Help with fence and neighbour...

Bumblebee2128

Bumblebee2128 said:

stragglebod said:

Bumblebee2128 said:

Thank you everyone you have given me a lot to think about. Stragglebod yes it's about 3 meters high from stepping out of my patio doors but only 6 foot high from the highest point. I will try and get photos tomorrow of the whole garden. I will add that no other neighbors have objected the main part of the fence runs along another neighbours house who has said he would love the privacy and the fence is fine. 

It's a while since I did maths at school but I'm fairly sure that 3 meters is more than 2 meters.

I understand, however everything I have read (rct) says from the highest point of the garden. As I said  this was raised a long time ago by previous owners. I have checked my deeds through and through along with all my paperwork from purchasing the house nothing says about the garden being raised. Had it been a matter or just the fence I would take her view into consideration, but my husband cannot breath without her coming out and harrasing us, it's starting to feel like a vendetta. She has not got along with any previous owners and I am starting to feel like we are bearing the brunt of her frustration towards them. 

Forgot to add that I had no idea the garden had been raised by previous owners until this neighbour informed me. I always thought it was just that way. The 1ft of fence added to the wall will not make any difference to her with sunlight as the tree I cut down completely counteracts the fence. The only thing she sees out of her window is my garden. 

GDB2222

The planning rules may be nonsense, but if they say a maximum of two metres, it would be insane if you could dump some soil in that spot to raise it up and then measure the height from the top of the mound.

 I fully understand that you want to keep your children safe, but you could have a different sort of fence that doesn’t take away her light but stops the kids falling. Also, it would be perfectly safe at 3ft tall. You really don’t need it to be 6ft.

Maybe your neighbour’s difficult, but you are creating a situation which is unfortunate and perhaps should be more flexible. People here talk about appeasing a difficult neighbour, but just remember that these boundary disputes can drag on through the courts and eventually bankrupt one, or even both, of you. Personally, I think your husband is right to have second thoughts, and maybe you should to. 

Apart from anything else, you could find it difficult to sell your house and would need to declare the dispute.

SameOldRoundabout

It doesn’t look like your fence is any higher than the one she has between her and next door (because that’s definitely more than 2m, whereas yours is less from your ground level!). The new fence also looks barely higher than the old one. She sounds a nightmare, next time she comes out I’d firmly tell her the fence is legal and staying and if she continues to shout at you and indimidate your children you’ll call the police. Don’t even engage her after that. That will be a lot harder than it sounds but I wouldn’t be taking it down in your shoes, the previous low wall offered no privacy or safety for your kids. 

Bumblebee2128

GDB2222 said:

The planning rules may be nonsense, but if they say a maximum of two metres, it would be insane if you could dump some soil in that spot to raise it up and then measure the height from the top of the mound.

 I fully understand that you want to keep your children safe, but you could have a different sort of fence that doesn’t take away her light but stops the kids falling. Also, it would be perfectly safe at 3ft tall. You really don’t need it to be 6ft.

Maybe your neighbour’s difficult, but you are creating a situation which is unfortunate and perhaps should be more flexible. People here talk about appeasing a difficult neighbour, but just remember that these boundary disputes can drag on through the courts and eventually bankrupt one, or even both, of you. Personally, I think your husband is right to have second thoughts, and maybe you should to. 

Apart from anything else, you could find it difficult to sell your house and would need to declare the dispute.

I didn't dump any soil there the garden has been like that for many many years. A 3ft fence wouldn't even go past the original wall there so no help, it's not just for my children it's a matter of privacy when she is being difficult and putting her head over every single day. As I said I'd it was just the fence I'd maybe leave it go, but I am quite a new owner of this house and she non stopped harrased me about a tree which I did cut down, she them caused a huge argument over a small bonfire which was well within council rules to rid me of the tree (no other neighbour complained). 

GDB2222

Bumblebee2128 said:

GDB2222 said:

The planning rules may be nonsense, but if they say a maximum of two metres, it would be insane if you could dump some soil in that spot to raise it up and then measure the height from the top of the mound.

 I fully understand that you want to keep your children safe, but you could have a different sort of fence that doesn’t take away her light but stops the kids falling. Also, it would be perfectly safe at 3ft tall. You really don’t need it to be 6ft.

Maybe your neighbour’s difficult, but you are creating a situation which is unfortunate and perhaps should be more flexible. People here talk about appeasing a difficult neighbour, but just remember that these boundary disputes can drag on through the courts and eventually bankrupt one, or even both, of you. Personally, I think your husband is right to have second thoughts, and maybe you should to. 

Apart from anything else, you could find it difficult to sell your house and would need to declare the dispute.

I didn't dump any soil there the garden has been like that for many many years. A 3ft fence wouldn't even go past the original wall there so no help, it's not just for my children it's a matter of privacy when she is being difficult and putting her head over every single day. As I said I'd it was just the fence I'd maybe leave it go, but I am quite a new owner of this house and she non stopped harrased me about a tree which I did cut down, she them caused a huge argument over a small bonfire which was well within council rules to rid me of the tree (no other neighbour complained). 

I don't know the planning rules, but it might be worth checking that in some detail. The GardenLaw website can probably help you.

It sounds like you want to punish your neighbour, and indeed she does sound like a difficult lady. Provided you have nerves of steel, unlimited funds, and don't mind being dragged through the courts for a few years, I'd say go ahead. It'll be entertaining for the rest of us when we read about it in the paper, so I'll thank you in advance.

Bumblebee2128

GDB2222 said:

Bumblebee2128 said:

GDB2222 said:

The planning rules may be nonsense, but if they say a maximum of two metres, it would be insane if you could dump some soil in that spot to raise it up and then measure the height from the top of the mound.

 I fully understand that you want to keep your children safe, but you could have a different sort of fence that doesn’t take away her light but stops the kids falling. Also, it would be perfectly safe at 3ft tall. You really don’t need it to be 6ft.

Maybe your neighbour’s difficult, but you are creating a situation which is unfortunate and perhaps should be more flexible. People here talk about appeasing a difficult neighbour, but just remember that these boundary disputes can drag on through the courts and eventually bankrupt one, or even both, of you. Personally, I think your husband is right to have second thoughts, and maybe you should to. 

Apart from anything else, you could find it difficult to sell your house and would need to declare the dispute.

I didn't dump any soil there the garden has been like that for many many years. A 3ft fence wouldn't even go past the original wall there so no help, it's not just for my children it's a matter of privacy when she is being difficult and putting her head over every single day. As I said I'd it was just the fence I'd maybe leave it go, but I am quite a new owner of this house and she non stopped harrased me about a tree which I did cut down, she them caused a huge argument over a small bonfire which was well within council rules to rid me of the tree (no other neighbour complained). 

I don't know the planning rules, but it might be worth checking that in some detail. The GardenLaw website can probably help you.

It sounds like you want to punish your neighbour, and indeed she does sound like a difficult lady. Provided you have nerves of steel, unlimited funds, and don't mind being dragged through the courts for a few years, I'd say go ahead. It'll be entertaining for the rest of us when we read about it in the paper, so I'll thank you in advance.

I don't want her punished at all, in fact quite the opposite I would rather everyone get along, which me and my husband have tried many times. There is a lot she has said which I have not mentioned that is ludicrous. When my children are scared to go in their garden because she is watching us in the window them coming out and shouting all sorts what else can I do? 

-taff

You can practice your ignore skillz....

You've just got one of those neighbours who believes that their version of the world is the right one and no one else is right. You just have to ignnore her, don' engage with her except maybe to tell her what you are doing is perfectly legal, your fence heights are correct, your tree was correct and your bonfire was correct and that if she continues to harass you , you will be informaing the police.

Then completely ignore her. She has nothing better to do with her time so culitvate a 'poor her' type thinking, and carry on as you were. You will never placate her or get on with her, so ignore her.

beaker141

I think I'd be planting 2 leylandii tress there instead ! 

carefullycautious

I agree with Taff above. As someone who has always had to pay to have fences  put up as no neighbours would I think it is great that you have paid to do this. 

Davesnave

beaker141 said:

I think I'd be planting 2 leylandii tress there instead ! 

Trampoline is quicker and more adaptable. You can always grow rambling roses up it later.