Problem neighbours

Bendy_House

Woolsery said:

Why does a wholly owned fence need to be behind the boundary line to acquire the 'right' not to be damaged or have stuff hung on it without prior agreement? Surely the owner of said fence may remove it at any time for routine maintenance. This could last for days, or even weeks if the situation demands. A couple of road pins and a bit of tape can suffice in the meantime.

I'm not advocating pettiness, just suggesting there would be beggar-all any neighbour could do in such a situation.

Yes, no-one can do anything to cause damage to it, unless it's 100% theirs. So, a border-straddling fence still has 'rights' to not be damaged.

But I think you'd struggle to insist they don't hang lights on a fence that's literally on their land, or to not paint it.

And, of course, the owner of that fence - whoever paid for it, or whoever has 'responsibility' for it on their deeds, can remove it at any time (unless the deeds specify a physical boundary must be maintained).

So, a 'straddling' fence can be removed by the installer/owner. And even be damaged by them if so inclined!

If you wanted to make a literal impression, say if Debbie got cheesed off by them hanging stuff on her fence, she could go in a 'rage' and kick the whole darned thing down :-)

(Er, after politely giving them notice to remove all their bits from it first...)

Woolsery

Bendy_House said:

Woolsery said:

Why does a wholly owned fence need to be behind the boundary line to acquire the 'right' not to be damaged or have stuff hung on it without prior agreement? Surely the owner of said fence may remove it at any time for routine maintenance. This could last for days, or even weeks if the situation demands. A couple of road pins and a bit of tape can suffice in the meantime.

I'm not advocating pettiness, just suggesting there would be beggar-all any neighbour could do in such a situation.

 I think you'd struggle to insist they don't hang lights on a fence that's literally on their land.

True.... and I wouldn't.

Debbie9009

Thought I would update this, I haven’t had any further problems with the neighbours apart from them putting plastic guttering in front of my gate which I need to move each time I use it.  I always put it somewhere it doesn’t block either their gate or mine, and then the move it back in front of mine, I could block their gate with it, but I prefer to behave like an adult.

However they are now having a dispute with their neighbours on the other side, the fence between them is falling down due to rotten fence posts, and the fence is my neighbours responsibility.  So far they have refused to do anything about it, it’s now leaning over considerably and it won’t be long before it falls down completely which will be interesting as they have a dog! They seem to be doing everything they can to make themselves unpopular.

robatwork

Some - nay a lot of - people are just really low quality.

I didn't know how wearily cynical I would get as I aged, but being older and more experienced in the world hasn't filled me with wonder about people. As I move into nicer/more expensive housing it seems the neighbours get progressively more selfish and unfriendly.

Bendy_House

Debbie9009 said:

I haven’t had any further problems with the neighbours apart from them putting plastic guttering in front of my gate which I need to move each time I use it.  I always put it somewhere it doesn’t block either their gate or mine, and then the move it back in front of mine, I could block their gate with it, but I prefer to behave like an adult.

Thanks for the update - it's always good to have. And pleased they're now focusing on your other neighb!

Only kidding - that's nuts. What are they like?!

This guttering - they are placing it on your land? Dare I ask why? To annoy you?! And you replace it back in front of your gate?! Please tell me that isn't as it sounds...  

If they are placing objects in your path on a regular basis, then that strikes me as harassment. And they absolutely should be tackled on this.

The problem is, if you replace the guttering after you have gone through your gate, then they have effectively only done this 'once'. No not H.

Unless I've misunderstood your description of what's happening here, I would move the guttering fully back on their land, and record yourself on your phone doing this. If they put it back, then ask them what's going on - nice and calmly, as if they are simple folk. "Hi! I found your guttering in front of my gate yesterday, so I moved it back on to your land so I could use the gate. Today I find it's been put back in front of my gate! Could you explain, please?" And have this recorded too.

There is only one acceptable answer - it was a mistake, and they will remove it from your land. Anything else, look at them as if they are a bit mad, give a bemused smile, and say, "Could you remove it, please, and make sure it doesn't come back over!"

If they don't, then sigh, and pick it up and place it on their land. Walk away. (Or record them if they put it back).

If they do it again - you call the police. It's harassment.

Debbie9009

Bendy house it’s just a metre length of plastic guttering, it’s on their land propped against my gate, I have a right of way from my gate across a path in their garden and the same over the  garden of the next house for putting out the bins.  I’m sure they are hoping to provoke a reaction, which is why I won’t react, I think that probably annoys them.  It’s easy enough to move it.

robatwork nice to see another Joy Divison fan.  I know exactly what you mean, I used to live in an expensive so called posh area, the people here are much nicer, apart from next door, everyone is really lovely.

MalMonroe

Hi, I just wanted to say that your neighbour - and I know a lot of people can use it as an excuse - may suffer from mental health issues or ADHD or even autism/Aspergers. You just never know - but what you said in your original post about him trying to paint his side of the fence and making messes just reminded me of my friend's adult son who is on the autism spectrum. He is very enthusiastic about 'projects' but isn't always the neatest, tidiest cleanest worker. He's a nice guy, though.

Or your neighbour could just be a very lonely person who is becoming lonelier as a result of his behaviour and cannot work out why. I honestly don't think he's trying to provoke any action or annoy anybody. 

Whatever, and I do think he has problems, I think you are acting in the best way. At least he's not throwing bricks through your windows (one place I lived the neighbours did that to me. I moved.) or causing great annoyance. I've also lived in expensive posh areas and the neighbours were lovely. There really is no telling when you move somewhere what people are going to be like. 

Now I'm getting older I'm not getting wearily cynical, like robatwork, above, I appear to be becoming more laid back. I'd probably have asked my neighbour round for a cuppa tea and a French fancy when the fence thing kicked off - relying on that old saying about catching more flies with honey than vinegar. (Safely though, bearing in mind the risks of covid.)

And there's that other old saying, 'don't sweat the small stuff because it's all small stuff'. Life's really too short to be arguing with the neighbours. I've also found that a smile, wave or friendly hello often works wonders, even when people are looking as if they are feeling really grumpy. I haven't always been that way, I can assure you! But maybe with age comes more understanding. I don't know. I just feel sorry for people who don't seem to 'gel' with others. Sometimes they really can't help it.