Privacy from Back Garden Removed

Beancounter

I live in a link detached house. In the back there is a 1 metre high fence. Next door had a row of conifers at their side which gave us some privacy.

Now, they have chopped them down meaning there is absolutely no privacy whatsoever, needless to say I am a little annoyed that this wasn't mention to us just as a matter of courtesy.

I would now like to erect a larger fence to give us our privacy back but am unsure as to the best way to approach this. We don't really speak but I don't want to cause any friction.

If we wanted to do this would they be liable to half the cost?

themull1

No they wouldnt be liable for half the cost if you put a larger fence up on your property, why nor replant conifers on your side?

Procrastinator333

I will be honest, I don't get it. Unless I have misunderstood your post. Someone made the decision to remove some trees that were wholly on their land and were entirely their trees. And you are not happy with them? To be blunt, what has it got to do with you? They are their trees on their land! As previously said, if you want a screen, put up a fence on your land or plant your own conifers. At your expense. It is your land. You don't need to ask permission.

Beancounter

No I'm not happy with them purely for the reason that I personally out of courtesy would have given a heads up as to my intentions.

I am quite happy to throw up a 6 foot fence on my side but was seeking advice for the best way to approach this.

The final line on my first post was an after thought rather than a demand or expectation of payment!!!!

I am just not sure to the etiquette for this, I mean I just can't rip out the existing fence and erect a 6 footer can I? Just don't want to cause any bother.

pimento

Knock at their door, ask if they have plans to replace the fence and if not, tell them you will be replacing it.

I_have_spoken

The deeds should say whose fence it is. There's various 'rules of thumb' about this, but you'd best be sure. Taking down theirs would be criminal damage

If it's yours, shouldn't be any problem in replacing with 2m unless there are covenants/restrictions in the deeds.

That said, it's a more elegant solution to put up fence panels which allow for trellis up to the 2m limit, then you can grow nice plants through the trellis so you get privacy without feeling your in a shoe-box.

27col

The removal of their trees was absolutely nothing to do with you. They were not planted to give you privacy. If you want privacy, then do something about it yourself.

Norman_Castle

I am just not sure to the etiquette for this, I mean I just can't rip out the existing fence and erect a 6 footer can I? Just don't want to cause any bother.

Who does the fence belong to?

staple28

Wow! I had a row of conifers in a house i bought a few years ago, i couldn't wait to take them down, i didnt for one minute think about going knocking on all of my neighbours doors and informing them first!

Most of them were grateful as once they were gone the sun got back into their gardens.

Apart from one neighbour who used one of my trees to attatch her washing line too. She hadnt realised i was in the garden one day and i heard her say 'i knew this would happen' !

Beancounter

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Who does the fence belong to?

Looking at the deeds it states "the boundary fences or walls of each feu forming division fences or walls between adjoining feus are or shall be erected as to one-half on each feu and shall be maintained equally....."

I presume that means they are jointly owned.

Beancounter

27col wrote: »

The removal of their trees was absolutely nothing to do with you. They were not planted to give privacy. If you want privacy, then do something about it yourself.

Agreed but as I have said from post 1 the decent thing to do would have been to give a little heads up that this was the plan. |Just a little courtesy but it seems that is a commodity in short supply these days.

As for "do something about it yourself" that's the whole point of the thread, seeing what I can do myself without causing an issue.