Cheeky neighbour or how would you handle this ???

lakill Farm

Had a neightbour move back from america, the house has been finished over the last 12 months, but construction had commenced on the house before i bought that field in 2009 ( the site would have been part of the field years ago and was fully fenced off )

Anyway in January 2021 the neightbours father took down part of the fence to replace it. I would have bought the land off this man. Never asked or consulted me in the fact he was taking it down ( didn't ask for a contribution either only to dig 2 holes) but in the meantime left my land non stock-proof for months at the time

So the fence was badly replaced and now they are home from america have put up a 4 rail timber fence over the last 2 weeks. Again no consultation and the first wind of it was the father driving a 2wd jcb 3cx up the field after 2 days of rain and digging from the field into the site (Bucket and jacks down) he was asked /told to move it there and then in fairness he came to me a few hours later to apologise (he is lovable sort of rouge but im not getting walked on) and i get on well enough with him and his daughter and son in law live beside me and we get on the finest since 2009. ideal neightbours

On Sunday i was spreading slurry and i notice a 3ft gate built into the new timber fence. almost completely seamless just i noticed the hinge and well now thats a little uncalled for , i have not spoken to these yet

So 3 options i am thinking

1) Direct them to remove the hinges and put back in permanent rails

2) block it my side with 4 rails

3) install 2 stands of electric fence or bard wire on my side and pretend its to stop animals from using the fence as a scratch post

All advice welcome or indeed a link to a helpful article

accensi0n

Set up this on your side

Siamsa Sessions

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058313570/cheeky-neighbour-or-how-would-you-handle-this

Keep it all polite (for now) and go with option-3.

minerleague

Option 1 seeing as they didn't ask you. Presume its to be able to retrieve something like child's football that might come into field?

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104317#Comment_121104317

no idea , they do have 2 kids . I have never spoken to them ever so permission was never given or implied by me.

K.G.

Maybe you should install a 12 ft gate farther along. Only joking really.if I was you I'd discretky put a couple of screws to keep it shut.if anyone says anything you can have the discussion about it then and say you just didn't want some one letting it open and cattle going into their lawn

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104310#Comment_121104310

yes i was thinking that. i dont plan on fallng out with someone but equally i am not going to be walked all over either

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104348#Comment_121104348

Better plain wire, in case they get snagged on it, hedge might be difficult to establish if they give it a chemical wash every now and then. Definitely the field cant used for access without a by your leave.

TheWonderLlama

Talk to them, say its an insurance thing, No gates. See the reaction. Might be you/they can just disable it

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058313570/cheeky-neighbour-or-how-would-you-handle-this

I’d be going with option 3 regardless of the gate being there or not. For the small cost it will be to put 2 strands of electric wire around the site it’s worth it rather than getting a phonecall in a year or 2 to say some of your stock have knocked a section of the post and rail fence scratching on it and are in on the lawn!

Siamsa Sessions

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104367#Comment_121104367

Exactly. They might never use that gate, just put it in "in case". You know the way some fellas think!

You're not making any fuss, you're just making sure that gate is never used. And you're letting them know you're not a fool either without having to say it out loud.

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104394#Comment_121104394

yes definitely only that rarely is there stock in that field now

But yes il going to put 2 strands of wire around it

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104410#Comment_121104410

If you rarely have stock there have you power in an electric fence near to it that you can join into?

I’d be getting 6 or 8 of the yellow electric fence warning signs as well and clip them onto the wire all around it too. Just to be sure it’s clear for everyone to see that there’s power in the wire and no one can accuse you of trying to electrocute poor little Johnny when he was only going out to collect his ball.

whelan2

We had this. A gate put into the fence, no consultation. We had sold the site to Mary, who's parents had bought a site off my dad years ago. Mary's dad would hop through his hedge and walk the dog daily. Never a problem. Then Mary built her house and left herself a nice gate with a spring loaded hinge. Her father became ill and wasn't able to go for his walks anymore but she'd bring her kids an odd time. Never asked me, just assumed it was OK. The spring on the hinge broke and the gate wasnt being closed. Cows ended up in their garden a few times. I got pissed off, went up nailed timbers across the gateway. Put barbed wire on it and put a big printed sign about it being a farm. Never said a word to them. They haven't set foot put onto my land since.

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104540#Comment_121104540

your a mix of option 2 and 3 so

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104432#Comment_121104432

i would have mains fence power about 200 yards away so thats no big job . Ye a few electric fence signs would be the job

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104540#Comment_121104540

+1, Best answer.

Get out the pan mixer, it's Berlin wall time 👍️

jd06

I often wonder who's job it is to stop cattle scratching against timber rail fence posts

Is it the farmer should be putting up electric fence to stop his cows scratching

Or the home owner to put up a fence to stop the farmers cows scratching .

It has lead to problems around here

brokenbad

O.P - A picture of the gate would be good for context

ThreeGreens

If you get on well with them, then why not just go and ask why did they put a gate onto your land? Better having an open conversation rather than trying to be smart.

What do you do when they come back asking that you turn off the electric fence as some of their children got a shock from it, and you don't have any stock there anyway?

If you've good relations with them, then openness and honesty is probably the best way forward.

patsy_mccabe

I see a similar setup on a neighbour's place. He doesn't seem too bothered. I said it to him (the farmer) about the gate been in bits, but he just shrugged it off.

OP, just go and talk to them. Tell them that by right, it shouldn't be there and say how you are responsible legally for fencing in your cattle. A gate that can be left open, compromises you on this.

funkey_monkey

Don't see why you can't ask them the reasoning for them putting in the gate as they have no entitlements to the land.

If their response is not satisfactory you can then tell them that you have concerns about it and would prefer it to be closed off for security is your livestock and for future legal/access permission reasons.

I don't think that going in and doing anything of your own bat is going down the right road.

Base price

We had the same problem on the outfarm. A site had been sold years previously before OH inherited it. About 10 years ago the people who owned the site sold it and the new people got planning and built a house. The original fence was three strands of barbed wire and they replaced it with post and rail and a 12' timber gate onto our land. We noticed it one day when herding cattle. Instead of causing any arguments OH brought the 50B up with posts, a few telephone poles as strainers and barbed wire. We fenced our side with three strands of barbed wire and he made sure to place one of the strainers where their gate was located. Problem solved and it was never mentioned after.

whelan2

I mentioned it to Mary about the gate being left open, she said oh dad is a bit forgetful. He had been bedridden a while at this stage. So it wasn't him. It's one less worry not having to check it anymore

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104641#Comment_121104641

have never spoken to them

The house was build about 2005 they left it as a shell and went to america i bought here in 2009 and they moved back mid august

bogman_bass

I hate seeing these questions being asked online because the replies always seem to want to escalate these things to more than they are.

Just sticking an electric fence up without saying anything comes across very passive aggressive.

I always like to take the route of de-escalation.

if it was me I’d keep my powder dry. See if it’s getting used. You’ll see a path worn if it is. If so let a few cattle in. Leave them a day or two and then knock at the door. Say you noticed the cattle are scratching at the fence and you’re going to put up an electric fence to protect their nice fence.

Yes they were in the wrong but communities aren’t games. There is no prizes for “winning” in these situations and we all get defensive when we get accused of wrongdoing so if you can do it in a way that makes them feel like they are being helped rather than being accused it will have a better result long term.

HeidiHeidi

You're neighbours FFS.

You haven't met them yet, but you have to live next door to them for the foreseeable.

Why on earth wouldn't you open a dialogue with them about it, rather than all the passive aggressive stuff that will just more than likely get everyone off on the wrong foot and put backs up? Try as a first resort to establish a cordial relationship with them, like a reasonable grown-up.

Having a chat with them doesn't equate being a doormat, or being taken for a fool, or whatever you imagine it might look like.

They may just have no clue about farms and cattle and fences.

Equally, they may be absolute chancers or gougers, and if that turns out to be the case, then you can escalate to Defcon10 if you want.

But for the easiest possible life into the future, getting on with your neighbours is a key ingredient.

enricoh

I'd say nowt for now, any hint of grass clippings, prunings etc going through the gate n go with the electric fence.

Had a pr#ck of a neighbour used cross the road to dump his stuff at our ditch. After he peed us off one too many times had the council litter warden out n he shifted it.

DBK1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104850#Comment_121104850

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104902#Comment_121104902

I would agree completely about keeping good relationships with neighbours and that would be exactly the reason I would put up the electric fence.

Post and Rail fences aren’t cheap. If I went to the expense of putting one up and the farmer the other side of it didn’t put up a bit of electric fence to keep his cattle back from scratching it and damaging it I’d be rightly pissed off.

One home owner joining my land who I’d be very friendly with pulled down the sheep and barb wire fence that was in place for about 15 years around his site and put up a post and rail a few years back. He had no gates or access of any kind left to my field so there were no issues. Without talking to him about it first I put down stakes and electric fence outside it to keep my stock back. He came to me one day and told me there was no need as it should be his responsibility as he was the one that took down the existing stock proof fence but thanked me for doing it.

It didn’t cost me a huge amount, it gives me piece of mind for my stock and his fence is protected so everyone is happy. I’d view any farmer that wouldn’t do the same as downright ignorant to be honest.

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105120#Comment_121105120

on the old fence i had a separate electric fence up

Since i reseeded it in summer 2021 i have been only using it for hay and silage

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105353#Comment_121105353

No one has the right to put a gate into your land only yourself.

Would it lead to a right of way being claimed

lakill Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105442#Comment_121105442

there is no right of way in that field

Seth Brundle

What way does the gate open? Does it open out into your field or into their garden? If into your field then simply sink a post on your side of the gate meaning that the gate won't open.

mr.stonewall

Personal opinion is to put 2 or 3 strands of electric close to the post and rail ( 12 inches and a post in the middle of the gate. If the gate is in the corner a h frame from straining would render the gate useless. If questions are asked, play the line of you don't want cattle scratching of the post and rail.

Don't fall out if you can, but do it quick and if questions are asked as to why the gate is blocked. Very simple say the gate was going into private property leave it at that and move on

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105491#Comment_121105491

If someone was using that gate for twenty years, I wouldn't buy a field with a used gate coming on to it.

Putting a gate is claiming acccess to the field and if they're not made take it down........ you just wouldn't know

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104656#Comment_121104656

This.

Not to mention unnecessary cost to you having to put electric fencing if no cattle.

I would be warning them about coming into the field, dangers of slurry spread there as well as roaming cattle.

Maybe they are planning family picnics or days out in your field!

If they had even come and asked you... No. this is too cheeky.

In no circumstance is it ok for somebody to put a gate from their property on to privately owned land.

SuperTortoise

What business did they have putting in a gate?

Dumping grass clippings from the ride-on mover? retrieving footballs? What size gate is it?

Worst case senario it could open up right of way claims in the future, someone could get hurt if cattle are in field etc.

I would do option 3, put up an fence outside their fence and leave it be, if the topic comes up it's to insure cattle dont knock the new fence down with scratching, and see how you go, if there's any mention of entering your land for any reason then that's to be declined obviously, if they are reasonable type of people try and not argue over it within reason, good neighbours are hard to come by, if they turn out to be arkward about it then put up a permanent fence and be done with it.

CramCycle

Hear me out, this is wild, out there thinking for boards but....

...pop round and say, sorry to say but I can't leave a gate into my field, it's an insurance risk if your kids came in or my cattle got out. I realise your from America and might not have realised. If it's alright with you, cheapest option is just to put a few nails in it from my side but I can't allow unsupervised access , even if you're not planning on using it.

Most likely they didn't realise and thought nothing of it. To many who aren't farmers, a field is a field, probably thought the kids or the dogs could wander in. Now they now, job done.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105491#Comment_121105491

And none implied by virtue of having a gate. A gate is just a moveable part of a boundary, but it's part of the boundary. At least they have built a solid boundary at their own expense, though it would have been common courtesy to mention it. It's all a bit strange though, you're friendly with the father and his daughter and husband. But not with this other son of his and not really spoken to them since returning?? Guess there's a bit more to this?

Aravo

Option 3 if i were choosing. If I owned that house I could for arguments sake fence the whole way around with 50no. Gates, would be pointless but I could do it. In your scenario it could be for the grass clippings. Also, the width of that gate could grow over time. Wouldn't it be handy to gain access to empty the septic tank, gain access for doing bits and pieces once the tarmac goes in at the front. I would fence with post and sheep wire and electric fence wire and put post at gate. Let some farmer let in a few sheep for a few weeks if the rest of the fencing is good to put them off the scent. If not sheep wire go with H straining post setup at gate with your current wire setup. To do nothing would in my mind be approving what they have done. Best of luck. This thread could do with a poll.

mikewest

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121106720#Comment_121106720

Can't be having that kind of straight thinking on boards. Far too sensible and non escalatory but by far the best suggestion so far.

Silverdream

Are you sure they haven`t a right of way. Sounds to me like they have one established

Aravo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121106931#Comment_121106931

More like trespass to me. Apologising for having machine on land and then moving on. Very cheeky either way you look at it. This country needs an Irish Judge Judy or Judge Maureen, better ring to it. Could be a good earner for Rte, sold worldwide, solve their money worries in 12-18mths.

Robson99

If it was me I would put a fence inside the railing anyway to keep stock away from it. Go with barbed wire and sheep wire and make sure you have a straining post just inside the gate. They have no right what so evere to put a gate in it. Cheeky ...ts

cal naughton

A classic case of a man selling a field and still thinking he has rights to it.

Ask him what's the purpose of the gate and give him a gentle reminder that you bought the field off him all done with the right tone of voice should get ro the bottom of it.

Aravo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121107045#Comment_121107045

If going down this route, the first discussion should be with the owners of the house. It's their fence and gate.

cal naughton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121107082#Comment_121107082

The so called loveable rogue is calling the shots there.

Otherwise there would be no tiptoeing around the issue and you would be going straight to the house to find out what the craic is.

Aravo

Maybe go with option 1 first then option 3. Sometimes you have to clean up others mess.

I do agree with cal naughton "A classic case of a man selling a field and still thinking he has rights to it".

I would not entertain sure if an animal broke in, it would be easy to let them out this way.

pgj2015

They could claim squatters rights to the field in 12 years? Like Pat Kenny did with his elderly Neighbours.

Bass Reeves

Other options is to ask them an you put cheetah stand off on the posts and put your electric fence on to them. You can get them.in different sizes from 6-24'' AFAIK.

https://countryfarmsupplies.com/products/cheetah-stand-off-insulator-10-pcs-1?variant=43744136167663&currency=EUR&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=18198313897&utm_medium=cpc&ad_id=&ad_group_id=&campaign_id=18198313897&extensionid=&targetid=&targetid=&loc_interest_ms=&loc_physical_ms=20485&matchtype=&network=x&device=m&devicemodel=&utm_term=&placement=&adposition=&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=18198313897&gclid=CjwKCAjwu4WoBhBkEiwAojNdXltnN_EuNPH3sPrmNAwzwXuu3WyTRMg26hJgo15ehi9t7QChsHPRHhoCltEQAvD_BwE

On the gate I to the field it would really depend on the neighbours. If it's to collect a football that is kicked into the field I Bea bit easy on it. Where the problem is maybe 10 years or further down the line if the house is sold what rights are attached to it.

Finally there is the issue if they were walking greyhounds through your land. However it takes 20++ years to establish any sort of ROW.