Neighbours fence

scousemouse1

I am posting here in the hope that someone will listen to my concerns and hopefully give me some advice.

I live next door to the neighbours from hell, but the one thing that has caused me so much grief over the past few years is the fence that they've put up. This hideous monstrosity is made from pallets and is two pallets high. Now the sight of it isn't what bothers me so much, but the fact that there is no support that we can see (my husband is a carpenter) and if the fence collapsed it could seriously maim or kill one of my five grandchildren who are all under the age of eight.

I have just had one of their housing officers look at the fence and she doesn't agree with me regarding the safety issues and said that they are only prepared to replace the first section of the fence. This isn't good enough for me. I even showed her how the fence is insecure by pushing on it. All she did was say that the original fence which is still in place could just as easily fall. My response was that if that fence fell you'd get away with a few scratches or bruises, but not broken bones.

What can I do about this?

pelirocco

Put a fence up on your side?

scousemouse1

It wil have to be taken down and I don't see why we should have to go through such a huge task when the damned thing shouldn't be there in the first place

jay1976

I lived next door to a very difficult neighbour, and i tried a polite note explaining my concerns posted through their door, i know this doesnt always help, and even though we were not the best of friends after it helped them understand how their actions affected others.

when two parties are not getting on it takes a better person to make the first move, if your unable to do this perhaps a letter to the housing association explaining your concerns and possible conciquences from this issue may help

hope this helps

scousemouse1

As I pointed out in my opening post, I have contacted the housing association and they send someone out who looked like a bulldog chewing on a wasp. She wasn't prepared to listen to the issues I raised with regards to safety.

While my husband is a fully qualified carpenter, we are unfortunately unable to replace the fence due to being on benefits.

Leif

How tall is it? There are regulations about fence height. 2m is the maximum for side and back, 1m for front. Sounds like they might not have exceeded the limit though. There may well be issues relating to safety, but it might be the case that you cannot do anything until the fence falls on someone or a pet animal. The neighbours property might have a covenant governing maximum fence height, type etc.

lagi

Why not send your husband over to explain your worries and tell him hes a carpenter and could make it a bit more secure for the both of you. You will feel better knowing its safe and your husband can get to check it out and make it safe. (doesn't have to look good, just stick loads of screws his side to get it secure.)

z1985m

pallets? as in delivery pallets? ( used by supermarkets, building supplies e.c.t as a base )

markdavey

scousemouse1 wrote: »

It wil have to be taken down and I don't see why we should have to go through such a huge task when the damned thing shouldn't be there in the first place

You are quoting that you are worried about the current fence falling and injuring one or more of your 5 grandchildren. Whilst putting a fence up on your side will be a cost, surely the safety of your Grandchildren is more important. You could be battling for years with your neighbour.

AFAIK all your neighbour has to do is maintain a boundary which they seem to have done with pallets. Until the worst happens, I doubt if you are going to have any luck getting it removed.

Whilst not ideal, I would put a fence up on my side, if just for the piece of mind.

STOCKWIRE

scousemouse1 wrote: »

(my husband is a carpenter) and if the fence collapsed it could seriously maim or kill one of my five grandchildren who are all under the age of eight.


What can I do about this?

Get your husband to get off his a** and make it safe !. Your grandchildren your responsibility, or is it a case of after an accident you can stand there all smug saying "I told you so" !!

keystone

scousemouse1 wrote: »

It wil have to be taken down and I don't see why we should have to go through such a huge task when the damned thing shouldn't be there in the first place

If the "fence" is on your neighbours land it will not "have to come down" as its nothing to do with you except by nice negotiation. If its on his land he has every right to put the "damned thing" there in the first place as a means of fencing his property - ugly and inconsiderate though it may be.

No "fence" should be erected on the boundary.

If you don't like the look of his fence you have every right to erect your own on your land to obsure the eyesore.

If the person in authority you have had round disagrees that it is unsafe then it is safe. Just you saying its unsafe doesn't make it unsafe.

Sorry if thats not what you want to hear.

Cheers