Fuming at my neighbour’s dodgy fence ‘repair’ – his side is fine but ours is beyond dangerous – we even offered to pay

NOBODY wants bad blood with a neighbour – in fact, many people are happy not speaking to them at all.

But unfortunately arguments and disagreements between neighbours happen more frequently than you’d think.

Reddit / @Terrible-vegetable-3

Reddit / @Terrible-vegetable-3

The most common reasons for neighbourly disputes include boundary lines and trespassing, rights of way, noise complaints and barking dogs.

Redditor @terrible-vegetable-3 took to the online forum to ask for help on the neighbour nightmare they were experiencing.

The poster explained that their dispute began when their nextdoor neighbour started to rent out his property: “He moved and rented out the house next door to us.

“We asked if he wanted to replace the fence and we could split the cost, he refused.”

They then included a picture of the dodgy repair job the neighbour had performed – complete with sharp, protruding screws.

“This was his solution.

“And our dogs suffered injuries before we noticed.”

Other Redditors flooded the comment section with opinions, help and advice.

One user said of the dangerous screws: “Bang those bad boys right back”

Another person despaired: “Some days it’s difficult to feel much warmth for the human race.

“Sorry this happened to you. It reminds me of my neighbour emptying her cat boxes in the recycling bin we shared, year after year.”

Someone else wrote: “Where I live only one person owns the fence.

“Either way this is disrespectful.”

But not everybody sided with the original poster.

One person had sympathy for the defective DIY’er: “Not to play devil’s advocate, not but everyone can afford a fence repair anytime.

“I’d have done exactly this and turned you down too, too unaffordable.

“Not everyone has 7 grand laying around for a new fence.

“60% of the entire population is living paycheck to paycheck.

“Honestly, this seems fine. Just get an angle grinder from the garage and cut the ends of the screws off.”

What should you do in the UK if you have a faulty dividing fence?

Fencing experts Trentwood Fencing Ltd. say: “First of all, establish who is responsible for the fence on the boundary in question.

“Even if you’ve established that the problem fence is your neighbour’s responsibility, take some time to consider your options before you approach him or her.

“Unless the existing fence is causing a safety hazard on your side, there’s very little you can do to force your neighbour to repair or replace it if they don’t want to.

“This is understandably frustrating for you, watching the fence leaning, rotting or falling apart, but legally your hands are tied.

“If you’re prepared to put up with an eyesore for the foreseeable future you can, at this point, stick to the principle that the fence isn’t your responsibility and decide to do nothing.

“If the prospect of watching the old fence rot away over the next few years doesn’t appeal, you might offer to help your neighbour with the cost and / or the repair or installation of a new one.

“Make it clear to them, though, that you’re not assuming future responsibility for this boundary fence.

“A final option is to erect a new fence on your own land at your own expense, alongside your neighbour’s old one.

“There would now be two fences along the boundary. Your neighbour’s fence will undoubtedly fall into further disrepair but at least you won’t have to look at it any more.

“While it might annoy you to pay for something you consider is your neighbour’s responsibility, it’s best to be pragmatic in a situation like this.

“Falling out with them is likely to prove even more stressful; pursuing legal channels is only really an option when your neighbour’s fence is causing a safety hazard.”