Homeowner demands their neighbor’s new fence be moved after she installs it several feet into homeowner’s property: ‘[She] asked if I would be willing to just live with it due to the expense’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Oct 13, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Friendly neighbors are great until someone decides to build a surprise fence and suddenly everyone cares way too much about where the sewer grate sits. It's all peace and waves on the driveway, right up until a few feet of hillside turn into prime real estate for new boundary disputes. The problem starts simple: one person wants privacy, the other wants their expensive dirt back. Before you know it, homeowners are researching surveys and calling lawyers just to find out who actually owns the inch between the yard flamingos.

Property lines in suburbia are basically an ongoing contest in stubbornness. Fences go up and suddenly inches matter more than friendships. Nobody wants to donate land, especially when every square foot could buy a new car. People act shocked that you don't want to let it slide, like it's a minor issue lost in a million-dollar landscape.

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  • AITA for telling my neighor if her new fence is on my property I’m going to ask she moves it.

    Cheezburger Image 10563636480
    via ER_09

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

  • Once boundaries get blurry, everyone finds an excuse: time moved fast, the contractor got creative, or the fence is helping fight off imaginary high school invaders. Real estate and pride blend together, turning neighborly chats into legendary passive-aggressive standoffs. Owning a home teaches you patience and reminds you that peace is great but a clear survey is even better. Around here, sometimes keeping things friendly means drawing lines with actual measurements, not just polite smiles.

  • I have historically had a good relationship with my elderly neighbor. We have always been nothing but friendly with each other.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • We own hillside homes in Southern California. Each worth about 1 Million in today's market. Last week she told me she was going to fence her yard because she doesn't like the high school kids down the street trespassing.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • I told "go for it", all I ask is keep it on your property. This week the fence was completed.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • She flagged me down in my driveway today and asked me what I thought of her new fence.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • I was honest with my concerns and let her know the contractor installed the fence several feet to the south of the sewer grates which I believe is several feet on my property.
    via Particular-Diver8913
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    via BearFotos

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

  • Per my title records we split the easement so I thought it should be placed on the north side of the sewer grate on her side.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • (Fence was installed in one day and all took place while I was at work, had no time to pause it while they were building or I would have said something).
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • She kind of shrugged it off and told me she doesn't think it's placed wrong. I told her due to the expense of land in our area I would be scheduling to have a survey done to confirm the fence is property placed.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • I informed her if it was off by inches it wouldn't be a problem but if it's discovered it's several feet on my property I would ask it be moved.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • She seemed kinda surprised and irritated that I would request the fence be moved asking if I would be willing to just live with it due to the expense.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • I informed her due to the small yard and expense of land in our area | don't think that's something I would be okay with.
    via Particular-Diver8913
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I kindly informed her I think she should have had a survey done prior to fence placement if this was something she was concerned about.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • I don't think I should donate land I pay for because of her error. TLDR: Neighbors new fence appears to be on my property.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • I'm getting a survey to confirm. Neighbor is upset I'm getting survey and says even if her fence is on my land she asks I don't make her move it.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • UPDATE: Wow. I did not anticipate this one would be of any interest. Yesterday I was in contact with several survey companies.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • Some have sent estimates, some said they will have one sent by Monday next week. From the two I've gotten thus far I'm looking at about 4-5K.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • Spoke to a real estate attorney who made me feel better about the situation. He advised he has seen this many times and it's a very straight forward case especially when fresh.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • In a nutshell if survey confirms it's on my property at all then I notify neighbor it needs to move.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • He said in his experience it rarely has to see a courtroom. He additionally added it should be a red flag that I don't see any underground utilities marked prior to work starting.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • Especially because it's on a sewer easement. He added in my city the manhole shouldn't be fenced into her yard in the event it needs servicing.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • With the new fence it's now enclosed in her yard. I will update when survey is done.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • Some companies are booked until January...
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • Burlingham Bob You are NTA because it is your property but this would have been a good day to have taken off to make sure that the fence was installed on her property. It's cheaper than the survey that you will pay for now.
    via BurlinghamBob
  • OP Particular-Diver8913 Trust me I wish I had. She said she estimated it would be 3 weeks until the install. It was 4 days....
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • Positive Atmosphere13 What was there before? How was the placement of the new fence determined? Did someone just say this looks good. We'll put it here.
    via PositiveAtmosphere13
  • OP Particular-Diver8913 No prior placement. Our yard just connected. Sounds like that's exactly what she did. Not sure how that spot was picked. It's out of the tree line so I kinda assumed it was picked because it was easy for the installer. Didn't require any landscaping if they put it there.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • authorinthesunset Umm, I'd send the invoice for the survey her way. I'd also have a talk with whoever put it up about working without a survey? Do you live in a community that doesn't require permits for this kind of work.
    via authorinthesunset
  • OP Particular-Diver8913 Her handyman installed it so I assume no permits were pulled. But I really don't want to go down that road. I don't mind her having a fence and I don't want I be too difficult... I just don't want it on my land.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • bippityboppitynope NTA. How did she get it installed without the survey? We needed a curvery to even add to our driveway with a licensed contractor.
    via bippityboppitynope
  • OP Particular-Diver8913 She told me her "handyman" did it.
    via Particular-Diver8913
  • NTA Spare-Shirt24 Getting a survey should have been part of her due diligence before she got the fence installed.
    via Spare-Shirt24
  • Mathamagician77 NTA, this is a common tactic to "gain" more real estate by neighbors. Get that survey.
    via Mathamagician77
  • NTA. Discount_Mithral If it is indeed several feet over the line, that needs to be moved ASAP. Heck, even more than 6" and I'd say move it. Land/Property taxes keep going up, you're paying for land you can't access if her fence is in the wrong spot. End of story. Do not let her keep your property that YOU have to pay taxes on.
    via Discount_Mithral
  • TrainingDearest NTA Get the survey - which is what she should've done in the first place. I have to wonder if she even got a permit for it, because in my area that's a requirement for a 'new' fence along with submitting line drawings to show that it will be built on the correct property. Having her fence on your property is a big problem - especially if you ever want to sell your property - potential buyers will not want to inherit that fight.
    via TrainingDearest
  • NTA Used_Mark_7911 I'm surprised she found a fence company willing to do it without a proper survey. Our town would also require a permit.
    via Used_Mark_7911
  • spambreath Wow, imagine taking your neighbors land and expecting them to be okay with it. She was hoping you wouldn't mind her land grab and do anything about it. Survey and making her move it is way to go.
    via spambreath

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