UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi all,

To cut a very long story short, a tenant backed into my neighbours fence, they assured us they would fix it and moved out without doing so (including 4000 worth of damage to our property).  It has caused unnecessary grief with the neighbour (who is aggressive at worst, irrational at best).  We sent a gardener to fix the fence and the neighbour became aggressive towards him to the point where he has refused to fix it as he does not want confrontation understandably.

Does anybody know whether it is our (landlord) responsibility to fix the fence despite the tenant knocking it down?

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

It's the Tenants job to fix it. You are not their parents or guardians.

From my perspective, if the tenant (don't like to use your as they are not a pet or a child of yours) backed into the neighbours car would you be looking to fix it?  Doesn't sound like relations with this person need saving.  I'd let them pursue what ever course they feel fit as I can't see how you're liable.

Thanks guys, you are right.   Why should I replace it when I didn't knock it down.  They should have pursued the tenants more vigorously instead of hounding us at the time. 

The relations with these neighbours are not good and they have form.  I learnt they erected said fence when the previous owner was on holiday so he could not park his mobile home down the side when he returned.

Wish me luck, I think it will get messy.  We are dreading going to our own house, currently on the market, as we know they will call round or cause a scene in the street.  The last time they created they threatened to cause some damage to our empty house.  At the time of their f-ing and jeffing at high volume on the driveway we had an estate agent round which they knew.

Folks hey!!!  Who would have thought slats of wood could cause so much grief.

I am unsure why you have not reported them to the police if they are threatening criminal damage? Bullies get away with it because people don't stand up to them.

I didn't report it as it would be on record and we'd have to declare bad neighbours on the selling documentation.  We worked on the basis they wouldn't do anything and it was an idle threat, also had estate agent as witness.