- Jurisdiction
- Washington
My neighbors put a (wood and wire) fence up to keep their kids from falling off the steep slope in their back yard. It forms a T with the property line in my back yard and extends approximately 1-2 feet over the property line to meet with the cement wall in our back yard. (See attached photo with black line approximating property line. The property line extends along the small rock wall and heads down the slope to the street below where there is a marker) I am very friendly with these neighbors and didn't think much about this at first. A friend noticed the fence and said it was a problem to leave it there for 2 reasons. 1) They could eventually claim rights to that 1-2 feet of property 2) Since I am planning to sell my house soon, it could be a problem to potential buyers and interfere/impede with the sale of the house. In addition these neighbors told me of a plan to plant a hedge on my side of the property line. (Just to the right of the stone wall. At first I thought this was nice of them, but my friend also said that I should not allow this as it could eventually result in their having a right to claim the property. I did talk to the neighbor and he said he did not get the property surveyed prior to putting in the fence. He asked me what I wanted him to do, pointing out that if he moved the fence to his side of the property, there would then be a gap putting his children at risk for injury. I certainly do not want anything to happing to the children. He offered end the fence on his property and to add another piece of fence on my side of the property to fill the gap. My concern is that creates the same issue as the existing fence as it is a fence he is putting up. What should I do? 1) Ask him to get a survey and run the fence along the property line enclosing his back yard? 2) Allow the fence to stay as is? 3) Add my own piece of fence on my side of property to meet his fence and protect his children? Also is it ok to allow him to plant a hedge on my side of the property? I want to keep things friendly but do not want to be stupid.