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Our home was built in 2005. The previous owner didn't do much to the home, we think it was their intention to flip it. We moved into the home March, 2007. Since we moved in, we've seen the neighbour a couple times and said "hi" but have never exchanged introductions or said anything beyond "Hello".
This weekend, my boyfriend was doing some work in the garage and the neighbour approached him, introduced himself and said that he had the bill for the fence that we share and would like to discuss the payment we owe him. Since we were also on our way out my boyfriend said that we would discuss the matter another time. He wants to tell this neighbour (politely) that because we were not owners of the home when the fence was built and were not involved in any agreements, he has no obligation to pay.
I don't want to make bad relations, this is our first home and we have absolutely no intentions of moving.
Are we obligated to pay for the fence? Any Canadian law that would make us liable?

2007-06-18 03:30:03 · 13 answers · asked by anjali 3 in Home & Garden Other - Home & Garden

13 answers

You`re under no obligation to pay for 1/2 the fence unless you agreed to do so , which you obviously didn`t . You could agree to pay for 1/2 , but since the fence was built before you even bought the house , you don`t have even a moral obligation to pay him , much less legal .

I had a neighbour like that years ago , and he was nothing but trouble ! Always complaining about the odd weed on my lawn , trees not pruned to his liking , dog barking at him , etc etc etc . I had to finally tell him to leave me the **** alone in no uncertain terms . He never bothered me after that .

If you DO pay him 1/2 , it`ll give him the impression he can run your lives from that point on . I wouldn`t spend money on a lawyer just yet . Let him make the first move and spend HIS money on a lawyer , who`ll tell him he can`t do anything .

Be smart ........... don`t let your interaction with this neighbour go beyond the "hello" point !

2007-06-18 03:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

You have no obligation to pay for the fence. Politely inform your neighbor that you paid for the fence when you bought the property. The neighbor should go to the previous owner to get any money owed. For all you know, the previous owner paid half of the fence already.

2007-06-18 03:41:31 · answer #2 · answered by SA Writer 6 · 0 0

Being polite is a good thing to do. I would "politely" tell him that since you were not involved in the negotiations of fixing/building the fence, that you cannot see why you should share the cost. If he had a "deal" with the previous owner, thats who he should be talking to.

2007-06-18 04:33:50 · answer #3 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0 0

You have already paid for this improvement when you bought the house. No, you are not under obligation to pay, you did not make the improvement, it was already in place.

You've got a jerk for a neighbor, beware. If you have an attorney, you might have a polite letter written explaining the law to this guy. It would be worth the money and would also set a precident you wil not stand for his BS.

2007-06-18 03:36:19 · answer #4 · answered by fluffernut 7 · 0 0

I'm not a lawyer but I very much doubt that any agreement made by a prior owner is enforceable against a new owner.
Tell your neighbor that you were unaware of any such agreement and are not responsible. Then tell him how to reach the previous owner if you have that information.

2007-06-18 07:08:23 · answer #5 · answered by fmckin1 4 · 0 0

If the fence was built before your acquisition, it would seem that the previous owner is the one your neighbor should be working with.

I agree with your bf.

And some neighbors work you very hard to keep relations good. Sometimes you need to put your foot down to keep them from pushing and taking another mile.

Polite is good, firm is better. :)

Good luck!

2007-06-18 03:40:03 · answer #6 · answered by eldeslauriers 2 · 0 0

Sure your the home owner...In California a new fence generally runs 34.00 per foot. That includes everything. No matter what the other owner had done.Your the owner and he replaced the fence..You dont have to help although its easier just to split the cost.

2007-06-18 03:48:28 · answer #7 · answered by tonez61 3 · 0 1

I live in the US, so I don't know Canadian law, but I would assume that since you had no agreement with the fence-builder, you have no obligation to pay him anything.

2007-06-18 03:36:42 · answer #8 · answered by dokon@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0 0

I do not know canadian law, but I would tell the guy as nice as you can, since you did not own the house b4 he made the improvments you are not responisble for any repairs made.
But in the future you would if any such repair should arise you would be happy to share.

2007-06-18 03:36:33 · answer #9 · answered by Rumisha R 3 · 0 0

He probably already knows that you really don't have any obligation to pay for part of it. He's probably hoping you'll fall for it and fork over some money. Use common sense when you talk to him about it and he'll probably back down but certainly stand your ground.

2007-06-18 03:59:24 · answer #10 · answered by Michael C 3 · 0 0

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