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Putting up a Fence Without Annoying Your Neighbour

February 9th, 2010 |

Author: Barbara Donna

Nobody wants to be at war with their neighbours. Home is supposed to be for relaxation and there’s nothing relaxing about a bitter feud with an irate next door neighbour. Yet one of the most common causes of feuds between those living next door to one another is boundaries and fences. So how can you avoid a battle with your neighbour over your fence?

Stay within the law

The first thing to ensure is that your proposed new fence meets legal requirements aesthetically, where applicable and in terms of height. There are often minimum and maximum height stipulations in place and you should check the specifics with your local planning office.

Let your neighbour know

It’s always advisable to let your neighbour know that you’re planning on putting up a new fence. If you can show them pictures of the fence panels you plan to buy before you do them (just to make sure they’re not hideously opposed to them), you may find they’re very appreciative of the effort you’re making alone. And while your choice of fence panels really needn’t be anything to do with your neighbours, remember that they’ll probably have the fence visible on their property too. Therefore it’s a pleasant and neighbourly thing to get their input.

Install at a reasonable time

Whether you’re installing it yourself or getting someone to do it for you, putting up your fence at a reasonable hour will minimise the disruption to your neighbours. Sunday morning at 6am, for example, is not a reasonable time. It will probably only serve to annoy your neighbours if they’re woken up at the weekend by someone hammering a fence post in. Be considerate and let them know in advance when you’ll be installing the new fence.

Give them the nice side!

Now, while it is certainly by no means a legal requirement, it seems to be the done thing that the smoother side of the fence panels face your neighbours. So providing you have no major objected to the rougher side facing you, this could be a pleasant touch and a considerate thing to do.

It’s not difficult to be courteous and something like fencing really is a matter that affects your neighbour almost as much as yourself. So just considering them when you’re choosing panels and installing the fence can save you a lot of hassle and grief in the longer term.