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    New neighbor demands resident replace their 2-year-old fence because it doesn't match his deck, resident refuses: ‘I cannot afford to replace a new fence’

    Apparently, neighbors must now "match each other's style" in order to live peacefully next to each other. 

    The new neighbor in the story below really wants the fence between his house and the resident's next door to match the rest of the style around his home. Despite there already being a fence in place between the two houses, one that was built only two years ago, this new neighbor thought it was appropriate to demand its replacement with something that would match his own fence better.

    The resident who built this fence wants to have a good relationship with their neighbors, and they want to avoid any possible strains, but paying for a brand new fence when there is nothing wrong with the current one is not something they can afford. So even if they wanted to make their new neighbor happy, they are not going to pay $1500 to make it happen.

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    • Woman quarreling with male neighbor
      via JackF

      Woman quarreling with male neighbor.

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    • AITA for telling my new neighbour I can’t afford to replace a 2-year-old fence because he doesn’t like the colour/style and a new one would be better for the deck he is planning to build?

      The existing fence is 6' tall, just a basic picket fence that was built 2 years ago.
      via Chemical_Steak_2612
    • The new neighbour's other fences are the fortress style, and he wants it to look like his others.
      via Chemical_Steak_2612
    • Plus, he doesn't like the paint the previous owner painted it on his side. Also, his existing deck bu s up against the fence, and his builder recommends replacing the fence to better fit the new deck he is building.
      via Chemical_Steak_2612
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    • He has asked me for $1500 to contribute to a new fence. I'm planning to tell him I cannot afford to replace a basically new fence since I have 2 other sections that are old and in need of replacement.
      via Chemical_Steak_2612
    • I am also thinking of offering to have my builder review his quotes to see if any money could be saved for him, and that I could contribute some time to building the pickets of the fence with him if he pays for the posts and framing and lumber.
      via Chemical_Steak_2612
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    • I am not sure if this would bite me in the a\\ but I wanted to offer something.
      via Chemical_Steak_2612
    • I have good relationships with my neighbours and would like to keep it that way, but I don't think it is fair of him to ask for money to replace a perfectly fine fence because he doesn't like it and it's in the way of another of his projects.
      via Chemical_Steak_2612
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    • AITA?
      via Chemical_Steak_2612

    • When a new neighbor moves in, usually they are the ones who want to accomodate the residents around them. Being the new guy is never easy, and making demands as soon as you move in is not really the way to warm the hearts of those around you.

      The neighbor in this story is not bothered by that, though, as he has no problem asking someone he barely knows for $1500 to pay for a new fence.

      What would you have done in this situation? Would you have agreed to the demands, or would you have confronted the entitled new neighbor and risked a good neighborly relationship with them?

    • A dog sitting on a sidewalk with a white picket fence behind
      via Brad Switzer

      A dog sitting on a sidewalk with a white picket fence behind

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • KrofftSurvivor NTA "his existing deck butts up against the fence, and his builder recommends replacing the fence to better fit the new deck he is building" This means the new, fortress style fence will be farther onto your property to fit his new deck. Tell him you're not interested in paying fir a new fence, and add that he can replace it himself IF he gets a survey. Because this is sus as heck...
      via KrofftSurvivor
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    • Boo-Bo097 NTA, but you really need to get a land survey done to see where the property line is because it sounds like the neighbor may be trying to move the fence to accommodate his new deck. I'd also check with city ordanances and find out if there are restrictions on how close to the property line he can build the deck, particularly if its attached to his house.
      via Boo-Boo97
    • mm1palmer I am surprised that building codes allow his deck to abut the fence since that would mean that his deck is right on the property line with zero setback.
      via mm1palmer
    • overwatchsquirrel NTA - Your neighbor is building a deck that abuts the fence/property line, is that even legal in your municipality? Has the neighbor pulled the appropriate permits?
      via overwatchsquirrel
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    • SeatSix NTA He is free to install the fence he wants on his property
      via SeatSix
    • opine704 Look - quit explaining. Tell him it sounds like a great plan and you don't have a problem if HE wants to replace the section. But you will not be contributing financially - you simply don't have the funds. And if he DOES choose to replace that section it needs to stay in the same footprint (no further into your yard). Frankly you might want to text him this info so there's a written record that you gave him permission to replace the fence section on his dime. Move on about your day. NTA
      via opine704
    • CatsMom4Ever NTA, if he wants to put up his preferred style of fence along his side on his property, fine. But that comes out of his pocket and his pocket alone. "I'm sorry you don't like the look, but it's a perfectly good fence and I have other priorities on my money. You're free to put up a fence of your choice so you don't have to look at it, though. But I'm not going to contribute."
      via CatsMom4Ever
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    • Number-2-Sis NTA, but don't tell him you can't afford it. Your finances are none of their business. Tell them simply, it's a new fence. If you don't like the aesthetics, he can build his own fence in his property and leave your fence alone. It is not your responsibility to finance his "vision II
      via Number-2-Sis
    • _xnightwish NTA. A two year old fence that works fine is not your problem to fund because it clashes with his aesthetic. Your offer to help with labor is already more than generous.
      via _xnightwish
    • Renbarre He is asking you to pay for the aesthetic look of his future deck and you hesitate to say no?
      via Renbarre

    • Time to move on and hope the new neighbor accept the situation as it is…

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    neighbors house neighborhood fence yard neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories petty entitled entitled people
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