Neighbour wanting to replace the fence.

Nobbie1967

I’m with you OP, tell them you’re happy with the fence and they are welcome to put up whatever new fence they like on their land. It doesn’t benefit you in any way.

TELLIT01

If I was in the same situation the most I would agree to is to share the cost of replacing with like for like.  If the neighbour wants to upgrade the fence the additional cost should fall entirely on them.

Niv

There is a couple of things for me here.
Forget the past, you do not like what they did with the swing money, whatever, you broke it, you paid for it, they bought something, everyone is square.
The letter comes across very reasonable and as a neighbor that is happy to do all the donkey work in organizing the job etc, ok after you shared about the swing thing, they may have given a little dig about the swing with the 'insecure structure' comment, but whatever, life is short.
Now for me, on the face of it and based on the photo, I would be happy with the 'Ivy bush' on my boundary - in fact I have one too. I do not understand the obsession with fences. A fence is simply a barrier/boundary marker, the ivy also does that job with the added bonus that is is better for nature than a fence. That ivy is going nowhere and nor is any fence attached to it, it certainly will not be damaging a swing (well it cant as they don't have one ;P).
So the question for me is 'do you want a fence or do you want the ivy bush?' Forget what the neighbor wants, and forget cost for a second. what do you prefer?
This is an opportunity to get a fence with undisputed split costs without you having to do any legwork (although you may want to get a quote to confirm what the neighbor tells you is fair).

neilmcl

Niv said:

There is a couple of things for me here.
Forget the past, you do not like what they did with the swing money, whatever, you broke it, you paid for it, they bought something, everyone is square.
The letter comes across very reasonable and as a neighbor that is happy to do all the donkey work in organizing the job etc, ok after you shared about the swing thing, they may have given a little dig about the swing with the 'insecure structure' comment, but whatever, life is short.
Now for me, on the face of it and based on the photo, I would be happy with the 'Ivy bush' on my boundary - in fact I have one too. I do not understand the obsession with fences. A fence is simply a barrier/boundary marker, the ivy also does that job with the added bonus that is is better for nature than a fence. That ivy is going nowhere and nor is any fence attached to it, it certainly will not be damaging a swing (well it cant as they don't have one ;P).
So the question for me is 'do you want a fence or do you want the ivy bush?' Forget what the neighbor wants, and forget cost for a second. what do you prefer?
This is an opportunity to get a fence with undisputed split costs without you having to do any legwork (although you may want to get a quote to confirm what the neighbor tells you is fair).

That really isn't true. The Ivy will, and is by all accounts, damaging the fence and pushing it further over the boundary of the two properties.

Personally, if I was in the OP's position as a compromise I'd be willing to pay for my share of the materials cost but as it's the choice of the neighbour to change the fence they should foot all labour costs.

Niv

neilmcl said:

Niv said:

There is a couple of things for me here.
Forget the past, you do not like what they did with the swing money, whatever, you broke it, you paid for it, they bought something, everyone is square.
The letter comes across very reasonable and as a neighbor that is happy to do all the donkey work in organizing the job etc, ok after you shared about the swing thing, they may have given a little dig about the swing with the 'insecure structure' comment, but whatever, life is short.
Now for me, on the face of it and based on the photo, I would be happy with the 'Ivy bush' on my boundary - in fact I have one too. I do not understand the obsession with fences. A fence is simply a barrier/boundary marker, the ivy also does that job with the added bonus that is is better for nature than a fence. That ivy is going nowhere and nor is any fence attached to it, it certainly will not be damaging a swing (well it cant as they don't have one ;P).
So the question for me is 'do you want a fence or do you want the ivy bush?' Forget what the neighbor wants, and forget cost for a second. what do you prefer?
This is an opportunity to get a fence with undisputed split costs without you having to do any legwork (although you may want to get a quote to confirm what the neighbor tells you is fair).

That really isn't true. The Ivy will, and is by all accounts, damaging the fence and pushing it further over the boundary of the two properties.

IF that is true, the letter states it is moving towards the OP's side which the OP claims to not be concerned of. I do not expect that the concrete post has been moved by the ivy but the fence panel is simply deteriorating. If it is in that bad a state it is likely to be competently rotten and will do very little to no damage if it were to fail. At the end of the day we cant see the other side so both of us are speculating to how badly damaged this fence really is. Unsightly maybe, but dangerous, unlikely imo.

MoneySeeker1

couriervanman said:

PierremontQuaker03 said:

Ok guys, so just to be clear, just because he is updating the bottom of his garden I should willingly be out of pocket and replace the fence to "be a good neighbour" - when they have not been. Just remember I paid them £150 - rather than asking them to go thru their insurance.
How do I find out if the fence is my responsibility - is it thru the land registry and buying a copy of the deeds?

And why should they go through their insurance and pay an excess it was your tree that caused the damage,as regards the damaged chair whether used or not it was worth £150 how they choose to spend that £150 is none of your business 

Agreed.

In this instance - it seems to me that the neighbour is being perfectly reasonable in their request and has phrased it perfectly reasonably. Sounds to me like appropriate action is to phone them and ask when it's convenient for you to come round and take a look at it from their side and make a jokey comment about them "putting the kettle on/I'm gasping for a cup of coffee" and have a chat about it.

Sounds like you might gain a bit more garden space from it from what they've said. No point in being unreasonable for the sake of it imo.

I don't see it as reasonable for you to have expected them to "go through their insurance" in the first instance about the previous incident - as it would go on their record and they might be charged more for insurance in future years because of something that is nothing to do with them directly.

Mistral001

The neighbour is perfectly reasonable to request what he is requesting.  It is only a request and the OP is quite free to consider the request and say thank you but I do not want to do what you are asking me to do.  He can politely refuse every request that the neighbour puts forward.

TELLIT01

Thankfully we have a very different relationship with our newish neighbours.  They've been in about 18 months.  They have a large log cabin in their garden which their parents now live in.  I was chatting to them at the weekend and they asked if I would mind them putting a bamboo screen above the existing 3 foot high fence to give them a bit more privacy.  The fence is their responsibility and they can do what they like to it, but they always speak to us first before doing any work.

The screen won't affect our garden at all as it's to the north of us.  I will actually be more comfortable working in that part of the garden if there is a screen there, as currently I do feel I'm intruding on their home despite being in my own garden.

Mistral001

TELLIT01 said:

Thankfully we have a very different relationship with our newish neighbours.  They've been in about 18 months.  They have a large log cabin in their garden which their parents now live in.  I was chatting to them at the weekend and they asked if I would mind them putting a bamboo screen above the existing 3 foot high fence to give them a bit more privacy.  The fence is their responsibility and they can do what they like to it, but they always speak to us first before doing any work.

The screen won't affect our garden at all as it's to the north of us.  I will actually be more comfortable working in that part of the garden if there is a screen there, as currently I do feel I'm intruding on their home despite being in my own garden.

 Maybe a different situation to that of the OP's. Your neighbour did not asked you to contribute to the cost of his bamboo fence.   Also, he had the decency to speak to you in person.