A new homeowner has been left feeling stressed after his neighbour demanded he foot the bill for tall hedges to be installed along their shared fence for privacy – but the neighbour refuses to contribute.
Buying a house is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through, with mountains of admin, complex paperwork, vast expense and ever-changing timelines. Usually, once you get the keys, worries ease – but this has not been the case for one man. A month after he moved in, his neighbour asked him to pay for the installation and maintenance of tall hedges along their shared fence.
Neighbour refuses to split costs
The neighbour will not contribute in any way, as he paid for the hedge on the fence he shares with the neighbour on the other side of his property. Since he paid for one side, he believes the new homeowner should pay for the installation and maintenance of matching hedges along their shared fence. The neighbour also wants the new homeowner to fund all watering costs for the shrubbery once it is installed.
Though the privacy aspect is appealing to the new homeowner, the request has left him baffled and concerned about his relationship with his next-door neighbour, as he does not wish to cause awkwardness or tension in his new home.
Reddit users weigh in
Seeking advice on Reddit, the homeowner explained the situation and said: “He already pays for the one on the other side for the fence he shares with his other neighbour, but that has nothing to do with me.
“Is it fair that he's asking me to do that? I mean he's not forcing me, but I feel like it's kind of a d**k move to ask me to do it and not pitch in at all. I asked if we could somehow split the cost and he said no, but is still suggesting I do it.
“Not gonna lie, the privacy would be nice, but I don't think it's fair I have to pay for all of it.”
In addition, there is a telephone pole at the end of the homeowner's garden, and before he moved in, the neighbour planted a cypress tree “literally two feet away” from the pole in the homeowner's garden to “mask” the sight of it. The neighbour's sprinkler system waters the tree from his own garden, but the new homeowner is concerned this “could be a fire hazard”. He asked whether he ought to remove the tree as it is on his land, despite the neighbour having planted it and continuing to water it.
In the comments section, fellow Reddit users shared their thoughts. One person said: “If he wants it, he can help pay for it. ‘You benefit too’ isn't a great argument for making it your bill.”
Another said: “People are too nice to their entitled neighbours. If he told me no there's no way I'm paying for it, got some damn nerve.” A third simply commented: “It's fair to ask. It's fair to say no.”
While a fourth said: “The level of entitlement some people have is mind boggling. I'd tank that cypress too. Not a good tree around water pipes.”
Someone else shared: “Your neighbour sounds pretty entitled to expect you to cover all the costs for shared privacy.” And another Reddit user added: “If he wants hedges for privacy, he should plant them on his side and at his expense. If you desire privacy, install a privacy fence on your side.”
Legal rights regarding a shared fence
Citizens Advice states: “If the wall or fence is safe and there's nothing about repairing it in your legal documents, it's up to you whether you do what your neighbour's asking.”
Property specialists Hamptons advise homeowners to check their title deeds for ‘T’ marks to determine responsibility over boundaries. A ‘T’ on one side indicates the property owner is responsible, while an ‘H’ mark shows joint responsibility between neighbours.
