My neighbours demolished my fence

Tipsntreats

During the storms at the end of last year, a section of my garden fence was blown down. I am a tenant in a house divided into 2 flats. The front garden belongs to the freeholders below me. The back garden belongs to our flat. The neighbours informed us and we propped it up, stating we would fix it when the winds dropped. I saw them out of my window pushing more of the fence down! My hubby went out to try and salvage what he could, only to be told not to bother, as it blocked their light out! As the fence had been there for 12 years, I was confused by the statement. The spring arrived and the neighbours told me they had arranged with our landlady(the leaseholder), that they were going to replace the fence, and share the cost with our landlady. They also told me that it would be a little lower. The original fence was 6 foot, the new fence is 3 foot, I have NO privacy. I was so mad, but did not want to start a war over a fence. They also destroyed all of my climbers that I had been growing for years. Now every time I go in my garden they are there, watching my every move. I said that i was going to put some trellises up and grow some climbers. "They had better not block my light" said the neighbours wife. I see why they did it now. They put a little patio outside their back door, stolen some of my garden, and are not going to except any kind of change. I just don't know what to do, my garden was my little sanctuary, and now it is under constant guard. Any suggestions?

GwylimT

Erect a fence on your own border, sorted.

kazwookie

Grow a couple of holly tree on 'your' land, next to the fence

Tipsntreats

My border actually goes right up to their back door. They have taken part of my garden to put up the fence.
They have a dog, I would't want holly hurting the paws.

GwylimT

Then put a fence on your border, holly isn't a problem for dogs paws, if a fallen leaf is a little sharp they wont step on them again, just like little stones etc.

maman

Speak to your landlord. Surely your rent is for the flat and the garden you had before not the bit of garden that's left.

krlyr

It will be in the landlord's interest to regain their own land, so I would speak to them about the encroachment.

The neighbour cannot demand that your fence doesn't block their light - you're allowed a fence up to 2m tall. If you chose to make that a solid fence, that's beyond their control.

mrs_Badger

Sorry to hear this, defo do not take this lying down, speak to your landlord and hopefully they will back you on sorting it for what's best for you.

Kim_kim

If it's your landlords fence maybe your landlord was happy to let your neighbours choose the fence so they would share the costs.

They may well have come to an agreement on this.

Lynplatinum

Hiya

I would grow purple buberus. Long thorns, can be trained to grown thickly - very pretty yellow berries in autumn - lovely foliage to 'background' your own flowers. Nowt neighbours can do about it!

check with your landlord exactly what was agreed. As a landlord myself I would be fuming if they had not replaced like for like.

Also think the above poster is correct - you can put a fence up 6ft - provided it is not with x many feet of their window. Check on the Citizen advice site.

Finally have a friendly chat with neighbours and tell em you are planning lots of summer parties in the garden - and that you are just pre warning them as they may go on well into the night/early morning - oh and they will be BBQs - you can apologise in advance for the smell. :eek: Explain that many of your friends are heavy metal music fans and will be bringing their guitars and drums along :-) - yep - petty but the look on their faces will be worth it :rotfl:
Nite all

Tipsntreats

Lynplatinum You did make me laugh!
I have now heard back from the landlady. The people below had asked for her to pay half, however, as I had told her it was half a fence, more of a border, she refused to pay. She also said that the fence was NOT a priority for her. At least now she knows the situation. Very difficult to get the two foot of garden back as they have laid a brick path/patio. All the stuff they did was whilst we were away, so sneaky!
I see that my passion flower is showing little bits after the main one was cut down by them. It must have rooted, further along. I will put up my trellis I think, and take photos as proof. At least that way I can prove it was my property, if they try to demolish that!
Yesterday, when I came home, their dog was in MY garden!!!! When I caught them, they said it jumped the fence. Their dog is a little whippet! We forgot to lock the garden gate more like, and they had re-seeded the front garden. All fun and games here! Before they retired everything was peaceful. Now well who knows what's next?
Tips