11-01-2013, 08:57 PM
Below is a letter I've had to write and put into my neighbour's letterboxes. There was a storm on Monday which damaged a fence.
I'm the owner of number 9 . I'm definitely responsible for the upkeep
and repair of the garden fence on one side of my house, but I'm not
sure which. According to the people living in number 7, on my left
(looking at the house from the road), I'm responsible for the fence
between number 7 and number 9. According to the people living in
number 11, on my right (looking at the house from the road), I'm
responsible for the fence between number 9 and number 11. There is no
reason to suppose that I'm responsible for both fences, which would
be clearly unfair, so one of my neighbours must be mistaken.
In support of the view
that I'm responsible for the fence between number 9 and number 11 (in
addition to the statements of the people living in number 11) is the
Property Information Form that I received when I bought the house.
Section 1.1 clearly states that I'm responsible for the boundary
features on the right. This document is clear, but is not the
definitive legal document. Based on this document, two years ago I
paid for repair to this fence when it was damaged in a storm.
In support of the view
that I'm responsible for the fence between number 7 and number 9 (in
addition to the statements of the people living in number 7) is an
interpretation of the original 1970 land registry. Section 2 states
that the owner is responsible for the fences on the boundaries marked
with a âTâ. However the attached map is a low resolution
photocopy of a blueprint and is not entirely clear. There are dots
next to the boundary lines and if these dots are badly resolved âTâ
symbols, this indicates that I'm responsible for the fence between
number 7 and number 9. This is the definitive legal document, but it
is unclear. The people living in number 5 also agree that we're all
responsible for the fence on our left and an examination of the
fences between the houses on this side indicates that this is the
accepted practice.
It is utterly
implausible that I'm responsible for both fences. I don't have a
great preference to which fence I'm responsible for, but I have no
intention of being considered responsible for both. I'm perfectly
willing to take responsibility for and pay for the upkeep and repair
of the fence I am responsible for, but not for both. However I have
been unable to persuade either side to change their view as to which
fence is my responsibility. I'm therefore inviting the people living
in number 7 and the people living in number 11 to meet, come to an
agreement and tell me which fence is my responsibility. If they
desire, and there is a time convenient for us all, I'm inviting them
both for tea and cakes at my house (number 9) where they can talk
about this and see the documentation described above if they want to.
I'm the owner of number 9 . I'm definitely responsible for the upkeep
and repair of the garden fence on one side of my house, but I'm not
sure which. According to the people living in number 7, on my left
(looking at the house from the road), I'm responsible for the fence
between number 7 and number 9. According to the people living in
number 11, on my right (looking at the house from the road), I'm
responsible for the fence between number 9 and number 11. There is no
reason to suppose that I'm responsible for both fences, which would
be clearly unfair, so one of my neighbours must be mistaken.
In support of the view
that I'm responsible for the fence between number 9 and number 11 (in
addition to the statements of the people living in number 11) is the
Property Information Form that I received when I bought the house.
Section 1.1 clearly states that I'm responsible for the boundary
features on the right. This document is clear, but is not the
definitive legal document. Based on this document, two years ago I
paid for repair to this fence when it was damaged in a storm.
In support of the view
that I'm responsible for the fence between number 7 and number 9 (in
addition to the statements of the people living in number 7) is an
interpretation of the original 1970 land registry. Section 2 states
that the owner is responsible for the fences on the boundaries marked
with a âTâ. However the attached map is a low resolution
photocopy of a blueprint and is not entirely clear. There are dots
next to the boundary lines and if these dots are badly resolved âTâ
symbols, this indicates that I'm responsible for the fence between
number 7 and number 9. This is the definitive legal document, but it
is unclear. The people living in number 5 also agree that we're all
responsible for the fence on our left and an examination of the
fences between the houses on this side indicates that this is the
accepted practice.
It is utterly
implausible that I'm responsible for both fences. I don't have a
great preference to which fence I'm responsible for, but I have no
intention of being considered responsible for both. I'm perfectly
willing to take responsibility for and pay for the upkeep and repair
of the fence I am responsible for, but not for both. However I have
been unable to persuade either side to change their view as to which
fence is my responsibility. I'm therefore inviting the people living
in number 7 and the people living in number 11 to meet, come to an
agreement and tell me which fence is my responsibility. If they
desire, and there is a time convenient for us all, I'm inviting them
both for tea and cakes at my house (number 9) where they can talk
about this and see the documentation described above if they want to.