Neighbours have removed my boundary by taking down garage

DiscoCat54

Hello everyone

My left hand fence is my responsibility and until a few weeks ago my neighbour's garage was the boundary (my patio went right up to it and there were fence panels either side of the garage).

They are having a swimming pool but in to their garden so they've removed the garage to make way for it. The problem is that it leaves a gaping big hole in the fence.

They told me last week that their builders would charge me 1200 to put in 8 concrete posts but I just don't have anything like that amount of money!!!

I need a fence as I have goats and I don't know what to do.

Am I really liable for the costs of the fence even if it wasn't me that removed the boundary?

I am sure that I can find someone to do the work cheaper but I just wondered if I had to bear the full cost.

Thank you so much!

Marktheshark

The Answer is no you do not have to pay anything.
Just tell them you kind of like how you can gawp in to their garden and the goats do as well and they will love the swimming pool.

Lets be honest, they are not going to have a swimming pool that is not screened off are they ?
Pay nothing, their problem .

PasturesNew

The boundary exists in mid air, floating, an invisible line. They removed their garage,which was up against the boundary line. They didn't remove your boundary.

If either party is unhappy at there being a gaping hole, then they have the choice of installing a boundary on their side of the invisible line.

The neighbours removed their wall, which was against the invisible boundary. You owned nothing of this.

You need to make your own arrangements if having no boundary fencing upsets you.

Maybe they're hoping you'll pay for something, so they don't have to.... so you could just leave it and wait it out.... but you are the one with goats, so you are the one with the problem.

DiscoCat54

Thanks very much for your responses.

I will thank them for their kind offer of arranging for their builders to do it on my behalf and I'll find someone to do it cheaper - I hope!

I've put up temporary fencing myself but it isn't really up to the job!

McKneff

Just wait it out now.....

System

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 you have a duty to ensure that your animals are safe. If you do not have suitable fencing in place then you need to do it.

You don't have the option of sitting back and hoping that the neighbour will erect a fence in place of his garage.

Mojisola

DiscoCat54 wrote: »

They are having a swimming pool but in to their garden so they've removed the garage to make way for it. The problem is that it leaves a gaping big hole in the fence.

I need a fence as I have goats and I don't know what to do.

As long as you put up something that keeps the goats in, that's all that matter. It doesn't matter what it looks like.

How long are the neighbours going to put up with inviting their friends round to see the new swimming pool while you and the goats are looking at them through some stock-proof wire fencing?

They should have budgeted for a new fence when they decided to take down the garage.

DiscoCat54

Thank you all

To clarify, my animals are not at risk. My fence is temporary and rather short however it is strong enough to resist a determined goat. It just doesn't look very good and doesn't match the rest of the 6' fence panels.

Norman_Castle

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chain-link-fencing-PVC-3-0mm-wire-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-foot-read-description-please-/181695842777

They told me last week that their builders would charge me 1200 to put in 8 concrete posts but I just don't have anything like that amount of money!!!

8 posts?. How big was the garage?. How big is the gap in the fence? Do goats enjoy swimming?.

boliston

I've seen gardens with no dividing fence and can see nothing wrong in principle, although I'd imagine if you had a neighbour with kids or dogs it could be annoying if they started wandering onto your bit of garden.

27col

The way that I see it. Your goats, your problem. Why do you think that it is your neighbours responsibility to fence in your animals.
They have not removed your boundary. That is still in existence. All they have done is to remove the physical existence of a structure that defined the boundary. If you require there to be a physical structure there, for your benefit. Then you can provide it in whatever form you can afford.