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

Davesnave

I've just had an idea. My neighbour wears headphones practically all the time when he's in the garden. On the few occasions when I've wanted to have a word, it's been quite difficult to attract his attention.

Could be worth a try!

moneyistooshorttomention

Davesnave wrote: »

I've just had an idea. My neighbour wears headphones practically all the time when he's in the garden. On the few occasions when I've wanted to have a word, it's been quite difficult to attract his attention.

Could be worth a try!

Saves all the hassle of different social norms and what to do about them I guess :T

No wonder 'birds of a feather' tend to flock together. It saves all the problem of people either trying to find ways to explain "My norms are different to your norms - no offence either way" or getting irritated because they can't see a way to discuss these things (as one party just won't).

maas

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 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.

I felt exactly the same when I moved into my house. The fences were only 4ft high, not helped by the fact that the gardens are at a lower level from when you open your back door.

I just put conifer hedges up on both sides (initially 4 ft but let the grow) and I now keep them maintained at 6ft and they look lovely (to me anyway). Prefer that to a taller fence.

27col

Mojisola wrote: »

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.

Lots of old garden walls have notoriously poor footings.As I know from experience.

selement

In my house growing up we had a combination of fence heights. The shorter fences were great as kids because both neighbors also had kids a similar age and we'd go play around each others gardens. I rent, I think if I owned I would want some privacy but wouldn't want to cut myself off totally unless I knew we didn't like the neighbours! I think I'd just have to be very blunt 'I'm gong to go do x in my garden now. Bye.' if they weren't getting the hint. I'm not great at talking to people anyway though.

Having said that I really want to get pedigree cats and would like to allow them into the garden so would probably need high adapted 'cat proof' fences for that (i havent looked into this thoroughly but believe there are solutions) so the friendliness with neighbours may have to go.

ethank

You may need planning permission if you intend to increase the fence size!

Jhoney_2

Forgot to say that once done, all the other neighbours started doing the same, so it was a catalyst for many people.

The neglectful neighbours have long since moved on:j and the new home owners are fantastic, but I still replaced the 5ft ones with higher ones when replacing some recently.

I still like my privacy as well.

Davesnave

ethank wrote: »

You may need planning permission if you intend to increase the fence size!

It would be great if you'd say why.

If you are going to issue warnings, it's helpful to give reasons. Or, if that's too complicated, you could provide a link:

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/fenceswallsgates/

DTDfanBoy

Mojisola wrote: »

You don't own 'your side' of the wall or fence. The whole of it belongs to the owner.

It may be a mistake to assume that each wall has only one owner, it could be the case that one, some, or all three, walls are in fact a party fence wall as described be the party wall act :eek:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/40/crossheading/construction-and-repair-of-walls-on-line-of-junction

TBagpuss

OP, I agree with the suggestions to speak to the neighbours, I personally probably wouldn't say, specifically, that I was puting up the fences for privacy as that can come across as a dig at the neighbours. ("I'm putting up the fences because you're so nosy")

I'd approach it more as "Now we've settled in and are decising what we want to do with the garden, we're planning to put up some fences" tothe extent that you are willing to take on board their wishes you can make that clear (e.g. "we'd thought the best thing would be to put 3' wooden panels on top of the existing walls, but would be happy to discuss other options if you have strong prefernces")

Good relationships with neighbours are worth their weight in gold.