Fence Panel - Police!

Dan-Dan

Morning

Just sharing really , 3 weeks ago , during the storms our neighbours fence panel fell over into our garden , i propped it up , popped next door , was invited in and had a friendly chat about it , they agreed as per our deeds , the fence is theirs to maintain (deeds specify a fence being up kept) , as we have small children and dogs , they did say they would get it done ASAP , but we understood there might be a while before this could happen.

Bear in mind the 6 foot fence panel was rotten , and already split from the concrete board base , so 2 weeks later , just before New Year , it blew right into our garden again , this time , even more of it had broken up , so i tidied up our side , and their side as they had various garden bits and pieces leaning and fallen into our garden , maybe i shouldn’t have , but i gathered the bits of fence panel in our garden , snapped a couple of bits to make more manageable , then placed it all neatly on their side against their concrete board , tidied up the whole area , and honestly the bottom of both our gardens look as neat as they can do , without a fence panel being there...

Yesterday, The Police came round saying they have an allegation of criminal damage, and must investigate! , the Police office even apologised for bothering us , we showed him the `area` , he laughed , said people will do anything to get out of paying for stuff , told us not to worry and nothing further will be forthcoming

Point is anyway, this doesn’t bode well for the future, we have only been here 3 months, and the neighbours called the Police on us rather than just have a knock on the door and a chat, thought I’d share, really annoying because we now know that if anything occurs to their house thatg might affect ours (we are attached) it could be difficult getting them to attend to it , plus most of their fence panels look like they are on their last legs PLUS the blasted panel at the centre of the storm , pun intended,. Is still hanging into our garden!

Prothet_of_Doom

How much is a fence panel ? http://www.wickes.co.uk/overlap-fence-panel-18x18m-6x6ft/invt/540053/ £20 ? !!!!!! (To your Neghbour)

Dan-Dan

I know PoD , really annoyed , no chance to build nice relations with them now , cant understand some people

DaftyDuck

Take plenty of photos, just so you have a record of what's there now, how rotten it is, what the condition is. At least that way the next time - and there sadly will be a next time - you don't even have to explain. Sorry you have such neighbours.

warmhands.coldheart

They sound like right knob ends......... As stated before, loads of photos, keep any contact formal (i.e. in form of written letters so you have a paper trail) then if it comes to a point where you have to mend the fence (sh.1t I know!! why should you) to keep your dog and kids safe, at least they can't go godding to the law/solicitors....


also, do they own the house or rent? if rent try find their landlord and go that route..

Dan-Dan

I think they own , my wife put a polite note through their door to explain what we had needed to do on the second occasion , they even showed it to the police saying it`s evidence , the police officer said he told them criminals dont usually leave nice notes admitting to crimes...

I think i will leave it only a few weeks then sort the fence myself , maybe erect a new boundary with 15 foot high fences!

Chunks

I really do feel for you. Not getting on with neighbours can turn a dream home into a horror show. I assume the relationship was cordial before and the first meeting went ok?

From what you have written, it looks pretty clear you haven't done anything other than what most people would do. However, viewed from your neighbour's point of view could it go something like this: 'We agreed to fix the fence but not right away and now Dan is breaking up our fence panel and chucking it back!' It's a stretch but seeing if there is a crumb of a catalyst of a reason they did what they did might help.

Not knowing what the neighbours are actually like (clearly calling the cops is not the action I would take - or most normal people) you might also be considered asking why they felt the need to do what they did; try to reestablish contact then the relationship. Easier said than done of course.

Hope you sort it anyway.

nearlyrich

I am surprised the police came to be honest what a waste of their time ..

Rodney_Trotter

Doesn't your neighbour realise they have devalued both properties by making it official.

warmhands.coldheart

Dan-Dan wrote: »

,.......... I think i will leave it only a few weeks then sort the fence myself , maybe erect a new boundary with 15 foot high fences!

I'd tend to agree that would be the best option.
Just put up a completely new fence just mm's on your side of the boundary. Then if they try to fix, nail, hang. whatever on YOUR FRENCE... you can take them up for trespass, vandalism, criminal damage........ the list is endless........!!

Dan-Dan

Chunks wrote: »

viewed from your neighbour's point of view could it go something like this: 'We agreed to fix the fence but not right away and now Dan is breaking up our fence panel and chucking it back!'

Agreed , i do see that , but if you could see what we , and the Officer can see our end , you would see how stretched that is a good reason to call the Police !