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Neighbor Doesn't Want to Put Fence Up
We just moved into a re-sale home.
Our next door neighbor has a dog that shits in our backyard daily. We're kind poeple, so I've cleaned it up twice, but , never again.
We had 2 estimates for a fence. We booked the cheaper guy.
We took the estimate to the neighbor, (sweetly) told them about the dog, and asked them to pay for half the cost of a fence. They said no. I quote, "We do not care about our property. We're moving in 6 months and don't want to deal with the cost."
I mentioned how a fence would increase the value of their property, and how their dog shits in our yard, and said they can't control where their dog goes. I said yes, but you can control where you pick up after your dog.
They said it's not their problem, and basically shut the door in my face.
I know all municipal by-laws are different, but generally speaking, does anyone know if a neighbor is required to split the cost of a fence?
Re: Neighbor Doesn't Want to Put Fence Up
I've never heard of neighbors being required to split the cost of a fence. As far as I'm aware, if it's on your property, it's got nothing to do with them.
This is how it is with us too.
We are surrounded by fences on all sides of our property. Some pieces of fence are our responsibility, some our neighbor's. None of us own half a fence.
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Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
Sometimes good, friendly neighbors will agree to split the cost or each do a partial build of a fence - but I've never heard of anything or any reason which demands a neighbor contribute to such a thing. It's fortunate for you that the neighbors will be moving soon.
There may be local dog leash and trespass laws you can take advantage of - if you wish to go in that direction.
That's what I was thinking. You may be able to go that route and call the town to complain about their dog, but no one is going to force them to help you pay for your fence.
What lovely neighbors. Be happy they're moving! For a cheaper, temporary option, you can buy the garden fence they sell at Home Depot. It comes in rolls and you just stake the posts in the ground and zip tie the fence to it. Then you can just take it up once the a-holes move out.
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To my understanding, there are places where fences are co-owned and yes, you have to split the cost. But you should also be able to build a fence that is 100% yours, it just needs to be a certain distance from the property line (check the exact distance, but is generally far enough that you could walk between the two yards if both neighbors had a fence. ).
And actually, they certainly can control where their dog shits. If someone tried to pull that crap with me you can bet I'd be reporting them for leash law violations.
We are building our home and our neighbors already have a fence up, my understanding that we are to ask them how much the fence was and pay half because we are going to benefit from that fence.
If I were you I would put the fence up that would drive me crazy too.
Hopefully you get better neighbors when they sell.
I third the idea of checking on leash laws but if I knew they were moving soon I probably wouldn't put in a fence unless I wanted it for other reasons. I've found you can put up with quite a bit if you know there is an end in sight! I guess you could go the route of putting it back in their yard but I'd be iffy on that- it might make them mad enough that they'd bring their dog to poop in your yard even more often.
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If you want the fence you need to pay for it. Why would your neighbor be responsible? Just keep it on your property and be done with it.
It stinks that your neighbor is a jerk, but you can't force someone to be a better person. You should be glad he plans to move soon.
It doesn't matter how "sweetly" you asked, asking them to pony up for half of the cost of a fence around your property probably got you off on the wrong foot with them, big time. I'd tell you to go fly a kite too! Fences are expensive, and it doesn't sound like there's a darn thing in it for them. Contrary to the bill of goods you tried to sell them, a fence around YOUR yard will not increase the value of THEIR property.
I think you'd be better off checking your town's code. I was just in the dog section of ours last week, because we have a neighbor who leaves their beagle out to bay constantly. Our town code has sections that deal with nuisance barking/baying/crying, and also with dogs who dig up/damage other peoples' yards, and who poop and owners don't pick it up. The fine is $100 each time in our town. Just call and report, call and report, call and report. I bet after enough $100 fines, your neighbors would magically start being able to control where their dog goes. And they'll be gone in 6 months anyway.
Thanks everyone.
To clarify, there was already a small builder's fence that was construed. We live in a row of 10 townhouses, and we are the only ones without a fence.
Our other neighbors put a fence up last year, and they split the cost.
The bad neighbors have one side of fence on their other side, where another neighbor got tired of their dog ***. No idea if that cost was split or not. But around here, it is absolutely customary for neighbors to get together, select a fence, put it up on the property line and split the cost. My question was, is it mandatory?
These fences are directly on the property line, because that's where the builder's fences are.
And to the person who said you can't put a fence on a property line because of an easement?? That doesn't really make any sense, especially since I checked the survey before buying the lot and there aren't any easements on the plan.
The other suggestion about the cheap fencing from Home Depot was a great one. Never thought of that. We went out this morning, and put that up for $12 and that will last us until the fence goes up next week.
Yes my neighbors suck, but at least they agreed to put it down the property line (so there is a natural continuation of the builder's fence), and at least they didn't *** about the style that we selected.
ETA: Also should add we are freehold, not leasehold, so there would be no condo by-laws which would mandate any fence rules.
You do realized she said in her area, right? Fence laws are different all over the country. I have easement rules, where the fence can not be on the property line also. I do not live in the same state as her. Her point was is check what your local requirements are. She was also just trying to share information.
This. I would be catching the dog and taking it to the pound everytime it came on my yard.
Its not the dog's fault the owners are irresponsible jerks.
I have NEVER heard of people splitting fence costs. If it is on your property and you want it - then you pay for it and are responsible for the maintenance and safety of that fence.
Can you imagine buying a house and not knowing who purchased what and who is responsible for what? If it isn't in the HOA - then it isn't required.
If you want the fence - get it and pay for it. It goes on your property.
On a separate note - I would see if your city has rules about picking up after a dog - many do - in which case you start reporting it - they will either pay fines or figure out how to pick up after their dog.
Who said that you have to pay half? That's insane. NEVER EVER heard of that. In fact, in our last house two of the three neighbors (side and back) had a fence. But we still had to put up our own fence to surround all sides because a) they each had different fence types and we needed to get a fence for the third side plus the front to the sides of the house; b) what if they don't maintain their fence or decide to just take it down; c) if you have a pool (above or inground) you have to be able to control the fence and can't just come home one day with it gone - which the neighbor could do .. or the next owner of the house ...
Bad bad bad precedent IMO
My girlfriend moved into a new build and at the time, her neighbor next door asked about splitting the cost of a fence. Then they couldn't agree on what kind of fence to put up. My friend basically refused to pay 1/2 for something she hates to look at, whether or not it's a benefit or not.
My home was a new build. Me and two neighbors discussed splitting the fence, but when the time came, the neighbors between our properties just didn't have the money or the desire. We were getting a dog, so we needed a fence. I certainly didn't expect my neighbor to pay half. Neighbor in the center has two different fences on either side and ended up only paying to fence the front...no biggie.
It's a nice and neighborly thing to do, but absolutely not mandatory. If they already have the fence up...I don't know if i would bother bringing it up at all. They obviously needed or wanted the fence. That shouldn't affect you financially.
Thirding this. In my hometown you have to have a permit to build the fence and it has to be X distance from the property line, as well as Y distance from any permanent structures (like retaining walls). Definitely check your zoning laws before you pay for someone to install a permanent fence.
? ?????????! Z!
BFP #1 EDD 12/14/12, C/P 4/9
dx: DOR
Clomid + trigger + IUI #2
Everyone welcome.
They probably both wanted the fence so they decided to split. I would have shut the door in your face as well if you came over demanding we pay for your home improvements.
In our neighborhood the covenants states that the fence must be white vinyl and the fence is on our property line.