but beware relations will probably get strained.

IMHO, disrupting the neighbours because you want to add 12 inches extra height to a fence sounds pretty pedantic anyway.

Hopejack

Thanks for the replies. I haven't spoken to the other neighbour yet as haven't seen them around to ask but will do.

With regard to it only being another 12 inches - it does make a difference to privacy - a 5ft fence as opposed to a 6ft means most people will not be able to see over the latter from ground level, most people (adults) can see over a 5ft one!

Also an extra foot of growing room/height on a trellis also makes a difference on the type of plants you can grow as you can grow within the height of a 6ft trellis fairly easily (although it may take some time if you are being neighbourly and not wanting to grow something like clematis montanta/russian vine invasive type of thing, rather something that takes it's time but does eventually cover the area and so is more dainty).

The fence is definately shared on all 3 sides sadly but only the two sides are an issue anyway, I suspect the one at the bottom was changed without anybody consulting anyone!! I did think about erecting our own fence but a) it's going to mean losing some width on our garden which we can't really afford and b) it makes it hard to maintain anything behind the fence i.e. the former fence c) it will be much more costly, which we also can't afford.

I think our only option is to grow something quite evasive (so quick) up and hope it grows a little in height as well. However, it has to be evergreen. Currently their clematis dies off the in the winter and spring so you are back to square one with the height issue. Llelandi (sp) are out of the question as they will impact on our garden size.

I personally think they are being pedantic considering they have well over 6ft on two other sides of the garden once you consider the height of their growing plants. But they have their rights/opinions and as it's shared I have to honour them.

Ho hum - guess it's a case of going to the garden centre and seeing if they stock russian vine :rotfl: (only joking!).

penrhyn

Check your deeds, typically you will own the fence on the right hand side of the garden looking from the house.
Nothing to stop you erecting your own fence inside your boundary.

sillygoose

I wouldn't like 5" fences. I would offer to replace them at my cost with nice new panels, I would even offer to get me spray gun out and do their side any colour they fancy but if they were unwilling I would just put one up on my side anyway. There is nothing else to it!

oh, when/if they said no to me replacing the panels I would point out there and then than I was going to put one up my side anyway and it wouldn't look too pretty from their side - a wavy 5 foot with a straight 6 foot 1" behind it.. might make them see reason.

WestonDave

Firstly if they are a bit hacked off at the moment given all the recent work, it might pay to lie low for a while, and ask again in the autumn when they have had a bit of a chance to chill out. I appreciate that potentially means it being less than ideal this summer, but it may get you where you want to be (they may decide they want the privacy!) or alternatively you may decide its not an issue.

Secondly although you are correct that a 6ft person standing next to a 5ft fence will see over it, every time they step a foot back from the fence they will quickly cease to be able to see your garden (at least at ground level). At 4 ft away from the fence they will lose sight of roughly 16feet of ground level. At 6feet away its nearly 30feet they'll lose sight of. So the question really is how long you think they will stand right by the fence, bearing in mind they won't be out there all the time you are anyway. Clearly if you are planning topless sunbathing then you need every inch of privacy, but for a couple of kids playing in the garden sometimes get a bit carried away with the fortress mentality. It may be worth mending a few fences by having a few more chances for the odd chat over the fence!

sunshinetours

Bottom line is you can find out your rights (whose fence it is etc) but whatever you do, if you do something that involves highering the fence then you will undoubedly annoy your neighbours once again.

If you choose to live within a densely populated neighbourhood you will always have certain issues with certain neighbours. if you had 3 ft fences I could understand but 5 ft is a pretty good compromise of privacy and security. It sounds as though you are suggesting that you have a narrow garden so I can understand why someone wouldn't want two 6 ft fences each side as you end up creating a tunnel type effect.

WestonDave makes some excellent points - good neighbours are worth their weight in gold, bad ones are a nightmare

Janey3

I'm another who would opt for fencing on your side of the existing fence. We bought trellis panels and posts over a period of time and it was a small price to pay for our privacy. We only lost a couple of inches of land, (the width of the posts) and the trellis panels are easily removable, they just lift out, if requiring access to the existing fence. Now we've got some climbers growing nicely. I also got some buddleia cuttings from a derelict site and they are growing like mad!