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[ashbey15]

When I had my fence installed, I had it placed 4 inches within my property line. The house next door is a rental and the landlord put up a privacy fence and hooked onto mine. Shouldn't he have to pay for 1/2 of the cost of the side of the fence adjoining his yard?
How do I accomplish this? What does the law say?

[lamarr3]

I am unsure of the cost implications of attaching it to your fence, however, the fact that you did set your fence 4 in's back from your property line means that 4 inches of his fence and property is actually yours.
You are in your legal right to have him take it down and re-build it along their property line.

[bercnan72]

If you put in 4 inches onto your property then it is all yours. He does not have to pay you a dime.

However, if he put in another fence and came 4 inches onto your property to tie into your fence, then he as trespassed onto your property that 4 inches. You can demand that he disconnect his fence and leave a gap between his fence and yours.

But before you do that, write a letter to the OWNER of the property and ask him if he gave permission for the renter to put up a fence. He may just solve the whole problem for you and you will not have to do a thing about it.

[lundie]

A lot of neighbors will pay half and half just because a fence benefits both, but I doubt there is anything in the law or your city ordinance that says it has to be split that way. While the fact they hooked into your fence, four inches onto your property could be an issue, it's only an issue if you make it one. And really, is four inches and an attachment on your fence something you want to get into what is essentially a pissing contest, over? The law may very well be on your side, but you have to ask yourself if the hassle would be worth alienating your neighbors over.

I personally wouldn't think it would be.

[ealahweemah72]

You could inform your neighbor that his fence is encroaching on your property. Although I myself would think that a neighbor who was bitching about something like that would be just being a jerk, there are some legal concerns with the fence being attached to yours. If his fence blew over and took part of your fence with it and it damaged somebody else's property, you could be held partially liable. Tell him its a rule of your insurance company....Plus, if his or your fence blows down, it will surely take the other fence with it. Tell him you don't mind his fence being four inches on your property (hint, hint....maybe he didn't know?) but ask him not to anchor it to your existing fence.

They say that "good fences make good neighbors" but just be prepared for things to get pissy between you after this....

[arber47]

id let him know you are unhappy he did this without your permission and would like if he spoke with you in the future about things of this manner. id tell him he needs to sign a notarized contract offering to pay for part of the repairs if the fence was ever damaged or what not. if you tell him to unhook it and hes got a sense of humor like me, id be prepared for a 10ft chainlink privacy fence :) id do it just to piss you off. then id throw reindeer and santa up there year round and claim right to freedom of religion if you made a complaint to have it taken down. see its not really that big of a deal when you think about it.

[ashbey15]

For being 4 inches onto property which you were not using anyways? I don't know what the law would say, but I think that since you had no prior agreement with the property owner about the cost of the fence or what sort of fence I don't think he should have to pay for half of it. The removal of his attachment may cause more damage then good with regards to your own fence and your relations with that neighbor.

[vaiveatoish]

For being 4 inches onto property which you were not using anyways? I don't know what the law would say, but I think that since you had no prior agreement with the property owner about the cost of the fence or what sort of fence I don't think he should have to pay for half of it. The removal of his attachment may cause more damage then good with regards to your own fence and your relations with that neighbor.

First, he should have asked your permission. What happens if you take down your fence? Will his collapse? Bad planning on his part.

Second, you'd have to contact your city planners or other appropriate agency for the laws. The only specific fencing laws I found for Missouri were about fences and livestock.

Third, IMO I don't think he should pay for half the fence, but I do think financial remuneration of some sort would be in order.

[muata2]

If there is absolutely no question about the property line and you can prove it... you can do whatever you want to that which is on your property. I would notify the landlord that there's a problem and if an attitude arrises... kick, chop, hammer away. Just make sure you don't damage that which isn't on your property. It's yours, defend it.

[syvwkh]

Send him a letter by certified mail demanding that he remove any fence from your property or it could be deemed later that he owns the 4 inches of your property by adverse possession. He is trespassing and you could sue him to remove the fence if he refuses to do so.