A first-time buyer has been left scratching his head after moving into a new home because of his neighbour's "entitled" demand for hedges to be planted along their shared fence for extra privacy. The neighbour refuses to contribute to the cost.
Just a month after moving in, the new homeowner received a knock on his door from his neighbour, who asked him to arrange the installation of tall hedges along their shared fence to give them both more privacy. The neighbour is not willing to chip in to help cover the costs.
Neighbour's reasoning and demands
As the neighbour previously paid for hedging along the fence he shares with the homeowner on his other side, he believes it is only fair the new homeowner should bear the cost of planting and maintaining matching hedges along their shared boundary. The neighbour is also expecting the new homeowner to cover all watering expenses once the hedges are in place.
While the idea of added privacy appeals to the new homeowner, the request has taken him by surprise, leaving him puzzled and worried about his relationship with his next-door neighbour.
Reddit reaction and advice
Turning to Reddit for guidance, the homeowner explained: "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."
Another issue concerns a telephone pole at the end of the homeowner's garden. Before the new homeowner moved in, the neighbour planted a cypress tree "literally two feet away" from the pole to "mask" the sight of it. While the neighbour's sprinkler system waters the tree from his own property, the new homeowner worries this "could be a fire hazard." He questioned whether he should remove the tree given it's on his land.
In the comments section, Reddit users weighed in. 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."
Legal guidance and next steps
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."
If you're facing a similar issue with your neighbour and aren't sure what to do, 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.
