Boundary Structures between Properties in General

Cottage Compost

Just thought i'd try a general discussion about various boundary structures, boundaries in general and the problems they cause.

What are your experiences?

Been looking at buying a new property this last 18 months and not found my rightmove yet but in this process i've seen some problematic boundaries and yes they have put me off buying a couple of properties.

Have you experienced a moving boundary...... two properties share an old fence that's not good..... One side decides to plant a hedge up against the fence or just put up a new fence against the old.  The oposite side removes old falling down fence.

Wheres the boundary now?????????? The position of the new fence or the centre line of the new hedge?   Neither but in the event of a dispute prove it one way or the other!   This is especially difficult after several decades or a succession of new neighbours etc.

A friend bought a new bungalow that had a hedge as a boundary with a neighbour.  It was a good age and size, neglected and in need of some tlc.  On asking who owned the hedge and who was resonsible for its upkeep etc the nieghbour said that it was my friends hedge. Great lets get stuck in and give it a good hard prune back etc and feed it to get it rejuvenated etc.   Two years later the hedge now belongs to the nieghbour!!!!!!!!!!!!   It's not my friends hedge anymore!!!!

Please do share your own experiences.....

KT53

The boundary at the bottom of our garden is actually marked by a chain link fence, much of which with the exception of the straining wires no longer exists.  The various people in the house behind us have, over the years, erected an ornamental concrete block wall and then, behind that a 6' timber fence.  Thereby losing about 2' off the length of their garden.

The boundary to me is still where it's always been and will remain that way.  Some years ago I had a snotty letter from the then occupants telling me (not asking) to cut back an elder tree because it was cutting light out from their garden.  I went round and informed them politely that the tree was actually growing in their garden, but behind the fence and wall, so it was their problem.  Had they been nice about things I would gladly have cut it back as it's far easier to do from my side.  They have long since moved on and I now do keep it under control.

Skandi

I bought a house earlier this year which had to have all it's boundaries re marked as part of the sale. we now own part of one neighbours lawn, but no longer own a different neighbours house. (these were really poorly plotted boundaries)

We had to agree to the sale before it was redrawn so we just went and looked at any fences/hedges that may end up over the new boundaries and decided if we could live with losing those few feet.

Singing Gardener

We gained a couple of feet when our neighbour erected a fence two feet in from the existing rotten one. We would quite happily have shared the cost if they'd asked. We've since removed the rotten fence and put in a retaining wall (the fence was at the top of a steep bank) just inside the original boundary so they can have their 2' back if they want. Their house has changed hands since then though so I doubt the new owners even know that the boundary has moved. Both gardens are large though and the area concerned is neglected by both of us so I don't think it's very critical.

My daughter recently moved into a new house and was caught in the middle of a planning row between two neighbours. One of them claimed that the other had moved my daughter's fence in order to fool the planning authorities as to where the line along the properties was. She even claimed to have CCTV footage of this. Looking at the rusty, overgrown fence it was perfectly clear that nothing had been done to it for years!