Neighbor's fence...questions

[Mermaid02]

Sharing costs will be okay for now- but it will cause problems in the future. If you want a fence, put your own up. If he wants a fence, he can put his own up.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Sharing costs will be okay for now- but it will cause problems in the future. If you want a fence, put your own up. If he wants a fence, he can put his own up.

Agree you can double up the fencing like they do in Texas. But if you are midwesty kind of neighborhood, people don't do that here.

Also, the other side of the coin is if there is an issue you don't have to keep hounding neighbor or looking at "the issue". Our last house the fencing behind us was falling apart and we had to put up with it.

If it was shared, you could do something about it.

 

[Mermaid02]

Agree you can double up the fencing like they do in Texas. But if you are midwesty kind of neighborhood, people don't do that here.

Also, the other side of the coin is if there is an issue you don't have to keep hounding neighbor or looking at "the issue". Our last house the fencing behind us was falling apart and we had to put up with it.

If it was shared, you could do something about it.

But if someone sells their house, who owns the fence?

New neighbors move in and they HATE the fence- they tear it down.

Who gets the "pretty" side?

What color/stain does it get?

He thinks the fence needs maintenance, you don't- but it's half your fence and he wants you to pay half....


This reminds me of my inlaws camp. My fil and his parents owned 2 camps on a lot. It was all fine until his Mother passed and her camp went to fil's sister. Now we have brother and sister owning camps on one lot, each with a VERY different idea of maintenance. It was a disaster.

 

[puffkin]

If the fence is on his property, but benefits you then I would probably offer some money towards the repair, but not 50%. I think that is fair in case a new owner came in and ripped the fence down or something similar.

If the fence is on the property line and both of you own it, then I would pay half.

 

[SevenSeasLagoon5]

I want to be neighborly, but I am also concerned about what happens to the fence I paid half for if they moved? I can't help but think about our neighbors on our other side. We put up the fence on that side. They also have a dog. However, I would never ask them to help pay if it needed to be replaced because we put it up to begin with.

SO.....I called the survey company who did our survey a couple years back. They said they suggest never paying half for a fence. Someone should pay for the whole thing, thus being someone's fence. He said they tell people that whomever put up the fence to begin with is the person who should replace it if need be. They have to replace it b/c of their "dangerous" dog. They are required by Animal Control to have a fence.

We are going to see how things play out in the next few days. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

I'm not sure where I would fall on this after reading all the comments...
I guess I always thought if both parties use the fence, then both should contribute/pay for that part they share. I had to replace my whole fence a few years ago. I asked my neighbors at the time if they would be willing to split our shared side (which would have been close to $400 for them), since they were renters they told me to contact the agency (which I did but never got a dime). I ended up paying for it and my neighbor now has two dogs that are ALWAYS outside. Had I not put that fence up, what would she do? I don't know, it just seems kind of rude to have something like a fence that is literraly shared amongst two parties and only one pay for the entire thing...
Totally my opinion, no flames intended!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

We just replace all four side of our fence. We are original owners and split the original cost of the fence. Since then everyone else has moved. We repaired it all these years at our expense. We approached all 3 neighbors and all pitched in and thanked us for taking the initiative to replace it. I think that if you are enjoying the privacy of the fence and it is along the property lines then the cost should be split. I think it's the right thing to do.

 

[Tink415]

We put up a fence at our old house and had to get zoning approval for it and there were requirements on how far in from the property line the fence had to be (at least 5 feet), which side the 'pretty side of the fence' had to face (towards neighbors) etc. Nobody paid but us. We put it up to keep neighbor dogs out

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I'm sitting here in disbelief that people would actually considering paying for their neighbors fence.

Let the guy's who's fence broke, pay for his own gosh darn fence, and make sure you get the pretty side. That's a law around these parts.

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm not sure where I would fall on this after reading all the comments...
I guess I always thought if both parties use the fence, then both should contribute/pay for that part they share. I had to replace my whole fence a few years ago. I asked my neighbors at the time if they would be willing to split our shared side (which would have been close to $400 for them), since they were renters they told me to contact the agency (which I did but never got a dime). I ended up paying for it and my neighbor now has two dogs that are ALWAYS outside. Had I not put that fence up, what would she do? I don't know, it just seems kind of rude to have something like a fence that is literraly shared amongst two parties and only one pay for the entire thing...
Totally my opinion, no flames intended!

They would tie their dog up or put up her own fence.

 

[4greatboys]

We "share" fences here. I live in Texas, on the Gulf. When we were hit by Ike and the fences were blown down we shared the cost. 1/2 with each neighbor.
Though the back fence is on my neighbors property we still benefit from the fence. The insurance company factored in neighbors sharing fences and expenses when we were paid for our claim.
I really don't see it as a problem to pay for half. It's cheaper than having to pay for the whole thing yourself should you need or want one.

 

[manning]

In our town a fence has to be 3 inches inside the property line.

 

[Christine]

In our town a fence has to be 3 inches inside the property line.

So if your fence is three inches inside the property line and your neighbor wants a fence, do they just hook onto you, thereby taking ownership of the property line AND your 3 inches or do they have to build 3 inches inside the property line too so that there is a 6 inch strip of grass between the two fences (and who gets to mow that!!).

 

[krcit]

I'm not sure where I would fall on this after reading all the comments...
I guess I always thought if both parties use the fence, then both should contribute/pay for that part they share. I had to replace my whole fence a few years ago. I asked my neighbors at the time if they would be willing to split our shared side (which would have been close to $400 for them), since they were renters they told me to contact the agency (which I did but never got a dime). I ended up paying for it and my neighbor now has two dogs that are ALWAYS outside. Had I not put that fence up, what would she do? I don't know, it just seems kind of rude to have something like a fence that is literraly shared amongst two parties and only one pay for the entire thing...
Totally my opinion, no flames intended!

I wouldn't pay for a fence if I rented.

 

[Momvic5]

We "share" fences here. I live in Texas, on the Gulf. When we were hit by Ike and the fences were blown down we shared the cost. 1/2 with each neighbor.
Though the back fence is on my neighbors property we still benefit from the fence. The insurance company factored in neighbors sharing fences and expenses when we were paid for our claim.
I really don't see it as a problem to pay for half. It's cheaper than having to pay for the whole thing yourself should you need or want one.

Ditto ....we are also Gulf Coast Texans, and we all share our fences. We all benefit from our fences. When we first moved into our new home, one side of our yard was not fenced. The neighbors who lived on that side of our home could not afford to share in the cost of the fence, but we needed a fence for our dogs so we paid for the whole thing. A year later, they surprised us with half of the total cost. We never asked them for the payment as we totally understood their situation, but they insisted on sharing the cost because they enjoyed not having to put their dog on a leash everytime they let her out. Around here, most of us consider the fences a shared benefit and responsibility.

 

[SevenSeasLagoon5]

Ditto ....we are also Gulf Coast Texans, and we all share our fences. We all benefit from our fences. Around here, most of us consider the fences a shared benefit and responsibility.

I completely appreciate what you are saying. However, our neighbor has 3 dogs...one labeled dangerous. He HAS to have a fence. He was on bad terms with the previous owners of our house and they didn't pay half. I'm wondering if, because we're on good terms, why we should have to split the cost of the fence? At our old house, it was cheaper to get an electric fence. Perhaps we would have done that here if our neighbor didn't have his fence up anyway. I'm wondering (partly) why we should have to pay for his fence. Our dogs are not dangerous.

 

[JimmyPicker]

I guess you've clearly made up your mind.

And no, your neighbor doesn't have to have a fence. He could, cheaply, walk the dogs on a leash instead of letting them out into the yard.

It's just a convenience. For you and him. Are you willing to give up that convenience if he decides not to repair/replace the fence?

I would still inquire about his homeowners though.

 

[SevenSeasLagoon5]

I guess you've clearly made up your mind.

And no, your neighbor doesn't have to have a fence.

No, I have not made up my mind. I haven't even discussed it with our neighbors since my husband put a quick fix with 2 by 4's on the fence. I'm still questioning, in order to come to the "right" decision.

And yes, our neighbor DOES have to have a fence according to Animal Control, along with signs on it saying "beware, dangerous animal".

 

[Momvic5]

I completely appreciate what you are saying. However, our neighbor has 3 dogs...one labeled dangerous. He HAS to have a fence. He was on bad terms with the previous owners of our house and they didn't pay half. I'm wondering if, because we're on good terms, why we should have to split the cost of the fence? At our old house, it was cheaper to get an electric fence. Perhaps we would have done that here if our neighbor didn't have his fence up anyway. I'm wondering (partly) why we should have to pay for his fence. Our dogs are not dangerous.

Personally, I just think that it is the kind thing to do...your dogs are not dangerous, but his fence helps keep your dogs in your yard. Of course you do not have to help pay for his fence, but if you benefit from it, why not help pay for it?! Again this is just my personal opinion....the shared cost of the fence is worth it to me if my kids and dogs are contained in my yard and his kids and dogs are contained in his yard.

 

[JimmyPicker]

There's an old saying. "Good fences make good neighbors."

Obviously, that's true. Within 1 day, everyone is wondering who benefits, who should pay, what's right, etc.