Fence issue

[mattg79]

I am a resident of Tennessee and my neighbor asked me twice about fencing and I told him that I don't plan to have fence in future. He came to me third time but then out of courtesy, I told him to give me a quote about how much it will cost me. But then next thing I saw was he started installing the fence and after it was installed he told me that my share in dollars. I was shocked and told him that I need time to think. After thinking about it, I told him that I won't be able to share as I don't want to pay for something that I don't plan to have in future.

He then messaged me on LinkedIn and said that I cannot back out from my commitment. I replied and mentioned that I never made a commitment about it. Then he told me that he will go to the court but just to keep things to peace, I offered him half money to stay out of court as I don't have time but he mentioned he wants full money and again mentioned that he will take me to the court. I told him to send me the vendor invoice and once I validate things, I will pay him but he sent me a personal invoice which just says how much I owe him. When I asked him about the vendor invoice, he told me to confirm the amount from 'his' neighbor and then he got rude and said that he won't send anything to me.
I told him to feel free to go to the court if you cannot give me an invoice/quote and then he replied that he gives me 30 days to pay for the amount and if I don't then he will take me to the court and he will hurt my credit. He also mentioned that he will send me each and every invoice going forward for the fence as I would need to share it as per Tennessee law.

I want to know if he files a case then what can go against me? And am I obliged to pay anything for the fence or the maintenance? I am a first time homeowner and I feel he is taking advantage of that.

 

[FarmerJ]

Before you do much more with someone who appears to be a bully arrange for a boundary survey so you can learn exactly where the lot line is in relationship to this fence and then once you have that done keep in mind when he sues you it really isn't going to harm your credit unless he can show the court there was a agreement when he installed a fence that hopefully is on his side of the lot line I suggest he has a uphill battle to prove any claim that you agreed at first. AM I telling you to deny that you made a offer to him NO but it would be worth it for you to know for sure that he didn't put the fence well into your property line in order to take land from you.

 

[mattg79]

Before you do much more with someone who appears to be a bully arrange for a boundary survey so you can learn exactly where the lot line is in relationship to this fence and then once you have that done keep in mind when he sues you it really isn't going to harm your credit unless he can show the court there was a agreement when he installed a fence that hopefully is on his side of the lot line I suggest he has a uphill battle to prove any claim that you agreed at first. AM I telling you to deny that you made a offer to him NO but it would be worth it for you to know for sure that he didn't put the fence well into your property line in order to take land from you.

Thank you FarmerJ for your reply. Sorry, I may ask a very basic question but do you know who can I get the boundary survey done through and how much it costs? Is it through the county I live in?
Also, what if the fence is on shared boundary line? Am I obliged to share cost for it and the maintenance even though I never wanted a fence and neither I provided an approval to my neighbor for it.
I have decided to not to reply to any of this messages from now on. Will that be a good idea? I am just worried that he does not find a different meaning which can go against me.

Thank you in advance.

 

[LdiJ]

Thank you FarmerJ for your reply. Sorry, I may ask a very basic question but do you know who can I get the boundary survey done through and how much it costs? Is it through the county I live in?
Also, what if the fence is on shared boundary line? Am I obliged to share cost for it and the maintenance even though I never wanted a fence and neither I provided an approval to my neighbor for it.
I have decided to not to reply to any of this messages from now on. Will that be a good idea? I am just worried that he does not find a different meaning which can go against me.

Thank you in advance.

You are NOT obligated to pay for a fence that you never agreed to in the first place. Surveys are independent of county government. Google surveyors in your area.

 

[mattg79]

Thanks LdiJ for your reply. I will check for surveyors.
Also, what should I do if he starts sending my invoices for repair or any other maintenance of fence? Shall I just sit back quietly and not reply to that?

Appreciate you guys to go through my messages and replying.

 

[LdiJ]

Thanks LdiJ for your reply. I will check for surveyors.
Also, what should I do if he starts sending my invoices for repair or any other maintenance of fence? Shall I just sit back quietly and not reply to that?

Appreciate you guys to go through my messages and replying.

Well, odds are there won't be any invoices for repair or maintenance for a few years, and hopefully you will have resolved the issue before then. However if there are any invoices for repair or maintenance this soon, then yes, you should sit back quietly and not reply.

 

[mattg79]

Well, odds are there won't be any invoices for repair or maintenance for a few years, and hopefully you will have resolved the issue before then. However if there are any invoices for repair or maintenance this soon, then yes, you should sit back quietly and not reply.

Well yes, ideally there should not be any repairs but he mentioned that he will send me invoices for cleaning and staining next year. Not sure what in the world this guy is thinking. I even talked to a friend who works for a law firm and when he consulted this with a lawyer, he stated the same thing that sit back and relax and if he sends anything then that's the time to bring attorney officially on board.

 

[FarmerJ]

Matt do you have a yellow page or local phone book or maybe would one of your other neighbors have one since they are still issued to people with regular phone service in their home? I used to get 7 different phone books a year here but now I get the one from phone company and still get 5 others every year. Phone books are another way to find property surveyors.

 

[HRZ]

Some states have boundary fence laws and require a cost split ...TN may be one of them ? Details way beyond me...

 

[mattg79]

Matt do you have a yellow page or local phone book or maybe would one of your other neighbors have one since they are still issued to people with regular phone service in their home? I used to get 7 different phone books a year here but now I get the one from phone company and still get 5 others every year. Phone books are another way to find property surveyors.

I did find few numbers online for surveyors... I will check with them about it.. thanks FarmerJ

 

[mattg79]

Some states have boundary fence laws and require a cost split ...TN may be one of them ? Details way beyond me...

I agree HRZ that some state might have the law to split the cost but what if fellow neighbor gets it installed without my approval to share the cost. Actually I didn't even know my share until it was completely installed.

 

[LdiJ]

Some states have boundary fence laws and require a cost split ...TN may be one of them ? Details way beyond me...

I don't think those are state laws...I think that they are municipality laws. However, I do not believe that any law, in any location requires a neighbor to pay half of something unilaterally decided by the other party.