Hello everyone,
We have attached our semi-detached house in Fulda (Hessen) to an existing, already completed semi-detached house. We are currently at the shell construction stage, and the windows are scheduled to be installed in three weeks. Until now, our plot was undeveloped.
Our soon-to-be neighbor recently approached us, saying that he would like to install a fence between the two semi-detached houses and has already spoken with a local landscaping contractor. He intends to fence his entire property and wants to start soon so that the garden can be used in the summer.
He approached me and said it is common for neighbors of semi-detached houses to share the cost of the fence placed in the middle and would like to have a joint discussion with me and his landscaper regarding the type and implementation of the fence. I honestly can hardly imagine that he would want anything different in the middle than what he chooses for the rest of his property.
To be honest, I feel a bit overwhelmed. I am already occupied with the shell construction, and garden planning is still quite far off. Frankly, I don’t currently have the time or financial capacity to also deal with garden planning. It should be noted that his house is slightly elevated compared to ours, so the terrace and garden level come into play.
Apparently, in Hessen, there is an obligation to enclose the property at the neighbor’s request...
"According to the Hessian Neighbor Law, the owner of a developed or commercially used property is obliged, upon request by the owner of the neighboring property, to enclose their property as long as the border to the neighboring property is not occupied by a building. If both properties are developed or commercially used, the owners of both properties are mutually obliged to cooperate in the construction of the enclosure (§ 14 HNRG)."
However, the fact is that we do not want a fence at all, and if anything, we would prefer a hedge or something similar, but not a conventional fence (which is also a permitted enclosure in Hessen). I also wonder if the neighbor can really put us under such pressure just because he wants to start NOW. He should be free to do what he wants on his own property, and I would never have thought of asking him to cover costs for a privacy screen or hedge that I might prefer.
Has anyone in Hessen experienced something similar?
Thanks
We have attached our semi-detached house in Fulda (Hessen) to an existing, already completed semi-detached house. We are currently at the shell construction stage, and the windows are scheduled to be installed in three weeks. Until now, our plot was undeveloped.
Our soon-to-be neighbor recently approached us, saying that he would like to install a fence between the two semi-detached houses and has already spoken with a local landscaping contractor. He intends to fence his entire property and wants to start soon so that the garden can be used in the summer.
He approached me and said it is common for neighbors of semi-detached houses to share the cost of the fence placed in the middle and would like to have a joint discussion with me and his landscaper regarding the type and implementation of the fence. I honestly can hardly imagine that he would want anything different in the middle than what he chooses for the rest of his property.
To be honest, I feel a bit overwhelmed. I am already occupied with the shell construction, and garden planning is still quite far off. Frankly, I don’t currently have the time or financial capacity to also deal with garden planning. It should be noted that his house is slightly elevated compared to ours, so the terrace and garden level come into play.
Apparently, in Hessen, there is an obligation to enclose the property at the neighbor’s request...
"According to the Hessian Neighbor Law, the owner of a developed or commercially used property is obliged, upon request by the owner of the neighboring property, to enclose their property as long as the border to the neighboring property is not occupied by a building. If both properties are developed or commercially used, the owners of both properties are mutually obliged to cooperate in the construction of the enclosure (§ 14 HNRG)."
However, the fact is that we do not want a fence at all, and if anything, we would prefer a hedge or something similar, but not a conventional fence (which is also a permitted enclosure in Hessen). I also wonder if the neighbor can really put us under such pressure just because he wants to start NOW. He should be free to do what he wants on his own property, and I would never have thought of asking him to cover costs for a privacy screen or hedge that I might prefer.
Has anyone in Hessen experienced something similar?
Thanks
N
nordanney20 Mar 2025 18:24HGZT2025 schrieb:
in return demand Demanding from both sides is not good. First, have a calm conversation.
chand1986 schrieb:
Well, honestly, a fence that is going to be needed anyway isn’t really a planning issue that requires detailed attention. And when it comes to a semi-detached house, it’s usually clear that something will be installed on the boundary line between neighbors, right?
If I’m reading @nordanney’s source correctly, there is something 1.2m (4 feet) high, and you pay 50% of what a chain-link fence would cost. You just need to consider whether a privacy screen is sufficient or not. Then you’re in a good position if they take care of the rest, aren’t you? According to the Hessian regulations, a hedge is also allowed as a boundary enclosure. And of course, there has to be something in the middle; the question is just how much we need to comply with the neighbor’s wishes. As I said, we wanted a hedge or something green. My initial idea was to place it on OUR property at MY expense. The neighbor can arrange their side however they want.
chand1986 schrieb:
I’m not sure if you can demand that. But if the neighbor is pragmatic, they will see the advantage of handling it all at once.
I want to gently criticize you, not personally: If there are level differences and you plan to add fill, plus a privacy screen, then the fence planning should have been done right from the start! Especially with a semi-detached house. It’s unfortunate that this caught you off guard, but in my opinion, your strategy was what surprised you. That’s why we already had L-shaped retaining wall blocks installed during the groundwork. The privacy screen was supposed to be mounted on them. Later on, we planned to add a hedge. This approach wouldn’t have involved or restricted the neighbor either.
nordanney schrieb:
Demands from both sides are unhelpful. First, let’s talk calmly. I agree with that, but the problem is that he approaches me on the construction site nearly every other time and wants a commitment that we will share the costs. Yet, there isn’t even a quote at this point.
We can sit down together and compare our ideas, but honestly, I don’t think he will accept anything other than the fence he wants anyway on the other three sides.
C
chand198620 Mar 2025 18:46Here, there is talk of demands and submission. Why?
I find it normal, when dealing with a semi-detached house, to build a shared structure on the property border. Obviously, your neighbor agrees. And it makes sense to try to agree on a proposal with shared costs.
But in the case of a shared boundary, I don’t think that is the obvious approach.
I find it normal, when dealing with a semi-detached house, to build a shared structure on the property border. Obviously, your neighbor agrees. And it makes sense to try to agree on a proposal with shared costs.
HGZT2025 schrieb:
My previous idea was that I do it on OUR property at MY expense. The neighbor does his part... whatever he wants.
But in the case of a shared boundary, I don’t think that is the obvious approach.
HGZT2025 schrieb:
We have attached our semi-detached house in Fulda (Hessen) to an already existing, completed semi-detached house. We are currently at the shell construction stage, and the windows are scheduled to arrive in three weeks. Until now, our plot was undeveloped.
Our soon-to-be neighbor approached us, saying he wants to install a fence between the two semi-detached houses. He has already spoken with the local landscaping contractor. He intends to fence his entire property and wants to start soon so the garden can be used in summer.
[ / ] That is why we already had L-shaped concrete blocks installed during the earthworks. The privacy screen was supposed to be mounted on them. Later on, a hedge was planned. This would not have involved or restricted the neighbor.
[ / ] Honestly, I don’t think he will accept anything other than the fence he wants on the other three sides anyway. That you are not yet mentally prepared for the topic of “boundary enclosure” (given your relatively recent construction status) is no excuse to feel annoyed by his completely legitimate requests. If I were him, I would also use the everyday term "fence" in neighborly communication rather than the more neutral but legally sounding term “boundary enclosure.” I do not see any exclusion or rejection of a hedge in this, and your assumption that he is inflexible and imagines a boundary marker only in the same design as the fencing around the rest of the property seems unfair. On the contrary: you yourself say he has spoken to a landscaping contractor (not a fence installer, but someone usually dealing with planted structures).
Put yourself in his position: spring is approaching, and summer isn’t far behind. Would you feel comfortable if your neighbor’s child and dog—whose understanding of a virtual property line is likely nonexistent—could pose a risk to the safety of your flowerbed? Would you want to delay moving fully into your new home and enjoying your garden just because the neighbor is not yet ready and his half of the property still looks like a training ground?
I’m unclear about the role of those L-shaped concrete blocks in this situation: is there a difference in ground level between the two halves, and who would be responsible for drainage and the upper part?
Tell your neighbor that you personally prefer a hedge as the boundary enclosure. If I were in his position and asked my partner whether she would want the hedge to be color-coordinated with the fence on the other sides, she would probably laugh. Maybe his wife has a different taste and wants the fence dark green—that’s not your problem. Arrange with the landscaping contractor to pay your half of the hedge in 12 monthly installments; you’ll surely find a fair solution. The day the last payment is made can be celebrated with a barbecue. The beer spilled then will surely “fertilize” your lawn. This is how you solve virtual problems easily!
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