Community Chat

[nun ya]

we have a fence about a foot inside our line. We paid for it. Ugly side faces us, not the neighbors.

[Cats3000]

SAY WHAT?????

If the fence is on his property, he pays.  If he puts the fence on your property, you get a lawyer, and fast.  He'd be encroaching on you property and could claim it after a certain period of unchallanged time.  If you want the fence on your property, you pay.

No "sharing". Keep things clean and neat.

[Lipstickdiva]

We have a 5' chain link fence down one side of our property that is ours (my parents put it up probably 40+ years ago.  One neighbor behind me has a 4' tall chain link that goes across half of the back lot line and then our 4' chain link fence picks up again down the rest of the back lot line.  Down the other side is a wood fence that a former neighbor put in and it's the same on both sides.  The former neighbor paid for that as it replaced a different wood fence.  I know my parents paid for our chain link fence back in the day.

Eventually DH and I plan on replacing the chain link with a white vinyl fence and at that time, we will ask the neighbor about replacing their wood with the vinyl.  Everything would be at our expense since it would be our fence.

I wouldn't want to split the cost of a fence being installed because I wouldn't want to worry about the upkeep of it at all.  When that wooden fence needs to be sanded and repainted, they do it.  I don't want to be bothered with that.  They ask for permission to come into our backyard and do what needs to be done.     

[Mindy D]

In my area it is not customary to share in the costs of fencing. The fence belongs to the homeowner and it is his or her responsibility. A property survey is required before a fence can be put up and inspection of the fence is also required. If your fence damages a neighbor’s home during a storm, your homeowners insurance will cover the damages done by your fence to the neighbor’s property.

[shy bobcat]

@lovescats 

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@lovescats wrote:

how do you know they aren't going to put up a wooden fence right up against the chain link fence inside of their property?

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I know this because they told me.  We've spent good times chatting over the chain link fence and I will miss our connection in that way.

[shy bobcat]

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@lovescats wrote:

how do you know they aren't going to put up a wooden fence right up against the chain link fence inside of their property?

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@lovescatsI know this because they told me.  We've enjoyed casual chatting at the fence and I will miss this enjoyable connection.

[shy bobcat]

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@GAQShopr53 wrote:

Although a nice gesture @shy bobcat I probably would just let your neighbor do what they want. In our neighborhood the fences are all wood but there are some neighbors that have chain fences in the back of their yards. For me it is more of a liability issue when the fence is completed. Who will be responsible for maintaining the fence and who will pay for damages if the fence is damaged in a storm or bad weather.

Again, the issue is not helping with the fence but who will ultimately be responsible. I have neighbors now that refuse to fix their falling fence and I am not going to pay for the repairs because they used cheap material and the fence is a hot mess. 

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@GAQShopr53So sorry that your neighbors are not maintaining their fence.  That would be a bad situation in my mind. 

[Diva on The Q]

@shy bobcat: If the fence is on your neighbors property, I'd say no. Especially since they didn't ask you to contribute. 

[Sooner]

If the city where I live tried to tell people they had to look at the ugly side if they paid for the fence it would not be, how shall I say this, "well received" by the townsfolk. 

[novamc1]

@chrystaltree 

You wrote:  <<This is a prime example of looking for trouble where none exists.>>

After selling real estate for a long time as both an agent and later a broker, I surmise that you've just never seen how much trouble a fence issue can cause.

Neighbors don't always remain neighborly forever.  Or can sell their home to someone (probably a lawyer) who wants to make an issue of the fence.

So many things can come up regarding maintenance of the fence, shrubbery that grows around or over it (such as non-native nuisance vines) and even what happens if children's balls and toys  get thrown over the fence and require retrieval, which requires entry to the other fenced yard, which might have a swimming pool, which poses a hazard to kids, and so on and so on.

It's good for everyone to follow the letter and spirit of the law and avoid conflict.