Tenant, Neighbour, Agents and the fence?

Tenant, Neighbour, Agents and the fence?

11:10 AM, 26th July 2021, About 3 years ago 25

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Hello, My property is with a letting agency. The neighbour complained the fence was not in good repair post winds, my responsibility and my boundary.

I appointed a professional to put up feathered fencing. The neighbour complained to the professional that he didn’t know the fence was going up, and he wanted the nice side facing him. He badgered the professional so much that he stopped work, plus the neighbour refused him to put a foot on his side. There was also a complaint that his wife could have been seen semi-clothed so he wanted notice next time.

Notice was given again, but to the neighbour as well. This time, the tenant refused to let professional access to electricity and complained that the professional has gone into the garden to get his tools the days before. He had knocked on the door, but they didn’t answer, albeit was home. Also, the neighbour had put notes in polypockets dictating where the fence is to go.

Then there’s the agents, by this time I’d had enough. 2 days lost Labour, a load of wasted timber and no further, so I instructed the agents to put up a chicken wire fence. They’ve come back saying they can’t do this because the neighbour has a dog and he needs the garden secure so he can let his cat and dog out!

I can’t believe it! This neighbour is a pain and is sucking in the agents etc in order to get what he wants.

Sick of all of them.

I’m going to change agents or sell it fenceless!

Fencewars


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Comments

land law

17:24 PM, 27th July 2021, About 3 years ago

It is always self-defeating to get angry and play tit for tat. Don’t stoop to the neighbours level. Aggressive “counter measures” usually are like petrol on a fire.

Of course, some people are just unable to compromise or behave decently.

If you can fix from your own side, do that.

If you absolutely can’t, as a last resort, see Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992, but that covers fences only in limited circumstances which may not apply in your case.

Or you could just let it fall down

. .

7:25 AM, 31st July 2021, About 3 years ago

Your fence do what you want, as long as on the boundary correctly, if the neighbour fixes anything to it, let’s his plants grow on it or paints it without your permission it’s criminal damage.

You could therefore paint whatever you choose on their side and they can’t do anything other than screening it with a secondary fence or plants

land law

8:34 AM, 31st July 2021, About 3 years ago

Re the points about criminal damage and painting.

No doubt technically correct, but why would you do that?

Every property lawyer knows that boundary disputes are where no one (but the lawyer) wins.

Be firm and gentle.

Nick Pope

8:45 AM, 31st July 2021, About 3 years ago

I dealt with a situation like this many years ago. All parties being difficult and then the owner checked the deeds. The boundary was his responsibility but there was no requirement to actually have any sort of fence so he simply took out the old fence and left nothing in its place. Cue complaints from neighbours but they could not insist that anything was put up. They finally capitulated and agreed to cooperate.
The pets thing is a bit of a red herring. It's not your responsibility to keep them enclosed and safe.

reader

11:04 AM, 31st July 2021, About 3 years ago

Old pallets make a substantial fence! They are not too tall so it improves the view too!

Alternatively get the legals involved: resolve ownership and responsibility and the requirements of the Party Wall Act, very expensive. Pallets are a lot cheaper, and will bring your neighbour to the negotiating table swiftly or he can errect his own fence on his side of the bounday.

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