07/24/2026
Need some advice because this situation with our neighbour is getting a bit ridiculous, and we honestly don’t know what to do next.
A few months ago, we agreed with our neighbour to replace the old boundary fence because it was falling apart and leaning badly. We had several conversations about sharing the cost, and everything seemed fine while the new fence was being installed.
Now that it’s finished, he’s suddenly saying he never officially agreed to pay anything and refuses to contribute.
What makes things even more frustrating is that he has now attached a large awning directly to the new fence without asking us. As you can see in the photo, it’s been drilled into several sections, and we’re already noticing stress, cracking, and movement in parts of the fence.
Since the fence sits right on the boundary, we’re not sure where we stand. We paid for the replacement expecting the cost to be shared, and now it feels like we’re also being left to deal with damage caused by something attached to it.
We’ve kept photos, messages, and records of our conversations, just in case we need them later. We really don’t want this to turn into a huge neighbour dispute, but we’re getting to the point where we need to understand our options.
For anyone who has dealt with something similar:
Can a verbal agreement to split the fence cost still be enforced?
Can a neighbour attach something this substantial to a shared boundary fence without permission?
If the fence is damaged as a result, who would normally be responsible for the repairs?
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through a similar fencing or property-line dispute. What did you do, and how did it turn out?