Neighbor wants a "document" addressing his side of our fence??

I am not sure if this is odd or normal, we have just finished renovating the inside of our semi detached house and started the garden, our neighbors (attached) do not use there garden and it is usually overgrown and a haven for stray cats. They have complained that they do not want to remove the waist height chain link fence and have no interest in splitting the cost for a 6′ fence. The problem is they now want a “document” saying that they do not have to maintain “our” fence that faces there property. Do i need to have a lawyer draft something that includes “general” upkeep of there side of the fence, like clear weeds/garbage from growing into or under the fence? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

marshling

in About Brooklyn 11 years and 3 months ago

6

Please log in, in order to post replies!

6 replies

Newest Oldest

adomc | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5150 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5094 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "181619"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(5) "adomc"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BEbPGS2l5BQ0H1lBQyLMI13K6LZGIR1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(5) "adomc"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "totalfenceinc@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(28) "http://www.totalfenceinc.ca/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:48:13"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(5) "adomc"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(181619)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If the chain link fence is build in your neighbours property line then its his responsibility that maintaining [chain link fence](http://www.totalfenceinc.ca/residential-fencing/residential-chain-link-fences-in-toronto). but this fence is present in your property line then it is your fence and you have to maintain that.. just check your property line ,and solve the issue with neighbour.

DouglasAlan | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5149 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5148 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "100332"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "DouglasAlan"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BkTev016pVRsr4A/uVpj6jtiknfj1Z1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "douglasalan"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "doug.hinnant@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(33) "http:///forums/users/douglasalan/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:32:57"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "DouglasAlan"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(100332)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Not much in the way of advice, just support. Your neighbor sounds like a major league !@#$%^&*.

marshling | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5151 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5152 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176955"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "marshling"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BvidWvuUb5JzydfY4E.ewuoEgYsURJ."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "marshling"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "mgm0052@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/marshling/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:16:48"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "marshling"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176955)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thank you for the feedback, this was really helpful.

slopefarm | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5145 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5153 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "655"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BK7dzbqXJe9TV6iU0glcNZiXdOt9CR1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "jrubin@law.nyc.gov"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(24) "/forums/users/slopefarm/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "slopefarm"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(655)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Good advice above. You could just put in your fence and do no papers. As suggested above, if you do draft some kind of two-sentence aqreement, make it mutual (they’re not responsibel for your fence and you are not responsible for theirs. Each is responsible for his/her own property up to property line, etc.). I bet they balk. My preference would be to stay as disentanged with these neighbors as possible.

bk1lnite | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5152 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5149 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "179741"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "bk1lnite"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BYVxphPiNO4nE09E/IAsvY4SqeNyz90"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "bk1lnite"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "bklnite@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(29) "http:///forums/users/bklnite/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:04:27"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "bk1lnite"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(179741)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If you install a 6′ fence on your property, next to the exiting chain link fence (which if it’s on the property line would be a shared responsibility) then it’s your fence and your responsibility to maintain. If it makes your neighbors happy to document this, then I would write a couple of sentences and sign it and give them a copy. I wouldn’t bother paying an attorney for this. I also wouldn’t try to write an agreement that requires the neighbors to clear weeds/garbage from growing into or under the fence. That’s going to depend on them being considerate, and being neighborly is likely to be more useful than a piece of paper.

Townie | 11 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5151 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5154 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "70723"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "Townie"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BHD3oVuExLogAMJZwxq5xvDnzSzaSF/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "townie"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "Tpietrzak@NYC.rr.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/totoro/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:29:59"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "5fO74Kcn6ROdoMTkPvYt"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "Townie"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(70723)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I think I’ll go with odd. You don’t need to hire an architect, file plans or take out permits to build a 6 foot fence in a residential back yard. It is common in brroklyn to have two fences side by side like you describe. You might want to hire a surveyor to stake out the property lines before you start in case your neighbor’s fence is encroaching on your property. I would think that you would require the same letter from your neighbors releasing you from maintaining their side of the chain link fence as well.