Nuisance Neighbour - Home extension

Mistral001

I think padd'ymum is spot on. As far as I know the law is that you should offer the cuttings to the neighbour who owns them. Just dumping them over the fence without first offering them to them first does not follow the law as far as I can see. Also it could be seen as confrontational at best and aggressive at worst.

Mistral001

umeedify wrote: »

Quite interesting thanks for that.

Actually the fenceline and the fencing is all theirs, just the 2 additional panels put up for screening following the extension (as per their request) are mine.

I am inclined to let them take it down as it would cost me again. Also I don't want them to start complaining that I damaged any part of their fencing by removing the panels.

I see. Maybe communication is not the best at the minute with the neighbour, if possible I would try to be firm with them as to how they were going to take the fence down and who was going to pay for taking it down. An argument could be made that since the extra piece of fence is owned by you and was erected by your contractor that to take it down is going to cost money as well. It is possible that they will hire a contractor to take it down.

DRP

Mistral001 wrote: »

I think padd'ymum is spot on. As far as I know the law is that you should offer the cuttings to the neighbour who owns them. Just dumping them over the fence without first offering them to them first does not follow the law as far as I can see. Also it could be seen as confrontational at best and aggressive at worst.

I think just offering the cuttings is also quite confrontational.

I would tell them in advance that you will be trimming the bushes to the boundary.

phil24_7

I just did my neighbours while they were away on holiday. Sent them a pic saying I'd had an accident (chopped their bushes to half their size) and they were made up! I'm glad I have excellent neighbours!!!

umeedify

Hello All

Latest.

I was going to write back this week to the neighbours. However, they instructed someone today to come and remove the extra fencing without permission. The chap knocked on the door and stated he has been instructed to remove the fencing. We gave no permission, although its our panels on their fencing which was put up at their request. Can they just do that without giving any notice. These people are really not reasonable and have really shown what they are really about.

I'll write to them to inform them that their fence post issue will be resolved in the coming weeks.

stator

If the original fence belongs to them then yes they can remove the extra and return it to you.

Dan-Dan

cant understand why op has let this drag out in such a manner , a neighbour dispute is in the offing judging by actions so far

umeedify

Hello all

Thank you for all your responses and advice.

I have tried my best to appease the neighbours and have just replaced a fence panel for them as they believed it had become misaligned due to my workers. They have removed the extra fencing that they requested and I paid for it.

Quite honestly, the neighbours have become more and more unreasonable and have bullied us since we started our build and we have given in to their every demand.

Now:

After 5 months of the extension being put up, they have reported us to planning with regards to the decking we have built in the garden, I believe they would have cited that we overlook their garden.

1. I have yet to allow the planning enforcement visit as he wants to take measurements of the decking area which he says may be different from the building reg and planning docs.

2: We previously had block paving which had an established height and have had that for more than 10 years. We simply have replaced block paving with decking and reduced the size of the area.

3: The neighbours are trying everything they can to cost us money and effort and this has been the case ever since before the build with party wall issues and surveyors costs.

4: Every step of the way they have been consulted, we even put up the extra fencing at their request then after 2 weeks they took it down, citing that we had breached planning height of 2.1 mters or so.

4: Our relationship with the neighbours of more than 10 years has irrevocably broken down and we simply don't talk. Everything is in writing following the fencing issues as they are not to be trusted and seem to be playing to an agenda to make it difficult for us.

Any advice with the planning enforcement and what my rights or where to go will be greatly appreciated.

thanks

-taff

Stop getting wound up by them would be a good start.
Forget about the fencing, that's done and dusted, yes you paid for it, no they didn't like it and decided to take it down.

You don't need planning permission for decking as long as it's not more than 30cm above the ground and also that along with extensions etc it covers no more than 50% of the garden. Does yours?

phoenix_w

umeedify wrote: »

Any advice with the planning enforcement and what my rights or where to go will be greatly appreciated.

Previous poster has given you good advice regarding decking. If you're in the clear, invite the planning enforcement officer 'round and let them see - be polite, co-operate let them know that after trying to bend over backwards to accommodate them your neighbour is becoming vexatious.