I've got a bit of a situation with my neighbor regarding the fence we share. He recently put up a new fence on his side without taking down the old one first, which has left the rotting part on my side. Plus, he went a little overboard with the concrete, and some of it spilled into my yard. He's not exactly the most reasonable person, and we've already tried asking him to keep the concrete off our side. I've got a few questions:
1. Can I safely remove the panels on my side without damaging his new fence?
2. If I can't remove the old fence, am I allowed to put up my own fence against his?
3. What's the best way to deal with the concrete that's now in my yard?
4 Answers
It's probably a better idea to put up your own fence rather than trying to remove his panels. If the concrete is spilling into your yard, just clean it up as best as you can—it shouldn't really be a big issue if it's just some mess. Plus, if you're going to put up your own fence, the old one won't really be visible anyway!
First things first, do you have the property lines clearly marked? You’ll want to be sure the new fence is actually on his side. If that old fence is truly rotten, snap some photos and consider taking it down yourself. Even if he tries to complain, the value of a rotting fence isn't going to be much. As for the concrete, if it's just a little spill, you might be able to cover it with dirt. But if it’s a real eyesore, you could ask him to have his fence guy redo it or consider a small claims court for a more formal approach. Just make sure you're aware of the property lines before taking action!
Are you completely sure where the property lines are? If that's the case, it might be best to just build your own fence. Maybe even make it a bit taller just to spite him! Regarding the concrete, it might be worthwhile to look into any legal recourses, especially if it crosses over into your property.
I’m not sure about legal stuff (I'm in the UK, not the USA), but typically the fence posts should be on his side with the nice wood facing yours. Just ask him if you can remove the rotten fence. If he's not open to that, then definitely put your own up to block the view. It’s important to try and maintain a decent relationship with him, even if he's a bit difficult! Wishing you good luck! ?
True! Just be careful, though—if it ends up being a debris trap, it could rot both fences faster. Not to mention some critters might decide to move in!