Neighbours drive fence...

Alfrescodave

Is it not possible for the broken fence to accidentally, late one night, to fall onto the neighbours driveway - obviously not onto neighbours vehicle?

Semple

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Can the fence panels be removed by sliding them upwards? This removes the possibility of further damage from the wind and is a good incentive to repair the post.
Explain to the neighbour you are worried that their fence may now fall damaging your car and ask if you can remove the panels. Don't wait for them or their son to do it.

This would be a good idea. Removing the fence panels wouldn't cause any damage to the panels, and would also prevent any possible damage to your car.

Don't just remove them and not say anything though, as the neighbour will just think you're being funny. Remove it and place it against one of their other fence posts on their side, and then pop round and say you could see the fence slipping from the post, so decided to take the panel off in case a gust of wind pushes it further.

moneyistooshorttomention

Alfrescodave wrote: »

Is it not possible for the broken fence to accidentally, late one night, to fall onto the neighbours driveway - obviously not onto neighbours vehicle?

Judging by just how often things used to happen in that part of my garden that nfh next door could reach - until they got fed-up with being such a vandal:cool: - and I could never catch them at it:mad: then, in this context, that would be a possibility - as it's in a "good cause" on this occasion.

Ozzuk

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

The phrase you want is "date of knowledge". The neighbour would have been officially told on (date of letter) that an accident was possible - and so couldnt plead she didnt know.

Right now - she could just lie and say she hasnt been told verbally - and there's no proof of that conversation.

EDIT; I agree with Dave - its her responsibility (even though the son did it). Quite possibly her son is a windbag and she well knows it - but it's up to her to "carry the can" for him being that way if so - rather than OP (as neighbour on receiving end of his carelessness).

That works both ways though "So you warned the neighbour the fence was unsafe, but chose to park there anyway?"

If the fence is that dodgy I wouldn't be parking there until its sorted.

Davesnave

Ozzuk wrote: »

If the fence is that dodgy I wouldn't be parking there until its sorted.

But 'sorting' could take a lonnnggg time, which is why I suggested temporarily propping it.

It depends on circumstances, but it's not always easy to park elsewhere. While I wouldn't normally touch someone else's fence, it's unreasonable to expect the OP to put up with this for upwards of a month.

Some years ago, I warned a neighbour that his fence was looking the worse for wear. He smiled and gave me his personal assurance that it would not be allowed to fall down. Now, some of the fence is falling, but in the meantime, I've grown a hornbeam hedge taller than myself.

People mean well, but sometimes actions are worth much more than words.

sevenhills

Soph1988 wrote: »

I'm VERY reluctant to be fixing it ourselves - its damage caused by someone else and if the post does cause damage to our cars we will have to go down a legal route...

Any advice on our rights and how to go about this to get it resolved in a neighborly way would be appreciated.

Get a quote for the work doing; and just call nextdoor to tell them the price and ask them if they have got any quotes.
Just a nudge to remind them.

hazyjo

I would have thought removing a fence panel and leaving it leaning against something would cause far more damage in high winds - it will just blow away and hit something. Are you sure it's likely to fall? Is it not still held in place at one end and just rattling or bashing against the broken bit of post where I presume it's no longer slotted in?

Soph1988

Hi all, thanks for the advice

As it so happened, walking my dog home today the neighbour was also walking into our house. So I said hello a couple of times and she just ignored me, eventually I loudly said excuse me and she bothered to turn round. She said her sons got loads on. I made it clear that we are going to be neighbours for a long time, I don’t want to fall out with them over this and I also don’t want to end up claiming against them for damage to our property because of this.

I offered to get some quotes if she wanted them and she got stroppy and said she would speak to her son in law.

If nothings sorted in a couple of weeks I’ll put a note through her door with a couple of quotes and ask her to let me know when the work will be taking place so I can ensure our cars aren’t on the drive to allow access.

It took all of my strength to be polite.... who behaves like that with new neighbours that you will have to live next too for the next few years :eek:

I’ll take some photos tomorrow when the lights better also!

Soph1988

Also don!!!8217;t want to go around removing fence panels or tying ghastly things to it.... I feel it could exacerbate the situation which we do don!!!8217;t want!

Davesnave

Soph1988 wrote: »

Also don!!!8217;t want to go around removing fence panels or tying ghastly things to it.... I feel it could exacerbate the situation which we do don!!!8217;t want!

I think anything, apart from saying or doing nothing would exacerbate the situation; even being polite and staying calm, as you've done.

People like that want full control of the situation. They don't want you getting quotes, which is 'hassling' them. They want to do things in their own good time.

Unfortunately, your true position is that you cannot force the neighbour to do anything at all.

If it were me, I'd now be twice as likely to prop the fence on my side with materials of my choosing, but I'm a grumpy old git ,and there's no law against that either! :rotfl: