Property Boundaries - Moving the Lines of Propriety

Word has it that sturdy fences make good neighbors, but I'm here to tell you that isn't always the case. Sometimes a good sturdy fence makes the neighbor see green pasture on the other side of the fence.

Such is the case with this neighborhood boundary... If you look closely, just beyond the second fence post is a concrete curb about three inches wide. The south edge of that curbing runs along the actual property line between these two rural neighborhood residences.

The pig-wire fence was installed new by the neighbor on the south side a few years before this photo was taken, about three inches inside the property line. At the time of installation, the fence was above and beyond the "common quality" of fences in the neighborhood, and relatively popular among the inhabitants of small towns. With nice wood posts, the fence took on an open appearance allowing open views and good neighbor communications. Chatting over the back fence (or in this case) front fence was common - and still is.

The original neighbor moved out and four more neighbors moved in (and out), none of them having a problem with the property boundary, and all of them using the driveway for full size vehicles. These neighbors also have access to the garage with another entrance from the side street, where a double garage door opens onto a concrete driveway. The current neighbor has attempted on more than one occasion to purchase for a few hundred dollars (without appropriate documentation being paid for) an extra several feet of property. The current owner says, "No!"

Current neighbor at one point attempted to set in the middle of the drive way curve (visible in photo) a new fence post, more than one foot inside the property line, for a fence he intended to install. The current owner insisted he pull the post and remove the concrete he'd set it into.

Mind you, both neighbors have been good neighbors, occasionally helping each other out, doing random favors and offering to watch the other's home while vacationing, etc. When the owners husband fell from a ladder while working on the back fence, the neighbor put away the ladders and tools so the owner could leave to take her husband to the hospital. The relationship has been good in most respects, except for this one fence post issue.

Somehow, the neighbor can't seem to hit his driveway when entering it. He keeps hitting the fencepost with his truck. And he's hit the fencepost so many times with his truck, his brother's truck, his father's truck and anyone else's truck that drives into the yard that the fence post is terminally broken off at the ground. OOOPS!