Shared Fence - adding trellis - neighbour not happy.

Mankysteve

Presumable your neighbours can look into your garden anyway from there upstairs windows anyway. If you live in city there no such as privacy when it comes to back yards. Why waste your money and annoy the neighbour by doing something that going to make naff all difference to your privacy?

The_Blue_Hatter

Hopejack wrote: »

Yes the fence has been like that a long while but it was an elderly couple before and I think they just liked things the way they were! I appreciate that, however these people's other two fences are at least 6ft tall (I think the back one is taller). And they admitted they put in that fence at that height! Like I said earlier, they have climbers profusely over them adding at least a foot onto them so why do they see the need to keep this one fence at 5ft? They can't claim they don't want their climbers adding height on this particular fence when it's doing it on the other two which are taller anyway? It doesn't make sense.

The work was finished months ago. We have had a reasonable break in time - and to be honest wanting to sort your garden out for summer isn't, in my opinion, unreasonable. The building work left our garden in a bit of a mess so anything has to look better than we have right now!

Our garden isn't hugely narrow, in fact it's wider than long but it's just the thought of losing width just because of this issue doesn't lie well with me. We have young children so will want to put in all the plastic tat that goes with them to play on, hence wanting the space. I am going to ring our solicitors just to double check but I am 100% they are all shared.

I appreciate we knew the fence height at the time of buying but never thought they would object given the height of their other fences. I can see quite far down and along the back gardens and honestly, our two are the lowest of the lot!

I doubt they'll want the fence ripped out and replaced as they have climbers on it - plus it will cost a lot as it's a tongue and groove affair, not these cheaper lap type ones. They already stated when they put the other fence in, they put it in to match (that was another reason they didn't want to see 1ft of our trellis over the top as they said it wouldn't match). However, the fence they put in is totally covered by climbers and large plants so they can't see it anyway!

I could go on but it's not getting me anywhere (other than I feel better for ranting). We now know our options so need to decide what we do next. I still think a Russian Vine might be handy

Sometimes with neighbours there has to be a bit of give and take and you dont seem prepared to do any giving. 12 inches of fence or a healthy relationship with the next door neighbour that ive annoyed for months with constant building work, I know what id choose.

Eenymeeny

I've read this thread with interest as my neighbour converted their 70's extension into an open plan kitchen while our house sale was going through. We moved in to find that the previously obscure window glass has been changed to clear and they are looking straight into our garden which is at a funny angle to our house. While not wanting to fall out, I feel that they 'pulled a fast one' while the house was empty as the previous owner had gone into sheltered accomodation. The only fence is a ramshackle wood and wire mesh affair. Over the winter I've erected a washing line and placed a bench right in their view, hoping that they'll decide that it's a view they can live without! My husband says that if it's a problem they'll probably screen it themselves! If not, I'm planning on fastening some willow screen to the fence and planting some quick growing shrubs. By the time that's rotted the shrubs will have grown to a decent height. Good luck, I know that it's a problem and I for one would try anything rather than fall out with your neighbours. (Been there!)

anotherbaldrick

If you want a decent screening hedge look at Prunus Lusitanica

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/697.shtml

lidlest

penrhyn wrote: »

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.

Good advice to check the deeds - I didn't - My dad had always said it was right fence so i replaced the right fence (neighbour quite happy with lovely new fence). Turns out the left is mine

ormus

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

aye. tell everyone you know.
there is no right hand rule.
nor a left hand rule.

Janey3

Good advice indeed. On checking our deeds, we found that we didn't 'own' either,and that the left and right are both joint responsibility. :rotfl: