The woman explained on NetMums that she had been away for a week and when she got home, she found that the next-door neighbour had replaced the fence between their gardens.
She said: “I politely confronted him about this to which he said that the boundary between our properties is in his ownership/his responsibility and therefore he can rightfully replace it without my permission.”
The woman then asked the forum if you can actually “own a boundary,” and added: “I’m really quite livid about all of this.
“The fence he has put up is a completely different colour to the others and I just don’t like it, full stop.”
Other forum members took to the comments section to share their thoughts, with many saying she should check the property’s title deeds, as they will show who owns the fence or hedge.
“If they own the fence, they do not need to speak to you about it, although I would out of courtesy. Whoever owns and puts up the fence is entitled to choose which side of the fence they have.”
Another one said: “Is the problem with the fence because you weren’t asked permission or for your opinion on replacing the fence prior to installation? Is the problem with the fence because you don’t like his choice of replacement fencing?
“I’m going to assume the fence needed replacing due to being broken or in a state of disrepair for the sake of the argument. One way to look at it is, if he has paid for it all and is not asking for money and has put it up without asking for money, perhaps you have lucked in and saved yourself a lot of cash?”
A third one commented: “As the others have said, if he is responsible for that boundary, then yes, he can do what he likes with the fence as long as it doesn’t break any planning laws.”
Some people opined it’s a bit “anti social of him” to do it without at least telling her. She continued: “We’ve always discussed things like that with neighbours and tried to reach amicable agreements – but assuming it is ‘his’ boundary there is nothing you can do.”
The online user suggested: “However, I dont think there is anything to stop you painting the side of the fence that is on your property, so maybe you can do something that makes it less obtrusive? Planting something in front of it, particularly a climbing plant, might help disguise it a bit, though obviously it’s not an overnight fix.”
