Christine Brown said a boundary battle with a neighbour has wreaked havoc on her garden and left her dogs needing emergency care.
The 73-year-old from Warwick tried to ascertain the ownership of 11 fence panels between her garden and the house next door after they were significantly damaged by bad weather.
She has struggled to communicate with her elderly neighbour and has been unable to reach the pensioner's landlord to clarify where the garden boundaries lie.
Ms Brown said she was convinced that fixing the fence is the landlord’s responsibility – and is desperate to have it repaired, for the sake of her garden and her beloved dogs.
She had to shell out for expensive veterinary care for the two pets after they climbed over the broken fence and ate mouldy food left out for wildlife next door.
The Warwick native now has to keep the dogs on a lead in the “spacious corner plot” garden, which was her “pride and joy” before it was damaged by the broken fence panels.
“I’ve tried to discuss the issue of the broken fences with my neighbour, but it’s very challenging,” the pensioner said.
She said that the neighbour is “often confused and understandably upset” and “fears that raising any issues could lead to her rent being increased.”
The broken fence was a catalyst for Ms Brown to notice a host of other issues at the adjoining property – which she said was in a condition of disrepair that bordered on being unsafe for her elderly neighbour.
“I’ve been trying to work through the letting agent, but all they do is say they’ll pass the message onto the landlord,” she said. “Despite countless phone calls and letters, nothing has been done.”
Frustratingly, the 73-year-old said her own property deeds don’t clearly state where the garden boundary between the two houses lies.
She said: “I’ve sought legal advice to understand how I can establish the boundary line and avoid future issues.
“However, I’m very mindful of not upsetting my vulnerable, elderly neighbour with a legal letter, so I’ve held off for now.”
“If this drags on much longer, though, I may have no choice but to pursue the landlord,” she added.
A survey by the law firm Higgs LLP found that nearly 50% of disputes between neighbors from 2019 to 2024 revolved around the fences dividing their properties – whether related to the structure’s height, location or ownership.
Nyree Applegarth, head of property disputes at the firm said homeowners like Ms Brown should contact legal officials to understand their rights and manage community disputes effectively.
“Fences act as clear, physical markers of property boundaries, plainly stating, ‘this is yours, and this is mine’,” Ms Applegarth said.
“When those boundaries are shifted or crossed, it’s not just about property lines – it can feel like a personal invasion.
“By addressing [these] issues early, [professional guidance] can help prevent conflicts from escalating and maintain Britain’s neighbourly neighbourhoods.”
