A homeowner is furious after a neighbour allegedly built a fence that encroaches on his boundary. The resident initially agreed to the fence being put up in the neighbour's garden, but believes it crosses into his property and looks unsightly.
The black fence with wooden posts of varying lengths left nearby residents "not happy". They also wanted the neighbour to "move it" further away from their property.
Homeowner's concerns
On Reddit, he explained: "We're obviously not happy and ideally want them to move it, but are maybe open to using the poles and building a fence on our side. I am apprehensive, though, as the neighbour is a serial bodger whose projects only last for a year or two until they fall apart."
He continued to share the issues, writing: "The first two photos show the fence, which they have covered in ground weed cover material because they said they don't want plants growing through from our side, then planks on their side. I don't think this is going to last very long until it is torn by the wind and rain and degraded by the sun."
"It also shows that the poles weren't sunk as deep as intended, due to the neighbour only being able to dig so far until he hit rubble he couldn't remove. The poles are also not aligned in all three dimensions."
The resident claims the fence isn't "suitable" because it has a "massive wonky gap" and "plugs not completely in the brick but in the wood and the gap". He fumed: "It's the same at the other end of the garages. They have also just built a conservatory on the other side, which comes less than an inch from the new fence and wall."
He asked: "Are my doubts justified about us using the posts to attach our own fence because of the way the fence has been built? What sort of problems could arise if so? We obviously don't want a dispute with our neighbours, but also, they are the kind of people who will take the p*** and do whatever pleases them without thinking of others, so we don't want them to walk over us."
Reaction and advice
In the comments section, people were quick to offer their advice. Many respondents agreed that the fence isn't acceptable and that a replacement plan needs to be put in place.
One wrote: "That's not a fence. It's an oversized windbreak. You should tell them you're not happy with it. It looks like shit, and no amount of work is going to stop it from looking like s***. Even if all the poles were properly installed, it would still look like s***. They either need to do a proper job or pay someone who actually knows what they're doing."
Another said: "I think I’d build my own fence on my side of that. If you offset your fence posts you could put your posts “inside” theirs so you don’t lose any garden space and it lines up with your side of the wall."
And a third added: "Looks like someone who doesn't even care about doing a bodge right, let alone an attempt at a proper job. If I was you, I'd plant a whacking great hedge where your plants are, write off the 1m of your patio and forget your neighbours exist until they ask your permission for something again – at which point you tell them you can't hear them due to all the lovely leaves rustling and they'll need to make the request you didn't hear in writing."
What are your rights?
Hamptons, the home experts, note that if a neighbour builds a fence over your legal boundary, it is considered a trespass and a potential encroachment on your property. They can usually build a fence on their own property, but if it encroaches onto yours, you can ask them to move it. In most cases, it is best to raise the issue calmly as soon as you notice it, according to East Coast Fencing.
You have the legal right to challenge the placement, demand the fence be moved, and seek a resolution through official deeds, surveyors, or the courts if informal talks fail. Jacksons Fencing specialists maintain there's only one guaranteed approach to resolve disagreements and ease tensions with those next door. Check the Title Plan or Land Registry documentation for the property. In these records, a 'T' symbol indicates who the boundary belongs to.
