Would you tell your neighbours if you were putting a new fence?*update*

Overthetop

I thought I got on well my neighbours, BUT when they changed the guttering on their house they capped their side and just left mine to poor where they had capped it off where it used to join mine. I rang insurance helpline and was told they were quite right to do this but most would have advised before doing it or capped it off. I then had to go to the expense of just getting mine capped or new guttering myself-I had new guttering put in, which all left me to believe you never really know your neighbours

patchwork_cat

I am surprised at the replies to this thread with the amount of people saying they wouldn't tell their neighbour, but I don't know why I am surprised as my experience of neighbours is no they don't tell you. I think it is very rude to not let a neighbour know if you are going to disrupt them.

I would expect to be told definately about a fence and common courtesy would say that if my neighbours were building a conservatory, for example ,they would let me know.They don't and that makes me feel that they are discourteous.

Manners maketh man and IMO it is good manners if you get on with your neighbours to warn them that there will be disruption.

Consideration in all things.

Imagine if you were seriously ill for example and someone was replacing a fence next door after a bout of chemo - how would you feel? Some will answer this with well my neighbour is perfectly well - how do you know? But that was just an example.

I have had neighbours putting up Wendy house type sheds at midnight and another neighbour but one had water coming on to their drive and the first our mutual neighbour knew Environmental Health were knocking on their door saying we would like to put dye down you toilet!

Loobyloo2 all these comments are if you get along with your neighbour, because if you don't you are potentially putting your head in the lions mouth. In your case, I wouldn't tell her. Also sorry for the unsolicited advice, but if this woman's son is like this could he start and damage your fence? Do you think that as well as the fence starting a hedge of on your side too for when the fence is no longer there might be an idea?

Badger_Lady

It wouldn't cross my mind that it was a disturbance during the day... no more than the DIY or gardening that we all do anyway...

keelykat

If you are going to step onto someone elses land/property then yes you should tell the owners on that garden. My parents neighbours decided they wanted a new wall around their front garden. Which is fine, but not when the builders walk all over our flowers and plants-totally wrecking them (my mom was very upset and annoyed over this). They didnt ask/tell us, we got home and everything was squashed and covered in concrete stuff :rolleyes: . How nice of them!

Personally id have the decency to tell my neighbours, as i wouldnt like people coming onto my land and possibly treading down flowers etc.

keely.

mishmash

We recently put new fencing up and I told one neighbour but not the other.

The neighbours I told we are friendly with, they helped my OH put the fence up, even though it was not their fence, they were great.

The other's are a bit different, they have left their garden to overgrow and take no care of what was once a nice property. A couple of years ago they stole my new wheelie bin leaving me with their old one? not sure why. Then last summer they had some trees removed from their Garden without telling me, the trees were pulled out (badly) and the roots lifted all the flags of our shared pathway, the fence fell down and they just left it like that for a year. This also meant that I had a clear view of their very unkempt garden.

When we put up the fence (which i really felt was their responsibility; but got fed up of waiting after a year) Thye complained and said they would rather have a wall. The cheek of some people, we payed for and installed the fence and did not ask them for any money and instead of thanks they complained.

loobylou2

aliasojo wrote: »

I think you will make things worse if you are viewed as pulling her son up for an issue that hasn't even happened yet tbh. I wouldn't mention the ball thing at all if it were me and see how it went in reality once the fence was up.

I suspect he probably will kick the ball at the fence but I also think it might be novelty value which will wear off after a short will and he gets bored doing that. If the family are that obnoxious then he would probably do it for longer if it was annoying you.

I would say nothing unless it became extreme or damage was caused in the meantime.

This is probably true because I think that a lot of the problems we had last year could be put down to him simply trying to get attention and realising that he was annoying me hence doing it for longer in order to get some attention. Can I make it clear that I'm not particularly blaming the child here, I don't actually think its his fault as he obviously hasn't been taught the difference between right and wrong. More the fault of his shrug her shoulders, couldn't care less mother unfortunately I'm afraid to say. Will just send a polite note telling her that we are having the work done and that I have obtained all the necessary permissions etc from the council. It would be so easy to tell her what I really think of her though but, to be honest apart from not wanting any more trouble with them I really can't be bothered.:rotfl:

Mojisola

loobylou2 wrote: »

I am still worried though as I know that in having a fence put up theres a possibility that her son could start kicking his ball at it and damage it.

There's good free advice available about these kinds of problems on https://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php

keelykat

mishmash wrote: »

We recently put new fencing up and I told one neighbour but not the other.

The neighbours I told we are friendly with, they helped my OH put the fence up, even though it was not their fence, they were great.

The other's are a bit different, they have left their garden to overgrow and take no care of what was once a nice property. A couple of years ago they stole my new wheelie bin leaving me with their old one? not sure why. Then last summer they had some trees removed from their Garden without telling me, the trees were pulled out (badly) and the roots lifted all the flags of our shared pathway, the fence fell down and they just left it like that for a year. This also meant that I had a clear view of their very unkempt garden.

When we put up the fence (which i really felt was their responsibility; but got fed up of waiting after a year) Thye complained and said they would rather have a wall. The cheek of some people, we payed for and installed the fence and did not ask them for any money and instead of thanks they complained.

I can see why you didnt tell the one lot of neighbours-its a horrible situation when neighbours let their garden get out of control and dont seem to care what its like.

As for nice nieghbours-my parents neighbours on the other side are lovely, and get on great with my dad. My dad helped them put up a new shed etc and they help each other out

The people who are grumpy/have bad attitude just make things worse for themselves in the end.

Mado

Oh dear...
I didn't make myself entirely clear on the boys situation....

We met their 7 yo son last year when it snowed and he joined my kids sliding down our hill on bin bags. he has been invited to come and play football with DS and my Ds has occasionnaly knocked on their doors to ask if he would come and play (but he always asks me first). ; sometimes he has come to us, sometimes my kids have played (playstation) there. I have exchanged phone number with the Mum after he once came in with my son but I figured he hadn't asked at home. The Mum is nice and we have had a cuppa together once when I fetched my boys (the little one sometimes joins in). Their DD has babysat for me a few times when she is not at boarding school. So as far as I can tell, we are quite friendly....

Last weekend, the boy started playing football with my son; it was training time so my OH told him he was welcome to join them with the right gear and after asking his parents. Anyway, he walked him home later that day as the coach had said he would love the boy to join since the team is looking for players and was it Ok to phone them and OH wanted to check with them. The Dad said fine, but didn't mention anything at all about the fence, which I found surprising... (the boy spent all day at ours, playing with Ds and his friends and stayed for lunch too!)

The fact they are very wealthy is not that relevant I agree, but makes us wonder if it is an insurance requirement. Also, the fence will cover nearly a kilometer....There is no jealousy involved!

In any case, since I have planted thornless blackberries a few year ago that are trained on our communal fence, I would have liked to be asked... Also, the standard fence will be replaced by a "4ft chain-link fence with barbed wire on top"... Not good news for the odd football that sometimes stray on the field adjoining their garden, that backs my garden....

So yes I am a little annoyed.
For 1 thing, I will not send my son to walk on the road to ring their bell and ask if the other boy wants to play. Which i think is a shame since he is much younger than his other siblings and has no-one to play with really.

Mado

JF77 wrote: »

Maybe they just want a bit of privacy. We added extra fence panels to the gaps on the existing fence as we just wanted some quiet time in the garden without having to look at the neighbours. We never told them we were doing it. If I replaced the whole fence I would probably let them know I was doing out out of courtesy but I would not be asking for there permission as it is an improvement after all.

I don't see that it will be such an improvment.... 4 ft high chain link with barbed wire on top....:eek:
But it wills top their dog coming into our garden. Not that we ever complained about her barking at us in our own garden.....