Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 22, 2017 4:52 pm Hello all, Just wanted to get some advice. Our land is still vacant but the block beside us has already completed their house build and now wants to put up a fence. They sent us quotes already and we are very much willing to cover half of the cost of the shared fence between us BUT i only want to pay this once our house is built not before. We have mentioned this but our 'neighbor' wants us to cover the fees now to which i think is also not fair on our side since our block is vacant. What is the common practice for splitting fence costs when one has finished their build but the other is yet to start? All opinions welcome. I'm on the 'fence' whether to proceed with mediation or not. Rocky start to our neighborly relationship... TIA Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 2Mar 22, 2017 6:29 pm I think you have to pay. Technically you own the land, and its fair enough they want to put up a fence since they are living there. Is there a particular reason why you dont want to pay till after your house is built? For example, I'm nearly finished building (about 6 weeks). I have three boundary fences shared with neighbors. When my neighbor on the left moved in, he asked to put up a fence, I paid my half even though I was about 3 months from moving in myself.. I recently received the notice for the fence to the other side.. I have said happy to pay, but I wanted some damage to my house by the neighbors builder cleaned up first. My house will be finished, but my neighbor behind has not yet started, though land is titled. I will be asking them to pay their half.. as I can't move in till the fence is up. I expect them to pay their share, or I will take them to VCAT. I must admit I'm on your neighbors side, because why should they pay in full when you own the block? Are you planning to reimburse them when you have finished, or just not pay at all? Or do you want them to have no fence until you finish? They are probably struggling financially since they just completed build, so I doubt they want to pay full cost, neither are they legally obliged to I wouldn't have thought.. I think if you don't pay you will get dragged through VCAT and made to pay. But yeah, is there a reason in particular you dont want to? Like I wanted to hold off building the back fence so I could bring in machinery to do landscaping.. and I would have liked not to put the side fences up till my concrete paths were laid.. but I gave in on that. Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 3Mar 22, 2017 6:52 pm You need to pay. They have every right to put it up now and you are legally responsible for paying half. We have received quotes from our back neighbours who are almost finished and we will pay even though we haven't started yet. At least you won't have the cost of all the fencing at the end of your build. majestic35.weebly.com Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 4Mar 22, 2017 9:36 pm You prob do need to pay. Not read all legalities but two of our neighbours moved in so we have fence on 1side and half a fence on the other. Someone owns the other block but not sure their plans yet... Not an issue for us but for our neighbours they don't have full privacy atm... Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 5Mar 22, 2017 9:50 pm If you will be eventually living there, you don't want to start off on the wrong foot. Having good neighbors that you get along with is important. They can make things difficult for you and you don't want to be living next door to someone that resents you. I have a neighbour who complained about our dog barking for 5 seconds to the council and after that, it hasnt been pleasant between us. Try to come to a compromise first and maybe put yourself in their situation if the roles were reversed. Building with Dennis Family Homes Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 6Mar 22, 2017 10:14 pm We're yet to start building but have paid our share of fencing with the neighbours that have already built. I don't understand why you would want to create animosity when you'll have to pay for your share eventually anyway. Someday you'll be living next to the these people, a smile and wave would be much more comfortable than glares and sneers Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 7Mar 23, 2017 6:34 am Would you want to live in a house with no fencing? It could be a major issue if they have small children or pets. You are legally obligated to pay for the fencing as long as they provide you with more than one quote. Your neighbours are well within their rights to ask you to pay half. You would be fighting a loosing battle if you went to mediation. Fencing is not that expensive, I would suck it up and pay it. You may have to live next door to them for many years, I would much rather have a pleasant respectful relationship with the neighbours. Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 8Mar 25, 2017 11:43 pm You need to pay half regardless of whether you home has been built or not built. Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 9Mar 25, 2017 11:55 pm You're going to have to pay half anyway. If you can't afford it now rather talk to your future neighbour and work something out than resort to ridiculous actions that will only result in a bad relationship and you still having to pay Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 10Mar 26, 2017 12:49 am As a Solicitor I can say with great confidence like your other peers in the thread, you must pay. It doesn't matter if your house is or is t built yet but your neighbour is entitled to ask you to pay for the fence now as they have completed their build. It isn't just only a council or legal requirement it could also be your developers requirement. For this you will need to look at your land contract. But otherwise wishing you the best of luck and with everyone writing it before me, you don't have a choice under law, you will need to pay it now. Cheers Kind Regards, Bruce "Building an Eden Brae Waldorf 50 in North Kellyville" Blog: http://waldorf50.blogspot.com.au Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 11Mar 27, 2017 7:17 am nikah13 Hello all, Just wanted to get some advice. Our land is still vacant but the block beside us has already completed their house build and now wants to put up a fence. They sent us quotes already and we are very much willing to cover half of the cost of the shared fence between us BUT i only want to pay this once our house is built not before. We have mentioned this but our 'neighbor' wants us to cover the fees now to which i think is also not fair on our side since our block is vacant. What is the common practice for splitting fence costs when one has finished their build but the other is yet to start? All opinions welcome. I'm on the 'fence' whether to proceed with mediation or not. Rocky start to our neighborly relationship... TIA If I were you I would pay half now. You will have to eventually and no point getting off on the wrong foot with your neighbors. Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 12Mar 27, 2017 8:19 am Better to pay your half now, don't risk the relationship with your neighbour. A good neighbour is worth their weight in gold. Both neighbours on my side put up their fence when I was halfway through my build, but luckily for me I was not asked to contribute half( interstate investors on both sides). When my build was finished and I moved in, the empty block behind me had not started to build. I put up the rear fence but haven't and won't ask for half since they didn't have a chance to see quotes. Coral Homes Avoca 25 in Gainsborough Greens Gold Coast Viewtopic.php?f=31&t=81406 Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 13Mar 27, 2017 8:59 am I find it often helps to try and think about it from their point of view. They have a completed house, may well have small children or a dog who they want to keep in the yard and at the very least probably want a bit of privacy. It makes sense for them to get the fence up now, particularly given that it's going to have to go up sooner or later. Is there any particular reason you don't want to put the fence up now? Building a Kew 28 with Porter Davis Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 14Mar 27, 2017 9:48 am I'm sharing the fence with 5 other neighbours and will be the very last house to finish. 3 have just finished and quotes are flying around now. We have no problems paying for our share even though we're months out. It just wouldn't be fair having all my neighbours wait for us to finish. I would put myself in their shoes and fully understand the urgency in needing one now. Be a team player and just pay Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 15Mar 28, 2017 9:35 am What happens if you're building a house in a new estate if the land next to you hasn't been sold yet, or isn't even under development yet? I'm likely to have 4 neighbors who I'm sharing a fence with. One block next to me has been sold, there are another two blocks on a side but these haven't been sold yet, and behind me isn't under development at this stage, but will be eventually? If it makes a difference none of the blocks that have been sold have even titled yet, and nor has mine. Building a Kew 28 with Porter Davis Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 16Mar 28, 2017 9:44 am Hurrow What happens if you're building a house in a new estate if the land next to you hasn't been sold yet, or isn't even under development yet? I'm likely to have 4 neighbors who I'm sharing a fence with. One block next to me has been sold, there are another two blocks on a side but these haven't been sold yet, and behind me isn't under development at this stage, but will be eventually? If it makes a difference none of the blocks that have been sold have even titled yet, and nor has mine. Developers usually put in a clause in your land contract saying they only have to contribute $1 towards fencing on land they still own. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 17Mar 28, 2017 9:45 am cant decide Hurrow What happens if you're building a house in a new estate if the land next to you hasn't been sold yet, or isn't even under development yet? I'm likely to have 4 neighbors who I'm sharing a fence with. One block next to me has been sold, there are another two blocks on a side but these haven't been sold yet, and behind me isn't under development at this stage, but will be eventually? If it makes a difference none of the blocks that have been sold have even titled yet, and nor has mine. Developers usually put in a clause in your land contract saying they only have to contribute $1 towards fencing on land they still own. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Wow, **! Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 18Mar 28, 2017 10:15 am cant decide Hurrow What happens if you're building a house in a new estate if the land next to you hasn't been sold yet, or isn't even under development yet? I'm likely to have 4 neighbors who I'm sharing a fence with. One block next to me has been sold, there are another two blocks on a side but these haven't been sold yet, and behind me isn't under development at this stage, but will be eventually? If it makes a difference none of the blocks that have been sold have even titled yet, and nor has mine. Developers usually put in a clause in your land contract saying they only have to contribute $1 towards fencing on land they still own. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ So I guess I'm hoping that sometime between now and completing my house (so probably about 10-12 months) that the blocks to the side that haven't been sold yet are sold, and that they develop the land behind me and sell it off! If that block has been developed and is for sale and hasn't titled yet but has been sold would the buyer have to put in money for the fence? Building a Kew 28 with Porter Davis Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 19Mar 28, 2017 10:18 am Hurrow cant decide Hurrow What happens if you're building a house in a new estate if the land next to you hasn't been sold yet, or isn't even under development yet? I'm likely to have 4 neighbors who I'm sharing a fence with. One block next to me has been sold, there are another two blocks on a side but these haven't been sold yet, and behind me isn't under development at this stage, but will be eventually? If it makes a difference none of the blocks that have been sold have even titled yet, and nor has mine. Developers usually put in a clause in your land contract saying they only have to contribute $1 towards fencing on land they still own. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ So I guess I'm hoping that sometime between now and completing my house (so probably about 10-12 months) that the blocks to the side that haven't been sold yet are sold, and that they develop the land behind me and sell it off! If that block has been developed and is for sale and hasn't titled yet but has been sold would the buyer have to put in money for the fence? I don't think buyer is responsible until it titles. That is when water and sewerage charges kick in and council rates etc. Re: Fence before build - neighbor dispute 20Mar 28, 2017 1:44 pm Hurrow I find it often helps to try and think about it from their point of view. They have a completed house, may well have small children or a dog who they want to keep in the yard and at the very least probably want a bit of privacy. It makes sense for them to get the fence up now, particularly given that it's going to have to go up sooner or later. Is there any particular reason you don't want to put the fence up now? 100% agree with this. I have a small child and I would want the fence up straight away for the safety of my child. If I asked for payment and you weren't willing to pay, there would be no fixing of the relationship and I would tell you to never ever ask for a favour. yes it does, you've just not understood it. theres a difference. 4 5498 Building a fence now will help limit people dumping rubbish and soil on your property. Many houses in suburbia on small lots have fences up before a build. I moved into a… 1 4434 Hey everyone Not for me or anyone I know, just generally interested. For a single allotment house, are you allowed to take the fence on both sides of your house and… 0 21018 |