 Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Feb 18, 2021 3:23 PM
 Good Fences (by Robert J [CA]) Feb 18, 2021 3:56 PM
Good Fences (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Feb 18, 2021 4:24 PM
Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Feb 18, 2021 5:31 PM
Good Fences (by DJ [VA]) Feb 18, 2021 9:28 PM
Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Feb 18, 2021 9:48 PM
Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Feb 24, 2021 5:12 PM
Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Posted on: Feb 18, 2021 3:23 PM
Message:
So a small problem with fences on my 3 on one property. My unimproved back lot (60x90) is bordered by 4 other properties. East side is an intact old ratty fence. West side great chain link. Both neighbors are friends after 40 plus years and we get along and coordinate on 'repairs'. South side has 2 properties (each 45 feet across my property). One neighbor put up a lovely 6 foot high wooden fence last year to replace a ratty old chain link of 4 ft high. HE actually came over, asked permission to take down my chain link and replace it with the wooden fencing. I laughed and explained that the chain link was HIS. Nobody seems to know who owns what fencing. So I pointed out the 'posts' that were on my property (old narrow gauge railroad ties..awesome) and that the chain link that was on regular poles was his. All went well, nice fence finished fast. BUT a few weeks ago, the other property tore down MY 45 feet of chain link fence, without asking and started building a similar 6 foot wooden fence to match the neighbor's. Before I knew it, my chain link fence was demolished, AND they had dug holes for the new posts (wooden 4x4s) along my property, just INSIDE my line and a full 2 feet inside my East side neighbor's property line! They were just about to remove MY posts when I caught the owner lady who came to inspect the work, and chatted with her. She offered me 'my' chain link which was now trashed and I declined. I pointed out that the railroad tie posts that went ALL the way across my property were the property line. She got the workers to fill in the holes on my side and on my neighbor's side. (He thanked me profusely). All was going OK (even though I'm still mad I was never asked about tearing down my fence) and the new one will be better so it's fine. BUT now the fence has sat unfinished for 2 weeks, there is a 2 foot GAP under it, because they followed the horizon level and not the slope of the ground and the 'access' door I suggested, should they ever need to get to my side for maintenance, is wide open. .So where I had a ratty old but intact fence to keep dogs and people out, (a problem around here) I now have 45 feet of unfinished, wide open access to my property. So the question is, do I say something to them? Do I leave a note on the fence to see me since they don't live on the property and I've never met their tenants? Should I put up some temporary chicken wire stuff on my old posts to secure my side against dogs and people? I'm in need of some good advice!
--72.199.xx.xxx |
Good Fences (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Feb 18, 2021 3:56 PM
Message:
I spent a lot of time looking up the fence codes for my City, Los Angeles, CA. Section 833, trees and fences.
Why did I have to do this? Because none of the neighbors had the resources to pitch in and split the cost of a replacement fence, so they said as they buy new cars, boats and have swimming pools installed on their lots.
So in my case a there's a law. If someone uses a fence that is between our properties to Close-In their yard, then by LAW they have to pay HALF of The Cost to replace the fence with an equal quality fence.
If we had chain link, they need to pay half the cost of a chain link replacement. If we had wood, then half the cost of wood.
So with one of my apartment buildings all of the fences were in bad condition when I purchased it. I had a talk with the neighbors and summitted estimates of a similar replacement.
The fence to the South was going to change from a Chicken-Wire fence to a Chain Link Fence. That neighbor refused to pay 1 cent towards the replacement. So I set up a camera and got his tenants trespassing on my property using my trash cans, dumping junk and even using a BBQ.
The fence to the West was a metal wire fence, I was going to also replace that with chain link.
And the fence to the North was wood. Got an estimate for wood.
None of the neighbors wanted to pitch in. So my attorney sent them a letter, unless they come to terms, I'm going to replace all of the three fences with chain-link, then sue them for half.
I installed the new fence. Then the neighbor behind me, West Fence, ripped out my chain-link fence and installed a metal wrought iron fence and billed me $2000, half the cost. Since I was only responsible for half of the cost of a similar fence and had already replaced it. I refused to pay him $2,000.
I then took them all to small claims court. One had his insurance step in and went to court. Since the insurance rep was an attorney, I got him thrown out of court. Attorney's aren't allowed in small claims court. So I won judgments and then filed a line on their property's title. --47.155.xx.xxx |
Good Fences (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Feb 18, 2021 4:24 PM
Message:
They probably didn't ask because they assumed that since the neighbor's fence was owned by the neighbors, so they assumed that they owned the other fence.
Rather than discuss, wait until it's done and use horizontal planking to fill in the gaps between fence and ground. Ask first, explaining the problem. I wouldn't challenge it otherwise to remain friendly with neighbors. I try to never start fights with neighbors. Would rather be the person mad at the neighbor than the other way around. --108.69.xxx.xxx |
Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Posted on: Feb 18, 2021 5:31 PM
Message:
Yeah, I think I want things friendly. Always better. I am hoping the dog doesn't get out of their house and into my yard/driveway while I'm being 'patient' Still can't figure out why the huge gap at the bottom. The top of that fence is also 2 feet above the fence they are joining to. Looks horrible. Makes no sense. I also have to block a small gap (18") between me and the East neighbor without nailing my blocking stuff to the NEW fence. They said they are going to paint it to match the other one already built. I temporarily blocked that a few days ago and this morning all the wire mesh was on the ground. Wonder if it was human or beast? Still no action, tools all over, junk all over, maybe someone got sick. Yikes! --72.199.xx.xxx |
Good Fences (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Feb 18, 2021 9:28 PM
Message:
Unless this delay may have been weather-related, I think after 2 weeks I would ask if they could use some help to wrap up the project.
Their response should tell you what happened / is planned. They are footing the bill for the fence, so a little help to see it completed well would seem reasonable.
Who knows? maybe the workers got PO'd by the changes (moving the fence to the correct location, filling holes) & moved on to another job. It can be hard to get someone to come finish work already started. --68.229.xxx.xxx |
Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Posted on: Feb 18, 2021 9:48 PM
Message:
It is strange that everything just stopped. I'm wondering if the guy who was building it got miffed after the 'owner' saw the uneven fence and he just quit. Can't imagine all the stuff strewn around the yard including a nice 3 foot level, some really nice lumber etc. Seems like they would have cleaned up a bit. I'm suspecting it's family that is building the fence, then again, that huge gap underneath might be planned for a cement block foundation? If so, I would have thought the cement work would be done first and the fence boards placed on top. It's really a mess right now. I did fill in the 18" gap from the other neighbor's property so people would not be able to walk through. We get a lot of unsavory characters cutting though yards, hopping over fences, from the other block behind me. Some are just lazy, others are up to no good. Most fun was the 2 guys running from the police, and dropping 'loot' all up my driveway, including GUNS. Yikes! They had burglarized a condo behind us and it was like a TV show with them running and cops chasing and lots of shouting and all that stuff. Neat, but scary. Anyway, fixed one tiny spot on MY property that adjoins my nice neighbor's back lot and he's happy. Now if the other fence gets finished. No weather problems here. --72.199.xx.xxx |
Good Fences (by Sorta Blonde [CA]) Posted on: Feb 24, 2021 5:12 PM
Message:
Progress: Went down to the house after 3 more days, loosely attached a 2 foot high chicken wire roll along the bottom of the fence which has a gap of 18" above the ground. Attached with strap ties that can be easily cut and only secured it to MY old posts. Went to check on it the next day and lo and behold, there was the owner (who I hadn't met yet, only talked to the sife) and we chatted nicely. He said he 'might' finish the fence in a week and he would contact his 'contractor'. I pointed out the chicken wire temporary fix and asked his permission to use a few staples to secure it to the fence. He agreed. While we were chatting, his 3 kids (ages 6-11) were sword fighting with plastic swords. Scary to watch, and the older boy had what looked like a fake rifle. Next day, I went to take a few pictures, and found (I'm screaming right now) that they had a TARGET set up in their yard (one of those hit and it spins things) and it was obviously NOT a toy, but a real BB gun. Daisy special Xmas issue to be exact (which comes with that type of target. Not a real problem, except BB guns and air soft are illegal in in our area. In any case, a nice wooden fence would keep BBs contained, EXCEPT the target was 6 feet from the STILL OPEN gap in the fence which was going to be a pass through door which I had suggested. No door, target placed FACING my empty back lot where, I had just advised the owner, my 4 feral (semi) cats go to hunt mice frequently. Why would he allow his kids to shoot towards my houses (60 feet away) and possibly the cats? I'll never know. I checked for BB damage to windows of the nearest rental house and the cars of the tenant and found nothing. BUT happily, today, my tenant called to tell me the DOOR was in place. I took pictures of the progress. Now if they will just fill in that 18" gap under the fence, I can remove the tacky chicken wire. If it isn't done soon, I'll take my stack of concrete blocks and block it on my side so there is a substantial dog barrier to keep his dog from getting under it. Can't wait forever and the owner guy isn't in a hurry to fix things, and the fence is poorly constructed, all uneven and with the posts facing my property. at least I managed to make sure it wasn't encroaching as it was when I first saw it. Hope it's all done soon. --72.199.xx.xxx |
Reply:
|
|