PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.

Neighbour put up fence on MY side of the garden....

Hello All, when we 1st moved into our house almost 10yrs ago, only half of the boundary was up on the right side of the back garden. The tenant there got the LL to put up a fence all the way. I was at home when they began putting it up, but then had to leave to do school run.

They put up 2 new panels of wooden fencing and wired fencing the rest of the length. At the time I didn't notice that they had put the fencing at an angle coming into OUR side of the garden. We realised afterwards, but haven't been sure about how to go about it or where to start. As the LL is very rarely ever there to speak to. And I'm asssuming it's useless talking to the elderly tenant. I have been stressing about it every time I see it as it about 10cms of OUR land, and they also put up prickly plants right NEXT to the fencing. :mad:

It's also been a few years, about 4 or 5 years. Where do I start? Who do I speak to? and What do I need to make a note of?
Any help will be much appreciated. :)
«13

Comments

  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I was about to say "Don't let this be, do something straight away as the longer you leave it the harder it gets". Then I saw this happened 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO!

    What on earth have you been thinking? Get onto the owner next door. Start with a friendly chat and ask for the fence to be moved. If that fails, or you can't get to speak to him, Plan B is to write. Get his address from the Land Registry or the tenant. Plan C is see a solicitor.

    Oh, the final option is to just dismantle the fence. It's on your land!

    ps - Whose fence is it?
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It its on your land you have every right to take it down and lie it in their garden.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • As they put it up I'm assuming it's their fence. The first 4 panels have been their since we moved in. They put up the other 2 and the wired fence right down to the bottom of the garden. As i said a while ago. i did read somewhere that after a certain number of years there isn't much you can do about it then. I just haven't known what to do or where to start. Are there any model letters I can copy from to write to the LL? If I go via solicitor, what do I have to do? and how much will it cost me (roughly)? Many thanks
  • chuckley
    chuckley Posts: 4,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    4-5 years ago?! and only NOW its bothering u?!
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    scrooge786 wrote: »
    As they put it up I'm assuming it's their fence. The first 4 panels have been their since we moved in. They put up the other 2 and the wired fence right down to the bottom of the garden. As i said a while ago. i did read somewhere that after a certain number of years there isn't much you can do about it then. I just haven't known what to do or where to start. Are there any model letters I can copy from to write to the LL? If I go via solicitor, what do I have to do? and how much will it cost me (roughly)? Many thanks

    It can sometimes be difficult to establish ownership of boundary fences. The Title Plan sometimes show ownership, and /or lease and/or developer's Plan. Have you looked?

    Another indication is which side of the fence the post is situated. The post is usually on the owner's side.

    Or ask the neighbours along the road. Often each property owns the fence on one side and it's the same for the whole street eg each house is responsible for the fence on the left of their garden.

    If possible as I suggested, start by talking to the owner if you can. Far less confrontational than a letter and if you can resolve amicably, that's best.

    However:

    Dear Mr Neighbour,
    Some time ago you will remember putting up a fence between our gardens. I've recently realised that this has not been put up along the boundary line, and so your garden has been extended into mine.

    Perhaps you could either arrange for the fence to be moved, or give me a call so we can a rrange a time to meet and discuss this.

    Yours sincerely,

    Ms Scrooge
  • noapron
    noapron Posts: 120 Forumite
    Just to say if you ring your council you may get help to clarify the situation. We had probs with a neighbour who was insisting we put up a fence (9 panels had blown down in a storm and we'd been advised to wait several months before redoing them to let the ground settle). They got quite nasty, but the council said, they could force us to take a fence down (of interest to you), but not put one up.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    noapron wrote: »
    ....we'd been advised to wait several months before redoing them to let the ground settle

    ??????? This has to be a wind up?
  • Morglin
    Morglin Posts: 15,922 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    scrooge786 wrote: »
    Hello All, when we 1st moved into our house almost 10yrs ago, only half of the boundary was up on the right side of the back garden. The tenant there got the LL to put up a fence all the way. I was at home when they began putting it up, but then had to leave to do school run.

    They put up 2 new panels of wooden fencing and wired fencing the rest of the length. At the time I didn't notice that they had put the fencing at an angle coming into OUR side of the garden. We realised afterwards, but haven't been sure about how to go about it or where to start. As the LL is very rarely ever there to speak to. And I'm asssuming it's useless talking to the elderly tenant. I have been stressing about it every time I see it as it about 10cms of OUR land, and they also put up prickly plants right NEXT to the fencing. :mad:

    It's also been a few years, about 4 or 5 years. Where do I start? Who do I speak to? and What do I need to make a note of?
    Any help will be much appreciated. :)

    10 cm of land was taken 5 years ago, and you're worrying about it now???:eek::eek:

    Jeez - get a hobby or something lol

    Lin :)
    You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands..........for instance, if they are placed around your throat, she's probably slightly upset. ;)
  • birkee
    birkee Posts: 1,933 Forumite
    G_M wrote: »
    It can sometimes be difficult to establish ownership of boundary fences. The Title Plan sometimes show ownership, and /or lease and/or developer's Plan. Have you looked?

    Another indication is which side of the fence the post is situated. The post is usually on the owner's side.

    Or ask the neighbours along the road. Often each property owns the fence on one side and it's the same for the whole street eg each house is responsible for the fence on the left of their garden.

    If possible as I suggested, start by talking to the owner if you can. Far less confrontational than a letter and if you can resolve amicably, that's best.

    However:

    Dear Mr Neighbour,
    Some time ago you will remember putting up a fence between our gardens. I've recently realised that this has not been put up along the boundary line, and so your garden has been extended into mine.

    Perhaps you could either arrange for the fence to be moved, or give me a call so we can a rrange a time to meet and discuss this.

    Yours sincerely,

    Ms Scrooge

    Yeh, we were told the same by the next door neighbour when we moved into our house in 1995. They wanted a tatty hedge replaced with a fence.
    That's yours! they said.
    Anyway, we had the deeds, and all fences are jointly owned according to them.
    We wanted the hedge replaced anyway, so we did it ourselves, but the cost should have been HALF theirs.

    Don't accept opinions. Check the deeds.
  • DPJames
    DPJames Posts: 999 Forumite
    C'mon, this is a wind up. 10cm 4/5 years ago!!! And the username kinda gives it away.

    If it's genuine though my advice would be 'p!ss off, you're a loon!!'
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 349.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453K Spending & Discounts
  • 242.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 619.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.4K Life & Family
  • 255.7K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.