New Fence Issue

Hi,

The boundary fence on the right side of my property is falling over due to termite damage. I’ve spoken to the neighbour and he said he would be willing to build a new fence (using some recycled materials like steel sign posts) and sounds like he wouldn’t like to pay someone. I would also like the other half of the right boundary fenced mainly for street appeal/privacy (currently only 20m is fenced, I’d like the other 20m done all the way up to the street). My options:

  1. Ask the neighbour to rebuild the existing fence and I pay someone to come out and build the other 20m of fence. The two fences will likely look different.
  2. I offer to pay for the whole 40m and have someone come and install the new fence in all the same materials.
  3. Ask the neighbour to rebuild the existing fence, I leave the other 20m with no fence and I wait a few years for them to sell (they said they will be) and see if the next owner would go halves in replacing the whole thing.

What would you do?

https://pasteboard.co/FMeKY2jMutXt.jpg

closed Comments

  • No one fences to the street on my block. Everyone here is old and old fashioned, but I think it looks nicer.

  • +9

    I would avoid the conflict. i'd built the full 40m and ask the neighbour to pay for half, or if they can't afford that, whatever they feel comfortable paying.

    • Good neighbours and neighbour relationships are highly valuable…

  • +5

    Poor man pay twice. Do the whole length properly first time

  • +10

    You seem to be making a lot of assumptions about your neighbour - that he wouldn't like to pay someone, that he would not want to fence up to the street…etc.

    The common sense answer seems to just be to ask him and see what he says.

  • Why don't you chip in for the existing fence?

    (currently only 20m is fenced, I’d like the other 20m done all the way up to the street)

    Then you should pay for the additional 20m if you want it and he doesn't

  • +8

    This house is causing you a lot of grief OP

  • Wont be cheap…

    We had a quote for a bit under 40m for $5K !!!

    • +1

      I 2nd this. I got a quote for a 55m fence and it was $8k.

      • +4

        I need to quit my CEO job and go work as a fencing contractor…

        • Let's go!

        • +4

          Charismatic Evil Ooverlord?

        • Mate bought a Fencing franchise… he lasted 6 mths of Winter… lost 10k's of money on it in the end.

  • +3

    Does it really matter if the fences are different? I count five different types of boundary fence in that photo alone.

    • Does it really matter if the fences are different?

      Yes…

  • +2

    Get the neighbour to build both of the fences.

  • +1

    He ain't movin…. ever.

  • +1

    he said he would be willing to build a new fence (using some recycled materials like steel sign posts) and sounds like he wouldn’t like to pay someone

    What would you do?

    I would not let someone like that build a fence. It will be dodgy, look dodgy, fall down and have issues. ANd what do you do then? It was done by someone and not a company, there's no recourse.

    That's just yucky. don't get involved in him doing it. Pay to get it done and charge him for half as per whatever legal rights you have.

  • +2

    Looks like the neighbor is trying to grow 4wd's.

  • +1

    Mate I'd just move. Look at your neighbour's place - there's got to be rats in that.

  • I thought there are council rules about how high a fence can be that goes all the way to the boundary line. Usually for sight reasons, such as cars going around corners. There's a reason why its so common.

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