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
Oh, I’m so glad I didn’t build a duplex for exactly this reason: One says this, the other says that, and both think they are more important than the other. There is no real cooperation.
Talk to him, tell him what you want and what you can afford. Find a compromise that suits both of you – otherwise, you won’t be happy.
Talk to him, tell him what you want and what you can afford. Find a compromise that suits both of you – otherwise, you won’t be happy.
HGZT2025 schrieb:
Ok, I’ll repeat myself: how do you feel about these sentences: "We have now hired a landscaping contractor to fence the property. It’s common to split the costs evenly, will you take care of your share then?"Yes, that may not have been very constructive on his part.However, his semi-detached house has apparently been standing for a year or more. Maybe he was just anxious and waiting for the second half to finally be built. Now that you are there, he wants to get things finished. So he might not have considered your situation.
So, try a second and third approach, see how the conversations go, and make a joint plan. You might be able to buy some time for the work to be done, since you still have construction going on at your place.
My neighbor also pressured regarding the shared boundary quite early on, even though we hadn't moved in yet, so I can understand you.
I don’t know how busy the landscape gardeners are now, but there have been times when you had to wait 2 years. So if he currently has the landscape gardener available, he probably doesn’t want to complete the rest only in the next available slot 2 years from now.
I don’t know how busy the landscape gardeners are now, but there have been times when you had to wait 2 years. So if he currently has the landscape gardener available, he probably doesn’t want to complete the rest only in the next available slot 2 years from now.
HilfeHilfe schrieb:
You will be living next to it for the next few years. I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it but rather approach it constructively. And maybe also mention that you’re currently not ready.
Maybe he will be understanding. I have said that several times already, but he doesn’t care. He wants to start now.
Musketier schrieb:
My neighbor also pressured me about the shared boundary quite early on, even before we had even moved in, so I can understand where you’re coming from.
I’m not sure how busy landscapers are right now, but there have been times when people had to wait up to two years. So if he has a landscaper available now, he certainly wouldn’t want to schedule the rest of the work for the next free slot two years from now. Actually, since yesterday the mini excavator has been in his garden… So it looks like he’s already quite far along.
B
Bertram10021 Mar 2025 07:43It’s just a fence, after all. People usually look away if it’s unattractive, or it can be covered with plants. You’re spending several hundred thousand euros on a house anyway. So 300 euros (about 320 dollars) for a fence should be manageable. Winter jasmine makes any fence look nice. I would just pay and then discuss what you would prefer. Maybe it will work out, maybe not. As I said, a good neighborhood is important, but the fence isn’t.
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