Advice on boundary issue for rented flat

mishoooo67

Hi All,

Im was hoping someone may be able to offer a little advice on a situation I have?

I have a flat which is ex-local authority. Its a bottom floor flat which is part of a 'four in a block'. I am currently renting this out. There is another four in a block next door.

My flat boundary covers the front and back garden, with the side garden between the two blocks being the responsibility of the owner upstairs (who is actually still the local authority).

There has been issues with the dog from next door attacking my tenant and their dog as their is no fence between the properties.

I don't want my tenant to suffer but I am not sure what I should do about this situation? They are being aggressive to me to sort it out but it is not my land - can I actually put a fence up if it is not my land? Does anyone have any advice?


Thanks


Mich

princeofpounds

You can always put up a fence on your side.

And if the dog does cause damage on another person's property the owner is responsible.

Plus the police and council probably have some statuory nuisance powers to deal with dangerous dogs.

TBagpuss

If you own the garden, you can put up a fence within your own boundaries. If the neighbouring owner is still the Local Authority it may be worth contacting them directly to ask about whether they will put up a fence or share costs to put one on the boundary itself.

If the neighbour whose dog is attacking your tenant a Local Authority tenant? If so, recommend to your tenant that she raise it with the Local Authority - there is likely to be a clause in their tenancy about not causing nuisance to other occupants, and as a Local Authority they probably have formal complaints processes.

I would also recommend that she contact the police if she has actually been attacked by the dog.

However, as between you and your tenant, if there was no fence when they moved into the property you are not obliged to add one - do you feel it would be a good thing to have? Is the tenant generally a good tenant and someone you wan to maintain a good relationship with? I suspect that having a garden fence would be an advantage long term, so it may be in your long term interests to put one up anyway, but that depends somewhat on the property.