Adding to this thread, I’ve lived in my house for 15 years. The week I moved In in 2005 next door said to me he’ll fix the fence as approx 60% was missing. I spent 2 years doing the place up adding a single storey extension double drive etc, still no fence repairs. We would speak in the street and after a few minutes I’d drop in the same line every time “any news on the fence” he’d make an excuse and then would have to go. It became a game to me.
During this time I was single/no children so didn’t really care. He then got a dog. This was a turning point for me. I found it In my garden a few times when I came home from work early along with some shit dotted around the garden which was promptly flicked back in to his garden. He was crafty with the dog, when I was home it was on a long lead in the garden unable to cross the boundary but I soon sussed out that when he knew I was at work it was allowed off the lead and in to my garden.
Any how 15 years later the fence drama is still ongoing. It’s like the fourth bridge, it’s always work progress. I think he’s had a complete fence for approx 3 years. When winter comes each year and high winds arrive some more falls down and the process starts again with me asking him to fix the fence again.
So at the start of the year you guessed it more of the fence was down, I approached him about getting it fixed explaining that my little boy was now 18 months old and summer will be here before you know it so can you get the fence fixed as he’ll be in the garden this year. He found issue with this as I was slightly more direct than previous due to wanting the garden secure for our little one. This turned in to he doesn’t have the money to fix it. Ok then I’ll pay half. Nope he doesn’t want that. Ok so how about I pay for the materials and he does it. No not that either. I’ll pay for the lot and do it for you. Definitely not he says it’s his fence! He says he will do it at some point.
So what am I supposed to do then I say, not let my little boy out in our garden until you get some money or decide you’ll do it? He can’t answer this as he’s admitting he’s being awkward so results to extremely aggressive behaviour. Now at this point I’ll add in I’ve seen him have a fight in the street about 10 years ago with some dude that was something to do with lads and dads football so I know he doesn’t mind violence. Anyhow times moved on and he’s an old man now so I stand my ground expecting him to cross the party wall line and say to myself if he does cross the boundary then it’s game on. He comes right up to it shouting, swearing, fists in the air, I keep my cool and tell him just fix the fence and I’m not here to fall out with him, I don’t take one step back and kept eye contact all the time with my most stern face lol. He sees I haven’t moved and stops with a puzzled look of not sure what to do now. He splutters he’ll have it fixed in 2 days.
. 2 weeks later we have a complete fence, boy is in the garden loving life for the summer. We move house tomorrow and it won’t be our problem that but yes people are strange.