Fence renew - Awkward Neighbours

chezap

Hoping someone can help me please.... We are starting to renew our fence in the coming weeks (this is our fence as per deeds), we have informed our neighbours that we will be carrying out the works and have asked them to remove anything that maybe attached to it before removal. They have answered stating that nothing is attached and that we will be responsible for any damage caused to their property and that we cannot access their property without permission. I am happy to accept responsibility for anything of theirs that we may accidently damage  but they have lights attached to my fence posts which they haven't removed, can I remove these & place in their garden ?  They have also placed plant pots against the fence making life awkward (which was anticipated).  The fence will be changed from a rail & board to a fixed panel, which means these will have to be moved as the fence will sit in a different position (although obvs still on our land/boundary) , basically they have things growing on my property.  As they are truely horrible people, I am concerned about repercussions even tho I feel its my garden, my boundary etc so I should be able to move their things that are on it.  HELP !

The_Unready

You just can't help some people.....☹️

They're getting a new fence FoC and they still try to make things difficult for you! Sheesh!

No advice, Op, but you have my sympathies!

Ergates

Tell them you can you see they still have items attached to the fence posts and/or leaning against the fence and they need to remove those and that you won't accept any responsibility for damage to items left attached to the fence.  Tell them verbally (if they'll speak to you) and in a written form - give them a deadline by which things need to be moved.

IvanOpinion

Just be very careful of neighbours like that.  That £1 flower pot they got in PoundStretcher could well become of high sentimental value because their old granny's gerbil bought it for them on its death bed and they could claim it is worth hundreds to them.  

I agree with Ergates and, in writing, tell them the work that is happening, the date/time that you will commence, and that it is their responsibility to ensure nothing is left leaning on or attached to YOUR existing fence.

Jenni_D

Agree with the above - but you might want to seek further opinions in the House Buying etc. board as that's where most questions like this are raised, so that's where the experience resides.

TELLIT01

Maybe the OP should explain that the post are also going to be replaced so their lights need to be removed.  Although the neighbours are difficult, it may be a genuine misunderstand and they think just the fence panels are being replaced.

thebullsback

I had similar problem at last home few years back .All I did was erect my new fence up against the original fence I lost about 10inch of my own land but was worth it to see the jaw drop on next-door faces .

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

OP sorry to hear your relations with the neighbours aren't great.

Firstly you should ensure the fence is yours, the on the left or the right doesn't have any legal basis and T marks on deeds typically refer to maintaining the boundary rather than fence ownership.

If you (or the previous owner of your home) paid for the fence then it belongs to you. 

If it does they can't attached anything to do, including plants. You can also access your neighbours property to carry out maintenance to your property but I'm not 100% sure whether this applies to fences as well.

I agree with the above to write and should you need to remove anything photos showing the items left safely in the condition they were (or better yet a film of removal) might come in handy if they decide to make up claims their stuff was damaged. 

Another option is as above new fence just inside the old one, if you go down this route again best to write and state what is happening but confirm the boundary line does not move, the old fence still belongs to you and they can not remove it.