Help: Have Neighbours Illegally Installed a Fence at Our House?

Adamc

davidmcn wrote: »

Not if there's no criminal intent it isn't. Even if it were, I doubt inviting the cops round is really going to help.

Hopefully won't come to that but may well be a crime

Adamc

paddyz wrote: »

I’m guessing that was put up by the builders of the houses then, what a bloody cheek, hope it gets sorted out soon

Yes it was put up by the builders. Thanks for the well wishes.

Adamc

babyblade41 wrote: »

I wouldn't be as tolerant, I would ask them what the hell do they think they were doing drilling into my house and to remove and make good ASAP

If that doesn't happen then the legal route should be next

We are a bit apprehensive about the cost of taking things further but may be the only course of action left.

davidmcn

Adamc wrote: »

Hopefully won't come to that but may well be a crime

I very much doubt it is. In any event, the police aren't going to sort it out for you.

Adamc

davidmcn wrote: »

I very much doubt it is. In any event, the police aren't going to sort it out for you.

We neither want nor intend to involve the police. Goodness knows their services are stretched enough. We just want our property and access restoring.

Sea_Shell

My worry would be an escalation of hostilities by the neighbours, if you "go legal". They may come up with inventive and extremely hard to prove ways of making your life hell.

Do you have CCTV covering your car/driveway?

tom9980

I was thinking about this and forgot to ask Adamc if there are covenants about fences in the front gardens, it seems to me the developer may have something helpful most of the other houses in the pictures don't seem to have fences, so its a possibility.

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My approach would be decide if speaking to them or writing to them is best, only you can know how approachable your neighbour is likely to be at this point.

I would then say/write that the fence as it stands cannot stay, it must not be attached to your building in anyway, shape or form.

A gate is not acceptable and we require unrestricted access walking from the front door to the side gate.

The panel at the top must be removed, the most that is acceptable is that it terminates before the path.

This needs to be done within 7 days or you will remove the panel, gravel board and wooden post, and possibly bill the neighbour for the pleasure, although i would likely do it myself for free. Place the panel in their garden.

If they attempt to erect the fence once again then it needs a solicitors letter, seems silly to go legal and ruin your future house sale.

FTBlalala

Sorry to read this AdamC, what an absolute pain! Unfortunately no help from me other than what other's have said (letter from a solicitor).

It is absolutely crazy to me how inconsiderate people can be nowadays... Completely outrageous to put that up the way they have (photos/video is ridiculous)! You can bet they are the type of people who would have immediately been on your case had you done the same thing on their house and restricting their access.

What an absolute headache, feel for you and hope it's resolved.

pinkshoes

Adamc wrote: »

We are a bit apprehensive about the cost of taking things further but may be the only course of action left.

I would start by sending GM’s letter giving them 7 days to remove the fence etc...

Then see what happens.

If they do nothing, then make arrangements to have the fence removed as stated by GM.

Get quotes by several people then go with the most reasonable quote.

If they do not pay the bill, then it is a simple letter before action and take it to the small claims court. They will need to pay the court costs.

They have a house as an asset so will pay up!

Slinky

Have you downloaded their title documents from land registry. I see from the 'key' to yours that the yellow area is marked as shared pathway but sits outside your red plot boundary. It would be interesting to see where their red lines are. If they don't include the yellow area within their plot, they are land grabbing. If they don't own that land, who does, the developer?