Putting up a taller fence.. How to tell neighbours?

Drew210385

We bought a house about 18 months ago and the garden has a very low 3 ft wall on all 3 sides, making it very open to the 3 neighbouring properties.

We would like to put a fence on top of the walls to give us some privacy (3 ft fence to make a 6 ft height) however, the person who lived in the house before us had been here for 50 years, and the neighbours on either side have been here 35 years and 20 years. I feel terrible for moving in and putting up a big fence when it’s been like this for the past 50 years at least, however we would like some privacy. I’d like to go in the garden and have a quiet drink, and not have to make small talk! Sometimes when other people are in their gardens I don’t even feel like I can go out, I almost feel like I’m intruding as it's so open. Looking down the street from upstairs I can see most gardens have fences, it’s just this 3 in a row do not, which we’re right in the middle of!

I am a sociable person, it’s not about that, and we are very friendly with one side, but after seeing them and chatting almost every single day in the summer it got a bit much. They were outside nearly all the time. I swear I saw them more often than my partner! We don’t want to plant bushes as the garden is not huge and we want to make the best use of the space, and there is concrete/patio around the edges anyway.

We are happy to pay, we are not going to ask anyone to contribute unless someone offers to. Solicitors and land registry had no info re boundaries anyway and said we would need to figure it ourselves.

Even if we just put some trellis and climbers up or something we should still let the neighbours know so we feel like we may as well just put a fence up if we are going to have to have that chat.

But what do you even say? ‘Hiya, we live next door, do you mind if we put a big fence up as we want some privacy. OK thanks, bye.’ Arghh!

Sorry for the ranting. I just don't want anyone to be upset or annoyed with us, I'd hate for that. I love where we live.

Guest101

Drew210385 wrote: »

We bought a house about 18 months ago and the garden has a very low 3 ft wall on all 3 sides, making it very open to the 3 neighbouring properties.

We would like to put a fence on top of the walls - Who owns the walls? to give us some privacy (3 ft fence to make a 6 ft height) however, the person who lived in the house before us had been here for 50 years, and the neighbours on either side have been here 35 years and 20 years. I feel terrible for moving in and putting up a big fence when it’s been like this for the past 50 years at least, - Tea and cake will make this conversation easier. however we would like some privacy. I’d like to go in the garden and have a quiet drink, and not have to make small talk! Sometimes when other people are in their gardens I don’t even feel like I can go out, I almost feel like I’m intruding as it's so open. - Different generations unfortumately. Looking down the street from upstairs I can see most gardens have fences, it’s just this 3 in a row do not, which we’re right in the middle of!

I am a sociable person, it’s not about that, and we are very friendly with one side, but after seeing them and chatting almost every single day in the summer it got a bit much. They were outside nearly all the time. I swear I saw them more often than my partner! We don’t want to plant bushes as the garden is not huge and we want to make the best use of the space, and there is concrete/patio around the edges anyway.

We are happy to pay, we are not going to ask anyone to contribute unless someone offers to. Solicitors and land registry had no info re boundaries anyway and said we would need to figure it ourselves. - Well land registry must have some boundary, so you knew what you were buying.

Even if we just put some trellis and climbers up or something we should still let the neighbours know so we feel like we may as well just put a fence up if we are going to have to have that chat.

But what do you even say? ‘Hiya, we live next door, do you mind if we put a big fence up as we want some privacy. OK thanks, bye.’ Arghh!

Sorry for the ranting. I just don't want anyone to be upset or annoyed with us, I'd hate for that. I love where we live.

1: find out who owns the walls
2: invite them over for tea and cake
3: explain that you want to have a bit more privacy in the garden, but aren't looking for any financial contribution.

jimbog

You could say that:

• You are thinking of getting a dog from the dog shelter and have been advised to have taller fences for everyone's safety (but then change your mind about the dog later)
  
• You intend to grow some jasmine in garden and need something to secure it to

Winter is a good time to do this as everyone is spending less time in the garden at the moment so the impact of it when you do it would seem less

Mr_Costcutter

I would approach the subject of erecting a fence very carefully. Probably along the lines of 'I hope you don't mind...but...':) You never know, they might actually be grateful to you - privacy without the expense of having to provide for it.

Land_Registry

The registered details will rarely confirm who owns or is responsible for a boundary and where mention is made it can help understand the approach previously but ultimately it may no longer be enforceable.

You mention that the titles make no mention so it really does come down to neighbours having a chat, sharing information and understanding and going from there.

In my experience it is best to approach it directly as all too often neighbours will make a boundary problem arise when the real issue is noise, dogs/children, BBQs when the washing is out and son on - far better to explain it as you have in your OP and go from there

Everyone tends to have a different understanding so an open and frank conversation tends to be best but every neighbour is different so try to keep the open mind you appear to have

moneyistooshorttomention

Surely its just a case of whether you own the walls concerned or no?

If you own them - just go ahead and do it.

If you don't own them - then you aren't able to do it.

I wouldn't see any reason to even mention it. Just go ahead and arrange it (assuming they are your walls).

That is going to be the thing - with three walls involved - the chances are that you DO own at least one of them, and DONT own at least one of them. It's very unlikely you wouldn't own any of the walls, but equally unlikely you would own all the walls.

agrinnall

Just put a 6 foot fence up inside the walls, then you don't have to worry about who owns what. I would only tell the immediate neighbours as a courtesy, what you do in your own garden is entirely your own concern.

Snuggles

You have my sympathy. We have exactly the same problem - it's impossible to relax in our own garden as the neighbours are in our faces constantly. As another poster has said, you will have to find out who owns the walls (or get agreement from the relevant neighbours) before you can attach fencing to them. The other option, if it's possible, is simply to erect a fence in front of the walls on your side of the boundary.

Mojisola

agrinnall wrote: »

Just put a 6 foot fence up inside the walls, then you don't have to worry about who owns what. I would only tell the immediate neighbours as a courtesy, what you do in your own garden is entirely your own concern.

This might be the best option. If you are going to put a fence on top of a wall, make sure the wall is strong enough to cope with the extra stresses.

If you're not in a windy area, you may get away with it.

Land_Registry

Think ahead as well though to when the neighbours may change - I see a lot of threads where neighbours are trying to work out whether the fence or wall is the boundary so solving one problem may cause a later one if not considered carefully and, as suggested, discussed with the neighbour.

Land Registry can only supply the registered details but with boundaries this sort of thing is best resolved between neighbours amicably. I post the following comment based solely on experience of such matters over a long period of time and how one person's solution may just create a problem for someone else simply because no neighbour, no wall, no fence and no boundary is ever the same

The OP mentions the neighbours having lived there a long time but not whether there is a friendly relationship etc. But the OP is clearly considerate of the neighbours having an interest in the boundary so keeping it courteous and discussing what options exist still sounds the best way forward here.

EmmyLou30

I'm surprised at so many people saying just put up a fence and it's none of their business - glad I don't live next door to you!! It's common courtesy in polite society to let people know that you're about to do any noisy, dusty or disruptive work or work that may affect a neighbour. Just because you may have the right to erect a fence it'd be bad manners and downright rude not to tell the neighbour and discuss it first. I'd be mad as hell if a neighbour just started doing work and I came home to it one day. Not the start you want in a new home.

I can see why the OP wants the fence, and a polite word with neighbour over a cup of tea seems a good way to go. It may be that all 3 neighbours were the same age and got on so well they wanted to chat all summer long.....but now their friend has moved out they'd actually prefer a fence? No slight on the OP of course, my Nan had a gate between her and her friend next door till the neighbour died but got rid when new neighbours moved in. Not because they were bad neighbours but purely because she no longer had a connection to them like she'd had to the previous old lady.