boundary wall/fence

Depends who 'owns' the fence. If your friend owns it then the neighbour can't demand any change to the type of fence, unless its too high. As to the position, we had this problem once. I smiled politely, acted the dizzy blonde, and suggested it was all beyond me and why didn't they chase it up and I'd fall in with their wishes. Of course they couldn't be bothered.
Found this a useful tactic in management too (not the dizzy blonde!) but saying 'good idea, put in it writing would you and cost it out' very few did.
Rather than get into a dispute why doesn't your friend smile vaguely ( and sweetly if she can manage that too), look confused and suggest they dig up their deeds, measuring tape, etc and look into it. She might also suggest if they want to alter the fence perhaps they go go halves as she's on a pension/budget, etc.

Although I do not know the legal side of things I would believe that the fact the boundary line has been followed for 100yrs+ leaves little to be discussed.

I am also of the opinion that if she can prove the boundary line has been there for 20 years then it is now correct.

If she owns the fence it cannot be removed without her approval but if she likes the new fence they want to put up she can give permission for them to replace her fence. If it is their fence they can do what they like. If it is her fence and she wants it to stay they are at liberty to put their own fence on their side next to hers.

I would be very careful and watch if the work is carried out to make sure it is put in the same position.

My daughter has finally managed to secure an "equity buy out" of the small house she shared with her ex partner. To the left of the property is a small piece of land which sweeps around a corner and had over time just become a bit of waste land and often a "dogs toilet". To our absolute astonishment when the new deeds came through (just two weeks ago) we noticed that the red line outlining her property also took in this small piece of waste land. My first thought was to double check with the land registry who confirmed that yes the land does belong to my daughter. We then set about tidying it up, cutting the "shrubs" back into some decent order and cutting the weeds grass. The land now looks quite presentable and tidy. The problem has now arose that certain neighbours do not accept that this land belongs to my daughter and locals still appear to be using to "exercise" their dogs (if you know what I mean). My daughter cannot afford to fence off the land at this stage as it has taken all she has to secure the ownership.

Does anyone have any ideas on what we can do?

One idea might be to put up a notice to say what you have told us here - that she has discovered that the "waste" land has belonged to her for many years, and she is now incorporating it into her garden. As it is now known to be private land, could dog-owners please respect her property and exercise their dogs elsewhere. If she can find a bylaw about not allowing dogs to foul people's gardens she could quote that.

It might not work, of course!

Making a border at the pavement edge and planting some bedding in it might mark the edge and make it obvious that it is a garden and not a dog loo.

How about a row of low post and plastic chain or rope between them, or posts and pig wire. All these could be done for well under £100.

suggested signage

Dog fouling is frowned upon in every town. Inform the powers that be that your property is being used as a dog toilet and/or photograph the guilty parties. I have a garden with no fences but do not have a problem because we have CCTV.

Goose I have just reread your original post.

Excuse me? This woman bought a house, presumably with a full survey and report, and knowledge of what was in the deeds. Now, two years later, she decides that a) she does not like where the boundary is set, although it has been there for 100 years, and b) that she does not like the fence which you built, at your expense, on your land, and wants it replaced!

Has she offered to pay for this replacement, or does she expect you to pay for it yourself?

Has she been eyeing up your choice of plants, with a view to getting you to change them for ones which match her planting scheme?

Should you be repainting your front door to suit her? Are your curtains up to scratch?

One of my neighbours came home from work one day to find that the people in the semi next door has erected a solid 6ft wooden fence from their front gate to their front door. The doors are about 3 ft from one another, so are the gates. So she painted her side lilac and planted climbers up it.

Your daughter's neighbour has many options if she does not like what she sees.

Sorry, goose for the confusion in my previous post about the people in your story and the other one on the thread.

Gilly I would create a border around the lawn and if affordable some scratchy plants. Perhaps photocopying the boundary document and putting it in a plastic wallet on a post in the garden might convince the dog walkers that they have no rights?

Thanks all for helpful responses. My question wasn't written very clearly, but the fence in question belongs to a friend of mine, who is totally stressed out by her neighbour (who is incidentally, a woman of 74yrs). I think there's a time limit that overrides such an issue, as Movedalot mentions but I can't find out anything online about this, so wonder if 20yrs is an actuality or assumption?

www.boundary-problems.co.uk/boundary-problems/fences.html - this looks helpful maybe and sounds sensible

Thank you for all your suggestions, I knew I could count on Gransnet for some common sense!

I have just ran some ideas past my daughter and she loves the idea of putting a sign up warning the "dog poopers" that there could be mines underneath the grass ! so thanks for that Aka

Quick update I have just spoken to the planning office and environmental health at the Town Hall who tell me that they are going to pop round and have a look at the land with a view to putting a No Dog Fouling notice on the lamp post outside, they also say that she may need planning permission to put a fence or wall around the land (which she is not in the financial position to do yet anyway) but could not see the problem with some "scratchy bushes" (thanks Movedalot).

Why are people so disrespectful allowing their dogs to foul someone's garden?
It is quite clear that the land is now being looked after (grass cut, shrubs trimmed etc) and still it is covered in dog poop.

Is this any help? www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-1348664/HOME-TRUTHS-How-long-I-claim-land-own.html not quite the same but probably covers it?

Or this: www.justanswer.com/uk-law/1de6e-long-use-diused-land-becomes-prop.html

Husband (es RICS surveyor) shudders at mention of boundary disputes - they are dreadful and no one ever wins (except lawyers). I'd be inclined to smile sweetly at everything she says, act all vague and sort of promise to think about things, get advise etc etc and just let things ride. The Japanese have a lovely seemly vague attitude about things they don't agree with. They smile, nod but do nothing. Its part of a their lovely culture of not wanting to offend. Perhaps it might work. The other way is the check with solicitor re deeds and get him to write a letter stating calmly and politely the facts as they are known to the home owners. Might be enough to scare her off.

Hilda that's exactly what I suggested!! great minds????

OOOer Aka.....teach me not to read all the posts!

look up dog deterrent on utube.Its called the scarecrow.Id give you the link but I use a iPad and don't know how.

That explains something that's happened up the road from me. A man has cut down a tree and then used the branches to "fence" round a bit of grass at the side of his property and goes round the corner. To my mind it looks vert strange and untidy., but---

A friend of mine was driven into court by a neighbour who turned nasty after living next door for over 50 years (that's another story). Neighbours who had lived in the street since the house was built confirmed that the boundary of her property was where it had been since the house was built. She won.

Thank you all for your suggestions/advice, you've been very helpful and I'll pass messages onto my friend.

I,m new to this ,but have a similar problem with boundary.
Our neighbours are ageist and since my son left home have harrassed us in one way or another .I have written to our MP etc , and nothing changes.
Now he has covered our boundary wall with soil and built water features on it attaching things to our property.
We are not well off so cannot go down the route of legal matters ,but he just laughs and says its his now .
We do not know what to do as they are very intimidateing.
Police won,t do anything !!!!!!

Speak to the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB). They will give you help and support. His ageist behaviour is known as 'elder abuse' and is a prosecutable offence, the police should be responding to this but as they are not, again sopeak to the CAB and also to Age Concern should be able to help you and, more importantly give you the support you need.