This makes no sense. In no way are you obligated to help fund a fence on property you didn't even own at the time it was installed. The neighbor must have heard that you co-own the other fences with the right and left neighbors so now wants a piece of the action.

I agree with jck910 you didn't even own the house when he decided to install fence. I'd tell him 'no' and the reason.

You did kinda sorta agree to this so it didn’t come out of the blue. ive built a fence before but never asked neighbors for money even though they benefited from the fence. your neighbor sounds like a nickle and dimer but in his mind I guess you had an agreement.

I Might consider offering him $500 just to maintain relations. I don’t think you have a legal obligation. but there is also the issue of relations

He may not have handled it all that well, but you did indicate to him that you would be willing to go in on it and I would presume you are benefiting from it.

How much do you think the fence cost him, based upon what the other sides cost?

"I told my neighbor of the issues but said if he can wait until after we close on the house I have no problem with going half with him."

Unfortunately you agreed, and he did approach you for the dollars after you closed, not prior.

He approached him YEARS later though. YEARS. As far as maintaining relations op stated he hasn't interacted with neighbor in at least a year or more. Nothing to maintain really.

You have no legal obligation to pay him anything, but your moral obligation really depends on your moral compass. I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt. He may have taken your initial reluctance as an indicator that you were tight on cash at the time. He may have not wanted to ask and add to your burden. Once he saw that you could afford fencing he felt more comfortable asking for the money, knowing that you were in a better financial position and can now afford fencing.

If the amount he is asking for is reasonable, or less than what your other fencing costs I would pay him the $800.00 and be done. When it is time to replace the fence you will be on good terms.

It sounds like he hasn't been neighborly for years, so no loss on that part.

Had he been a better neighbor, I think I would have worked something out.

He obviously saw your other sections of fence being installed and thought it

time he mentioned about going half on his fence (as you told him).

Knew of someone who had a similar situation. Neighbor put up fence

then asked for contribution. Didn't consult to see what my friend wanted, just

put up the fence "they" wanted. So therefore - no contribution.

You asked for copies of invoices 3 years ago and didn't get them - I would

say he is out of luck now.

I'm confused on why any neighbor would help fund a fence on someone elses property. What happens if the neighbor moves on and the new owner decides they want to take the fence down, paint the fence, etc. Now the neighbors who chipped in are out of money with no grounds to stand on. Maybe I can missing something here but in Florida the fence goes on the property line of the person installing and they would be responsible for up keep and hold the option to install, remove, update, etc. without having to share the decision with any neighbors.

My last home shared fencing with 6 different neighbors (The street behind me was circular and had pie shaped lots - so I had 3 back neighbors, 2 on one side and one on the other side). We all cooperated on fence replacement except one of the two side neighbors. She moved in, tore down the fencing around her property, (found out it was gone when I let my dog out the back door and he was gone when I went to let him back in.). She replaced it with a fence that didn't match anyone else's fencing and then brought me a bill for my 1/2 the cost. I refused to pay and she tried to tell me I had to because the fence was on the property line. When I refused again she told me she would take me to court if I didn't pay. (She didn't take me to court.)

Be glad you have decent neighbors. Mine was a PITA from the day she moved in until the day I moved out.

I told my neighbor that if he can wait to put up a fence until after I closed on my home I wouldn’t mind going half with him. Not put up the fence before I closed and not include me on the fence plans, type of wood, poles etc. After I moved in he didn’t approach me for money directly, we used to talk on the phone here and there and I offered to help pay some of it and asked him for a figure or an invoice. He never did that until this week when my new fence was put up. HIS back fence has been up since late 2017. His wife also complained to my fence guy that my top trim was on top of their top trim. I WENT AHEAD AND PAID MY NEIGHBOR $800 because it was never about the money for me. After I paid the money we had a long conversation and I told him if he had an issue he should’ve given me figure a long time ago. He thinks he’s being generous because he only asked for $800 and not more since the back side cost him $3300. Mind you he didn’t get the regular poles that most people get. His are black aluminum or material which I think costs more. It’s 150 feet of fence and $800 is a small price but IMO I’m being generous because I’m not lawfully obligated to pay anything when he decided to do the fence on his own. Could he tear it down one day? Sure. My only issue with this is why he waited so long to request money When I asked for a figure almost three years ago. He thinks I should’ve taken the initiative and brought It up to him again. If I ask someone to go half with me and they say they can’t right now and I go ahead and put up a fence I’m not going to ask for them to pitch in. It’s important to note that I recently bought a ”new” used car. Nothing fancy but it’s new to us. I’m not sure if that bothers them that I have money for a new car and a fence but never helped pay for the back fence that we share. Sorry for the long read.

Well now the story has changed - you have already paid him $800.00

Move on - stop trying to figure out what's going on in his head.

If someone built a fence that benefitted me as well as themselves I would consider myself lucky to be asked to contribute less than one fourth of the cost.

WHY does it matter when the fence went up? I hear you said you would help with the cost of the back of the fence. He didn't ask you nor did he care if you liked his design. This was his project and he wanted his fence to look the same all the way around his property. If you don't care for it build your own fence inside on your property. IDK why he didn't bother you with it until now..seems like he was being respectful of your building issues, gave you time to come back to him and offer your half. He put the fence up at his convenience. He didn't want to wait until you were set he wanted his fence complete. He politely waited for your payment. You are in the wrong all the way around this.

Over the years, I have learned that many people think and operate differently from me. Not everyone does things in a business-like manner, (and it irritates me too, so I get that) but they may have many talents or skills beyond what I have and/or end up being a great neighbor.

From what he said, he could have been trying to be "polite" and not bug you about it. I don't know. He did give you an explanation. I understand it does not make sense to you.

I would take any neighbor who is polite and keep that good relationship with him.

You did the right thing ethically, by paying the $800.

I think you did what you could to help keep a better relationship with your back neighbor. Sometimes we have to just appease another person even if “right” is on our side.

we have had a few issues with shared fencing over the years. Most of it went ok. But sometimes you need a fence and you just need to do it and eat the cost.

probably the back neighbor kind of let it go then when your side fencing went in he had opportunity to ask one of your side neighbors how you handled it. He may have been on slow simmer all this time. I am hoping now that you have contributed your neighbors can all just work on being good neighbors.

red

I have a fence ether side of my house ..One I paid for and told the new neighbour's it was mine ..the other side we went half's as nobody knew who's fence it was and I let them have the nice side facing them as I have 2 sheds on my side next to the fence