Man Wakes Up To A New Fence On The Property Line, Neighbor Casually Demands He Pay Half

Neighbors can be either a true blessing from above or an absolute nightmare, but in reality, the slider between these extremes usually hovers somewhere in the middle. Sometimes, however, it even reaches the “entitled arrogant dude” mark or something like that…

Well, the user u/TreeTestPass, the author of our story today, was willing to split the cost of repairing a dilapidated fence between their properties with his neighbor, but that guy ended up building a new fence without his written consent – and then demanded reimbursement for half the costs. So, let’s get into the details.

More info: Reddit

Neighbors can be good, and they can be bad – but the reality sometimes gives us unexpected plot twists with even the nice and sweet folks living next door to us

Old wooden house beside a wooden fence covered with greenery, illustrating a neighbor replacing a rotten fence dispute.

Image credits: stanislav71 / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The author of the post is a single dad living next to another man, and the fence between their house is built on his property

Neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement; man refuses to pay $2000 for fence replacement dispute.

Text excerpt showing a man explaining why he refuses to pay $2000 after neighbor replaced his rotten fence without agreement.

Man refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces his rotten fence without any prior agreement or consent.

Text excerpt about a man refusing to pay his neighbor for replacing a rotten fence without prior agreement.

Image credits: TreeTestPass

Man inspecting newly replaced fence by neighbor, standing outdoors with paintbrush and wearing blue gloves.

Image credits: gutsal / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Recently, some sections of the fence got damaged, and the neighbor suggested that the author split the costs of repairs

Man refuses to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces rotten fence without any agreement between them.

Text stating refusal to pay for a neighbor replacing a rotten fence without any agreement or permission.

Text message expressing frustration over neighbor replacing a rotten fence without agreement and refusing to pay $2000.

Man refusing to pay neighbor $2000 after fence replacement without any prior agreement shown in a tense discussion.

Text conversation showing a man refusing to pay after neighbor replaces rotten fence without any agreement.

Text excerpt about a neighbor’s right to a properly maintained fence according to county code.

Image credits: TreeTestPass

Man holding daughter in kitchen, looking at phone concerned about neighbor fence replacement dispute.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The man told him he didn’t mind – but then the neighbor actually erected a whole new fence, without any written consent from the author

Text excerpt showing dispute details about neighbor replacing rotten fence without agreement and refusal to pay $2000.

Text discussing salvageable fence sections and replacing panels beyond required maintenance for the fence dispute.

Screenshot of text describing the replacement of two fence panels, 20 boards, and six 2x4s for a rotten fence.

Image credits: TreeTestPass

Two men arguing by a metal fence, illustrating a dispute over a neighbor replacing a rotten fence without agreement.

Image credits: korrawinj / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Then the neighbor literally demanded the author reimburse half of his expenses – around $2K, which the man couldn’t actually afford

Text excerpt discussing reimbursement offer for fence panels, boards, and nails after neighbor replaced rotten fence.

Text excerpt about damaged fence repair and reimbursement request regarding neighbor fence dispute.

Image showing a check and Lowe’s shopping cart total related to a man refusing to pay $2000 after fence replacement.

Text document with a statement about closing an issue after cashing a check related to a neighbor fence dispute.

Image credits: TreeTestPass

So now the author is in two minds on what to do – and decided to seek support and advice from the netizens

So, the Original Poster (OP) tells us that he’s a single dad and, although he has a decent job, still can’t afford reckless spending. When his neighbor suggested, about a year ago, that they split the cost of repairing the fence between their properties (several sections on the neighbor’s side were rotten and almost falling apart), the author said he was okay with it.

It so happened that the fence was installed on our hero’s property (his house was built a little earlier than his neighbor’s), so technically, the neighbor needed written permission from the author to carry out the work. The OP repeatedly asked the neighbor to write to him, but he never did.

However, a couple of months later, he tore down the entire fence and installed a new one in its place. Well, the OP expected only a few sections to be replaced, but he didn’t say anything. However, a couple of months later, the neighbor saw him in the garden and loudly inquired when the author would reimburse him for half the expenses. The neighbor estimated it was about $2K.

As we’ve already mentioned, our hero isn’t incredibly wealthy, so he can’t afford to fork out this money. Moreover, he didn’t expect the fence to be completely torn down and rebuilt – rather than repairing the damaged sections. Which, of course, would’ve been much cheaper and easier for the man. So, he’s now pondering what to do, and has decided to ask netizens for advice.

Man with tattoos and beard standing by a new black iron fence after neighbor replaced rotten fence without agreement

Image credits: DC Studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

In fact, many expert sources – for example, East Coast Fencing and FindLaw – clearly state that even if the fence was located on the property line, the neighbor would still need the original poster’s written consent to carry out any repairs. And given that the fence is located entirely on the author’s property, even more so.

However, there’s another caveat: if the original poster were to file a complaint about the illegal fence now, they would likely be ordered to tear it down, but perhaps at their own expense. “If the neighbor won’t remove the fence, in most cases, you are allowed to take it down yourself,” the Legal Law Office website states. But this also means an additional expense that the original poster doesn’t want to bear.

Many commenters were also puzzled by the situation, noting that the OP should’ve stopped the construction work and tried to resolve all issues with the neighbor then, rather than now. However, at this point, according to responders, the man has two options: either taking legal action or attempting to negotiate a deal on his own terms. “I would just let him know that you weren’t ready to buy a fence,” someone wrote.

That’s what our hero actually decided to do. In an update to the post, he included the text of his letter to the neighbor, stating that he only agrees to reimburse the costs of replacing the damaged sections of the fence – and call it a day. He attached a check for the specified amount to the letter. Well, let’s just hope this resolves the dispute. And what do you, our dear readers, think?

Most commenters told the man has two options – to take legal action or to offer some kind of a deal, so the author picked the second one

Screenshot of online discussion about a man refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement.

Conversation discussing a man refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces his rotten fence without agreement.

Comment discussing a man refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement.

Comment discussing the need for a lawyer regarding a neighbor replacing a rotten fence without agreement.

Comment advising to be aggressive and confident when refusing payment for neighbor's fence replacement without agreement.

Neighbor disputes over $2000 payment after replacing rotten fence without agreement between homeowners.

Comment explaining legal advice about refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement.

Comment discussing legal concepts of unjust enrichment and trespass in neighbor’s fence replacement dispute.

Comment on a forum discussing a man refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaced his rotten fence without agreement.

Comment from user Chipchop666 expressing refusal to pay neighbor after a new fence was built without agreement.

Reddit user comments on man refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement.

User comment about man refusing to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement.

Man refuses to pay $2000 after neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement standing by the new fence.

Neighbor replaces rotten fence without agreement, man refuses to pay $2000, dispute over property and fence installation.

Neighbor refuses to pay $2000 after man replaces rotten fence without prior agreement or consent.

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