I’m fuming at my neighbour’s ‘moronic’ fence update after building an outhouse, it’s invaded my privacy & looks ugly too
A HOMEOWNER was left baffled by the update his neighbour made to the fence between their properties.
He shared his confusion over the “ugly” upgrade, and revealed why it may become even more of an issue in the future.
In a viral post, the Reddit user shared a photograph of his updated privacy fence.
The poster explained that his family had only moved onto the property a year ago and hadn’t had any issues with their neighbours.
He added that they “don’t seem like bad people” and even said he planned to discuss the spontaneous DIY with them.
The Reddit user shared a picture of this upgrade, which showed a mismatched trellis replace the top part of his privacy fence at the bottom of his garden.
“So I came home from work today and this is how the fence looks,” he explained.
“[My] neighbour has had a building built at the bottom of the garden and a window on the building just the other side of that fence.
“I understand it’s to allow light to pass through the window but it looks s**te, why should my privacy be invaded for their benefit?”
The poster guessed that the new build was an outhouse and the window was to allow natural light into the space.
However, he pointed out how his neighbours hadn’t even done him the “courtesy of painting it or cutting it level with the rest of the fence.”
While he called it “a bit odd” to place a window on that side, the Reddit user revealed the main problem he had with the DIY.
He explained that he was “p**sed off they didn’t ask for permission” to enter his garden.
The homeowner went on to say that he hadn’t even met his neighbours before but would’ve happily come to a “neutral resolution” had they spoken to him beforehand.
Instead, he came home from work to find three workers in his garden.
“I’m not the type of person who wants to deal with years of s**t with a neighbour over something that was probably not intended maliciously,” he said.
However, he added that “they have just over looked how we would feel.”
How to create privacy in your garden
CREATING privacy in your garden can be achieved in a number of ways depending on your budget, and the size of your space. Here are some effective ways to enhance privacy in your garden:
1. Fencing
- Install a tall, solid wooden or vinyl fence. This is one of the most straightforward ways to gain immediate privacy. Or use lattice panels, trellis, or slatted fencing to add a decorative touch while still offering privacy.
2. Hedges and Plants
- Fast-growing evergreen shrubs or trees like Leylandii, Thuja, or Bamboo along the boundary of your garden can help with privacy. Grow a dense hedge using plants like Boxwood, Privet, or Laurel. It may take time to grow, but it provides a natural and green privacy screen. Use climbers like Ivy, Clematis, or Wisteria on fences or trellises to create a lush, green privacy barrier.
3. Outdoor Curtains
- Hang outdoor curtains around pergolas, gazebos, or patios for an easy-to-adjust privacy solution.
4. Sound Barriers
- A water fountain or small waterfall can help drown out noise, adding to the sense of privacy. Or install fencing designed to reduce noise if privacy from sound is also a concern.
The homeowner also revealed that he had been planning to place a shed in that corner of his garden as it gets the least amount of sunlight.
He suggested to his fellow Reddit users about maybe adding foliage to the trellis to cover up the “poor look.”
But if the “fair approach” failed, he said: “The gloves are off, I’ll just have a whole new fence starting from my house to the bottom of the garden to avoid any further altercation.”
Reddit users shared their thoughts on the situation in the comments section.
“That is certainly one of the most moronic things I’ve ever seen,” agreed one reader.
“They’ve just basically made a window into your garden. Not cool,” wrote another commenter.
“They should have at least had a conversation about their intentions first.”
“Yeah that’s a p**s take, the fact that they didn’t even ask about it is even worse. I’d slap a shed there to cover it up,” commented a third person.
“Even better, stick an outhouse there, what are they going to do, complain that you did the exact same thing they did?”