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AIBU

Neighbours' fence panel down

(65 Posts)
Smurf52 Fri 15-Sep-17 14:41:22

I've just moved into a rented house and was hoping this would be my forever home (well, until my money runs out that is). Then I noticed dog poo in my garden. Looking behind my shrubs I notice the fence panel (the letting agent has said it's the neighbours fence) has disintegrated and collapsed on their side and their dog is getting into my garden. Every day the dog has done their business on my side.

The letting agent says to contact police which I don't really want to do as when I first moved in there were Macdonalds wrappers etc hurled over on to my side and I dread to think what would happen if I get on the wrong side of them.

I have dropped a note into their letterbox offering to put up a panel at my expense and giving my phone number but they don't seem that bothered as they've not got back to me. The agent says next door is privately owned so there is not a landlord/letting agency I can contact.

AIBU in wanting to get this sorted out? For now I have put folded flat removal boxes alongside and by the sound of the yapping it's a small dog so hopefully it won't vault over. I am not anti dog, in fact I am hoping to get a dog once I am settled in, hence wanting to get the fence sorted....

lionpops Fri 22-Sep-17 07:51:06

Letting Agent is a bit out of touch if she thinks dog poo in your garden is a matter for Police. You have three choices. Speak to your neighbour and as the note hasn't worked not a choice I would now take. Put up a reed screen as another poster has suggested. Plant Leylandi , it will grow swiftly. There is another choice and that is move before you get completely stressed. You won't change these people.

Barmyoldbat Tue 19-Sep-17 17:43:00

I would talk to your landlord and ask him to put a fence up on your side of the garden, failing that get him to talk to the neighbours. It's his property and he can probably well afford a couple of panels. Tell him if it isn't sorted you will look at leaving. Worth a try.

Nannyme Tue 19-Sep-17 16:14:37

The chain link fence between our neighbours and us was the neighbours responsibility and it was impossible to cut our grAss without getting bits of rusty wire in the mower, he wouldn't do anything about it so we erected a panel fence all the way along, I'm so much happier and he has never said a word, so I would make your side secure and don't worry about whose fence it is

Grannyguitar Tue 19-Sep-17 11:48:40

The only way to be really sure who owns which fence, is to see the title deeds, which as a tenant, you won't have. However, you could ask the Land Registry if a copy of the ground plan is available (would be chargeable of course). There is a little mark like a T which shows who is responsible for which fence. If it turns out to be your Landlord's, then keep on nagging til they do something!

midgey Mon 18-Sep-17 09:56:24

Good to hear you are sorted. The law says it is the dog owners responsibility to keep their dog in, not your to keep it out! You don't need to bother with that nowsmile

Auntieflo Mon 18-Sep-17 09:40:37

What a great result Smurf. Happy bunny indeed. ?

cornergran Sun 17-Sep-17 22:54:50

That's a good result, smurf, pleased for you.

M0nica Sun 17-Sep-17 22:39:43

Who owns the fence is in the deeds. The generally quoted 'rules of thumb' can be very misleading. We are responsible for all the fences around our back garden, left right and back.

It is very difficult to make someone else repair there own fence if they do want to and there is very little you can do legally.

The best, and generally only, thing to do is to block the gap in the fence on your side. The police suggestion is ridiculous. Your neighbour has not committed a crime, he is well within his rights as to whether he repairs his fence or not.

Smurf52 Sun 17-Sep-17 22:35:32

I am delighted to report that my landlords came round and put up temporary hardboard fencing. They are going to renew all the fencing despite it being the neighbours (they are happy about it - well lets face it who wouldn't be - as he discussed this in the garden with them). I am a happy bunny now. Thanks all for your suggestions and support.

Norah Sun 17-Sep-17 17:11:03

Do what alig99 and I suggested, get panels put to your side, no more poo.

alig99 Sun 17-Sep-17 12:11:18

The advice on here is getting way to complicated. As you are willing to pay for the repair why not just get a fencing company in to put a new panel/s on your side of the garden to cover up the hole in neighbours fence. This could easily be disguised with planting, taken down when you leave if the landlord wants it removed AND the neighbours can't say anything as it's on your side AND the dog won't be able to get in...result!?

IngeJones Sun 17-Sep-17 09:45:48

Anya I can confirm what you say. I live between two neighbors who don't use their gardens and didn't care what I did with the fences. I was surrounded by broken fence and no one had any idea whose was what. So I paid for and erected a brand new fence both sides and while I was at it I put the supports facing them so we had the nice side all around. Again no one complained and no one cared. If anyone tried to guess whose fence it is based on the supports, they're going to be very confused.

penny4them Sat 16-Sep-17 22:47:46

I always thought it was the fencing on the right side of your property you were responsible for when you face the property . The left side is the neighbours responsibility.I always ended up paying for 3 sides ,as my neighbour didnt take responsibility for any of it,as i was a woman on my own ,and he knew i couldnt face rows with him.We both owned our own properties. Life was hell unless i paid up,as he had two dogs who could get in my garden .Glad i moved away and brought a flat.Hope you can find a way to resolve your problem .Take care though ,you dont know what youre dealing with ,people can make your life a living hell. Good luck .

Legs55 Sat 16-Sep-17 22:11:38

When we lived in our house, one of a pair of semis our deeds showed that we were responsible for both sides of the garden but not the short wall at the bottom of the garden. This led to (friendly) arguments with new neighbours. He wanted to put up new fencing & no amount of showing our Deeds would convince him so we said "just get on with it", he put up lovely garden fencing.

I would just do as you've decided to do & put up a temporary barrier, don't fall out with your neighbours, it's not worth it

Norah Sat 16-Sep-17 18:40:16

Have some fence put to your side of the downed panel, in your garden.

JanaNana Sat 16-Sep-17 17:29:07

I think you have three problems here.... dog poo....unsocial neighbours.....and a lazy landlord. What sort of landlord suggests contacting the police over this. The neighbours may possibly have financial reasons why they can't repair the fence but they could at least have made some attempts to block the area their dog gets through to foul your garden, or at least spoken to you after you had made them aware. No...their dog has found itself a nice little toilet area for itself and they don,t have to clean it all up! Personally I would look for a different place to rent once your tenancy permits it. The old saying is true....good fences make good neighbours. Your forever home should not be one where you feel anxious or on edge all the time.

Anya Sat 16-Sep-17 14:27:07

There are lots of different beliefs that the way a wall or fence is constructed can suggest who the owner is, for example ownership is always on the right or left when you look from the front of a property. However, there is no legal significance to this.

grandtanteJE65 Sat 16-Sep-17 14:26:30

It's a complication that you are in rented property. If you owned the house I would suggest putting up a fence on your side of the boundary, about six inches from the existing fence so there could be no doubt it was on your land.

Actually, wire netting or the like might be the way to deal with the problem, even although you are renting, but you may be required to take it down before vacating the house, so don't put anything solid up that entails cementing fencing posts in place or anything like that.

HannahLoisLuke Sat 16-Sep-17 14:01:35

Ive always understood that you stand in your doorway looking out to the garden and the fence on your right is your responsibility. It's a bit of a grey area but that's what I've always read. Pity, as my right hand fence is three times longer than left hand side ?

WendyBT Sat 16-Sep-17 13:47:26

May I suggest that you have a word with your locally elected councillors and request their advice/support?

That's what we're here for!

sarahellenwhitney Sat 16-Sep-17 13:37:13

Ingejones The fact a person does not secure his land is not an invitation for another to let their animal encroach on that unsecured land.

blueskies Sat 16-Sep-17 13:32:12

I too have a problem with dog poo. Unfortunately it is an open plan garden at the front and the dog is let out at night. The council no longer has a dog warden and just sends round a general notice. I've tried all the usual deterrents sprays movement sensors etc but nothing works and what do I do with it after I've scooped up the foul mess? I hate putting it in my rubbish bin.

marionk Sat 16-Sep-17 13:10:59

I don't believe anyone is obligated to have a fence or maintain one along their boundaries, I believe you will have to block it in some way from your side

sarahellenwhitney Sat 16-Sep-17 13:07:33

Smurf52
What happy' bunnies ', no not the furry kind, your neighbours appear to be.Landlord not much better either
The police will not intervene unless violence
or intimidation is the issue.
Galvanised chain link fencing no more than two mtrs high is your answer. Installed on your side of the boundary and legal.
Needs no maintenance as can timber fencing.
Very strong and requires professional installation
Have a word with your landlord, highly unlikely Mr Nice Guy! will pay for it ,as to your intention and if you intend staying at that property this is the only way forward then you can have your own dog knowing it is safe on your side keeping neighbours dog out the other.
Plant quick growing shrubs up against link fencing.
Nothing like the conifer family which romps away and needs pruning on a regular basis. Keep it to the height of your link fence.No more than that. Good luck .

Alima Sat 16-Sep-17 13:00:46

Have just checked the deeds for our house. They show that (if you are standing in front of the house facing it) the "T" marks are on the right, plus the one at the bottom of our garden. Thank heavens for that, we were convinced the other one which needs remedial work was next door's and it is!