Hi. New to home ownership and our neighbour wants to replace an old but functional existing fence. He wants colorbond to match the rest of his fence and we want timber to match ours (existing one is timber) Obviously there is a large price difference and he expects us to go halves in the colorbond one he wants because he is driving the desire to replace it. He is an older man with loads of money to burn and we are a young family with little excess cash. Any ideas to compromise - he is an arrogant stubborn man
Can't Agree on Fence Type
hezmac on 22/10/2014 - 11:07
Comments
And you're only required to pitch in half if the existing fence is dangerous or no longer functional.
and if you do decide to pay for a fence, make sure you get a independent quote for the same fence.
Ask him to go 75 (his share) - 25 (your share) if he wants to go colorbond and give him the reason that it won't match your existing fence so you do not want to share. But if he insists, you are happy to pay the 25%.
Also tell him that you will pay 50 - 50 if he goes with the timber fence. I am assuming here that you are happy with the timber fence being replaced.
Great find there moola. Basically hezmac you're looking for this, quoted from that link "…adjoining owners are to contribute equally to the fencing work for a dividing fence of a sufficient standard. If an owner wishes to have a fence of a higher standard, that owner is liable for the extra cost above the sufficient standard."
The link is from NSW but a similar standard applies in WA. A reasonable fence in the circumstances would probably be what is the predominant style in the neighbourhood you are in.
Not sure where the OP is based.
If you click on an OzBargainer's username, you can see their location if they have filled in their profile; OP is in Sydney.
Hmmm, curious to see how this turns out. I always thought if its originally a timber fence, owners are obliged to replace with the same type of fence.
I also thought timber fences cost more than Colorbond.
usually, depends if they can use the existing structures (like if posts are already there)
both have advantages and disadvantages
do you have young kids?
tell him that with colourbond, you kids will no stop kick soccer balls and tennis balls at it, driving him nuts!we had ours recently changed
and ours is a mix, while timber is nice, unless u overlap them, they will have gaps, and one will always get the dud side(unless u place double)
then they wear and need to get replaced!
If the existing fence is functional and in good condition there is nothing he can do.
Under most laws that is all that is required. Check with your local council.If he has a lot of money and you agree to it then he can replace all your fencing to match the type he wants.
yeah we replaced our fence (had three parties involved, sub divided land) one party didn't pay up, so the other guy had to cover his share as he wanted it changed
why can't he just attach colorbond to his side of the existing fence. Problem solved :)
OP, I'd suggest taking several photos of the fence in question. Ensure the date is correct on them.
Reason being, if the fence is in decent condition, your negotiating position is stronger. If this character decides to sabotage the fence by damaging it to force your hand, you have evidence that it was okay.
So take some pics. Can't hurt.
If the whole neighbourhood has colorbond fence and you're the only one with timber - then he has a case in forcing you to go halvies in the fence he desires. But if the existing fence is only timber…then he can only ask you to go halvies in replacing that fence with essentially the same thing in the same material to the same height. Just cry poor but get your own quotes. I just had a fence replaced which was quoted around $1200 for 15m of fence ($600 each). The neighbour wanted higher fence as did I, so we split that evenly. neighbor wanted thicker plinth board as did I so we agreed to split the extra cost (but he was happy to cover the extra cost if I didn't want it) and then I paid 100% of the extra capping piece across the top to make it look nicer for me and make the fence last longer as the neighbor wasn't interested in that detail.
Thanks everyone for the input. The quote he presented me with was $4000 for 35m of fencing so I am just in the process of getting another one for myself (he doesn't understand why coz 'I won't do better than who he's already found' )
Also, the current fence only runs halfway (essentially the backyard portion) and now he wants to fence all the way to the front (between his garage and our carport - where no one walks/goes and so really doesn't require it)
I have also taken photos, thanks for that suggestionHe's probably got you on the front section, but if what is already there is in good condition, you really only technically have to pay your share of the extension.
As far as cost goes, my understanding is that you are only required to pay half the cost of the most basic fence. If he wants to get a higher cost fence, he needs to pay both shares of the additional difference.
Convincing him to get a cheap wooden fence to match your existing fence might be more tricky. However, if you can get a better quality Colourbond fence with him covering most of the cost might not be such a bad idea to let him.