Problem with a neighbor

[jackace]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: spherrod
Isn't 1 neighbour solely responsible for the fence? Think that's how it works in UK but not entirely sure.

That's how it works here as well as far as I know. I assume it varies a bit from state to state but I know when we had ours built the contractor actually came out and found the lot marker stakes so he was sure it was going on our side of the property line. When our next door neighbor decided to fence her yard she asked if it was ok to go up against our fence running along the property line so she would not have to build a parallel fence which we were fine with. If at some point we had to replace that section of the fence I would not consider it her responsibility to chip in or have any say in it. The fence was built by us and is on our property so it is our responsibility.

In the states of Washington and Idaho ownership is determined by where the property line is in relation to the fence. If you buy all the material and build the fence, but put it on or crossing the property line you now only own half a fence and the neighbor owns the other half, but if you put it on your side of the property line you own the entire fence.

 

[jackace]

Originally posted by: travisray2004
Sounds like to me, that you need to tear down the fence, have them put one in, on there side of the property line, then you can put a TALLER one on your side to cover up theres, and wont have to worry about them, until you are 80, lol.
BTW, post some pics of your work.

depending on the laws where he lives thats not a possiblity.

 

[SearchMaster]

Wow, I commend you for your efforts to be civil and neighborly. It sucks that it's turned out this way, but you've done everything you can.

 

[lupi]

The fence, unless constructed improperly and general against city code, eith exist on one property or the other. If they wanted a new fence on their property it's your fault for getting involved after they asked for money by doing anything other than laughing and shutting the door on her.

 

[BoomerD]

Where we live, fences sit on the property line, and both neighbors bear the cost and responsibility to maintain them. It's written into the CC&R's for the subdivision that way to (help) avoid any problems. Recently, the folks who bought the house next to mine had a water leak from their sprinkler system. Flooded part of my yard EVERY DAY. I didn't really care much, as that side is just dirt still, but I asked him for 2 years to fix the problem. He's got a very bad back like I do, so I never made a big fuss, just reminded him from time to time. He finally hired some guy to come do the repair, so that's fixed, but, being underwater for 2 years rotted a couple of fence posts and the bottom kicker boards. He agreed that the repair was his obligation and ocst...only took him another year to actually get it done...but about a month ago, he & I finally took care of it...he bought materials, I helped with the labor...(what little I can do) Problem solved...for now.

OP, I don't know what your deed may have for CC&R's attached to it, but the neighbors MAY have been completely within their rights to hire a contractor to fix the fence and send you a bill for half...doesn't make it "right", since you are supposed to work together on these things, but...

 

[middlehead]

Sounds like the old lady needs to be in a home.

 

[paulxcook]

I agree with whoever said old people are nuts. Not all. But a lot of them. OP it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Good luck, and stick to your guns.

 

[L00ker]

I woulda flat out told them to go get farked when they came asking for money, who do they think they are?

 

[MisterJackson]

Whats the saying?

Fences make for good neighbors.

Seriously OP. I'd move back a foot or so onto your property, build a 12 ft metal wall. Line it with constantino wire. Build a sentry post at each end and mount some search/flood lights in the turrets!

But hey, I'd be a shatty neighbor

 

[Aharami]

Build a 10 ft high fence so you dont have to see them again

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

good grief!

I guess good fences don't make good neighbors... or maybe this isn't what Frost had in mind.

Hang in there, document costs, time, phone calls etc...

Tell them that once you've finished the fence, they can pay (in full) for someone to come and redo it if they are unsatisfied with the outcome.

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: jackace
Every where I have lived and built fences I put them a couple inches inside the property line so the neighbors have absolutely no say in how I build the fence.

edit- as long as i have a building permit and the fence meets city code that is.

Their son mentioned the building permit. I told him to go ahead and report it. If they take this fence down, they have to pay to put their own up at their cost. Part of their plan is to have me pay half. They know if they piss me off, they won't get anything. So they aren't going to report that we don't have a permit. They want the fence more than I do, though by the way they are acting, having one would be better than not.

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: lupi
The fence, unless constructed improperly and general against city code, eith exist on one property or the other. If they wanted a new fence on their property it's your fault for getting involved after they asked for money by doing anything other than laughing and shutting the door on her.

No not really. I wanted the fence. I prefer the privacy. See, I would have built one anyway with my own money. They aren't forcing me to do anything I wouldn't have anyway. They just jumped the gun a little bit instead of talking to me to work it out. Plus, I am in control. I control the materials, labor, and installation. They lost their power when they agreed to let me build it. Now that they are complaining, they are sh!t out of luck. They want the fence badly, but they don't have the money to build it themselves. Their sons are lazy and aren't going to help. I am in control.

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Where we live, fences sit on the property line, and both neighbors bear the cost and responsibility to maintain them. It's written into the CC&R's for the subdivision that way to (help) avoid any problems. Recently, the folks who bought the house next to mine had a water leak from their sprinkler system. Flooded part of my yard EVERY DAY. I didn't really care much, as that side is just dirt still, but I asked him for 2 years to fix the problem. He's got a very bad back like I do, so I never made a big fuss, just reminded him from time to time. He finally hired some guy to come do the repair, so that's fixed, but, being underwater for 2 years rotted a couple of fence posts and the bottom kicker boards. He agreed that the repair was his obligation and ocst...only took him another year to actually get it done...but about a month ago, he & I finally took care of it...he bought materials, I helped with the labor...(what little I can do) Problem solved...for now.

OP, I don't know what your deed may have for CC&R's attached to it, but the neighbors MAY have been completely within their rights to hire a contractor to fix the fence and send you a bill for half...doesn't make it "right", since you are supposed to work together on these things, but...

Their is no HOA or any other governing agreement.

 

[OutHouse]

like others have said, when i built my fence i put it 3 inches inside my property, its mine and the neighbors cant touch it. If you have the cash and want to be an ass hire another contractor and have him build you a fence on your side of the property line. :evil:

as far as her asking for 700 bucks i would have told her to get lost. her fence her payment.

their son is a ass, unless he lives there and is pitching in with the work then he needs to STFU.

as far as a building permit. In my town if it is just a regular fence that is not higher than 6' then no permit is required.

 

[deerslayer]

I would have told them to build their own fence on their own property if they're so damn concerned about it.

 

[dartworth]

I am having a similar situation with a new neighbor myself. He is claiming my fence is on his property. He tells me it is no big deal, but just wanted to let me know...:roll:

Anyways, I can't locate any of the boundary pins for my yard so I am having a boundary survey performed this week for my yard. The survey is going to cost me about $500, but I am just tired of hearing this guy's little comments about the property line.

If the fence is on his property I have no problem moving it as it can become an issue when we go to sell the house. If it isn't, I will move it as close to the property line as legally possible. I was also thinking of staining his side of the fence pink or yellow too

In the words of the wise John Rambo...They drew first blood, not me!

 

[0roo0roo]

tell them to f*ck themselves. they can putup whatever fence they want as long as it is on their side of the property and you don't have to pay jacksh*t

 

[txrandom]

Originally posted by: dartworth
I am having a similar situation with a new neighbor myself. He is claiming my fence is on his property. He tells me it is no big deal, but just wanted to let me know...:roll:

Anyways, I can't locate any of the boundary pins for my yard so I am having a boundary survey performed this week for my yard. The survey is going to cost me about $500, but I am just tired of hearing this guy's little comments about the property line.

If the fence is on his property I have no problem moving it as it can become an issue when we go to sell the house. If it isn't, I will move it as close to the property line as legally possible. I was also thinking of staining his side of the fence pink or yellow too

In the words of the wise John Rambo...They drew first blood, not me!

Please do this and take pictures!

 

[0roo0roo]

another thing that can happen is if the neighbor builds a fence on the property line they might have all the boards face their side...so you are left with the ugly side. that happened to me once.. refused to pay for that obviously.

 

[jagec]

I helped a friend put up a fence not too long ago. It had all the ingredients for a major nightmare--he was bordering FIVE neighbors (some of them for only a couple of feet), some old, some young, very different people. The former fence (which was falling down) was all crooked, AND pretty much the entire stretch was 1-3 feet inside his property line, and had been for years before he bought the house.

He managed to convince all of his neighbors to let him build the fence, they each pay their portion, and the new fence is on the property line. Now it looks good, is straight, and he gained a LOT of property in the deal. And somehow, didn't make any enemies...

Good luck with your situation...clearly you're in the right. Why is the old lady going out and measuring the posts anyway? As long as they're straight and on the line, it's your problem to make sure they're spaced correctly. If you end up having to trim some 2x4s, what's it to her?

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: Citrix
like others have said, when i built my fence i put it 3 inches inside my property, its mine and the neighbors cant touch it. If you have the cash and want to be an ass hire another contractor and have him build you a fence on your side of the property line. :evil:

as far as her asking for 700 bucks i would have told her to get lost. her fence her payment.

their son is a ass, unless he lives there and is pitching in with the work then he needs to STFU.

as far as a building permit. In my town if it is just a regular fence that is not higher than 6' then no permit is required.

I am looking in to this with the city permit office. Will know shortly. Also getting a ruling on my property line.

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: txrandom

Originally posted by: dartworth
I am having a similar situation with a new neighbor myself. He is claiming my fence is on his property. He tells me it is no big deal, but just wanted to let me know...:roll:

Anyways, I can't locate any of the boundary pins for my yard so I am having a boundary survey performed this week for my yard. The survey is going to cost me about $500, but I am just tired of hearing this guy's little comments about the property line.

If the fence is on his property I have no problem moving it as it can become an issue when we go to sell the house. If it isn't, I will move it as close to the property line as legally possible. I was also thinking of staining his side of the fence pink or yellow too

In the words of the wise John Rambo...They drew first blood, not me!

Please do this and take pictures!

Oooh this is evil. I like it

 

[KK]

Tell the son that his 80 yo mother is the neighborhood whore, see what the prick thinks of that.

whose property is the fence on?

 

[bsobel]

wyvrn. From your story you sound like an amazingly nice and extremely reasonable person. I can find nothing wrong with anything you did (some will say you shouldn't have done anything, but alas then you deal with upset neighbors for another at least few years). It's stories like yours which remind me why I moved from a suburb of LA to 16 acres in San Diego.