They bought a new house, but their neighbors demanded money for a fence built before they moved in and refused to show the bill
A couple purchased a newly constructed home with no fence around the backyard. Their neighbors had installed one months before the house was finished. When the couple decided to enclose their yard, the neighbors demanded payment for the section separating the two properties.
The neighbors wanted half the cost based on a new contractor quote, not what they had paid. Fencing materials had increased in price, and when the couple requested the original quote, the neighbors refused to provide it. A dispute over the bill soon raised another question about where the fence stood.
The HOA required them to share the existing fence
In a Reddit post on r/AITAH, user u/spoopycow explained that she and her husband bought their house from the builder after the neighboring fence had been installed.
Their homeowners association prohibited a second fence running parallel to the existing one, requiring the couple to use the section separating the backyards.
The couple had not chosen the contractor, materials, or design, but the neighbors expected them to contribute toward the installation.
The neighbors wanted half the cost at today’s prices
The homeowners were prepared to pay part of the expense because they intended to live there for more than 15 years and wanted to avoid conflict.
They contacted the fencing company, confirmed that material prices had increased, and proposed calculating their share using the original price per linear foot.
The neighbors refused to disclose their quote and insisted on a new estimate.
The homeowner said she checked county and state laws and found no obligation to reimburse them. She did not identify her location, leaving the applicable legal requirements unverified.
The fence was six inches inside the neighbors’ property
In an update, the homeowner revealed that the fence stood at least six inches inside the neighbors’ property rather than on the boundary line.
The fence’s location matters when determining ownership and responsibility for costs. According to FindLaw’s guide to fencing on property lines, a fence built within one property is generally owned by that landowner, while fences on shared boundaries may involve both neighbors. State laws, local ordinances, and HOA rules can affect those responsibilities.
The homeowner also confirmed that the builder still owned their lot when the fence was installed, meaning the couple had purchased the house after the work was complete.
Reddit commenters questioned the payment demand. Some argued that the neighbors should have waited for the new owners before discussing shared costs, while others recommended checking the property survey and HOA rules.
The homeowner announced her decision:
“With all of that said, we will not be paying our neighbors.”
She contacted the HOA to explore other fencing options, but no further resolution was reported.
Property disputes have caused other neighborhood conflicts. In one case involving an $8,000 tree removal bill, a homeowner refused to contribute toward removing two spruce trees before a disagreement over access to the neighboring yard changed the situation.
Another dispute began when a family cut down their own shade tree, then started parking beneath the tree outside their neighbor’s house once summer arrived, leading to an exchange of notes over the parking space.
Would you pay for a fence installed before you purchased your home, or refuse without seeing the original bill?
Story credit: Reddit user u/spoopycow, who shared the experience in r/AITAH.