A PENSIONER who put up signs in protest at a neighbour’s extension has told of his fury after they were torn down.
Ewen Taylor, of Grangetown in Cardiff, set up placards after claiming the property next door encroaches onto his own land by two inches.
But the signs – one of which reads: “You and your cowboy builder are thieves” – were ripped from the ground overnight.
A placard attached to his first-floor window was also taken.
It’s the latest salvo in the battle between the 87-year-old and his neighbours, who deny taking up any of Mr Taylor’s land.
Last September, Mr Taylor was fined £90 for criminal damage after drilling holes in the wall between the two properties.
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He told Wales Online it’s the second time his posters have been taken from his garden.
“I was popping to the shop in the morning to pick up a paper and I thought, ‘Oh my God, the signs are gone,'” the retired bricklayer said.
“It was a real shock to think that somebody had been out here overnight on my property with a ladder stealing my signs.
“That’s very annoying. In fact, more than annoying.”
The neighbours, a married couple with four children, built an extension in 2020. The addition pushed back their bathroom to create more dining space.
During the work, builders knocked down the old garden wall separating their land from Mr Taylor’s and rebuilt a replacement.
But Mr Taylor, who has owned his home for 50 years, says the new boundary cuts into his own land.
One of the neighbours told the newspaper last month the situation is “distressing”.
“I have no idea why he thinks it is in his property,” they said.
“It is distressing, especially for my children. They are embarrassed to go out when people ask questions about the signs.”
The children’s mother said Mr Taylor began putting up signs when police “took away his drill”.
Cops are unable to act because the messages are being displayed on his private property, she said.
There is no suggestion the family were involved in Mr Taylor’s placards being removed or damaged.
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Mr Taylor has since put up a new poster, which reads: “Who used a ladder to steal my sign?”
South Wales Police say there is no “ongoing” investigation.
Fences are a growing source of disputes between neighbours
Outdoor space not only provides a precious getaway, it can also increase your house value if you want to sell the property.
That means it important to protect your space and know what you can do if anything crosses the boundary of your land.
Check the boundary
Boundary lines vary on a case by case basis – it’s not always true that your boundary is on a particular side of your property.
Finding the boundary of your property should be the first step.
This can be done by checking the deeds to a property.
If you haven’t already got these, you can purchase them from the Land Registry on the government’s website for £3.
This will show the layout and boundaries of the land you own.
Note that you can also purchase a neighbour’s title deeds to see whether any extra property boundaries are outlined in theirs that aren’t in yours.
Sometimes, a T will be marked on a property line to denote responsibility for the boundary.
Try a mediation service
If you are sure that the fence was built on your land after checking the boundary lines, you can speak to your neighbour and ask them to reposition the fence in the correct place.
To avoid future hostile situations with your neighbour, it’s best to keep tensions low by talking things out if possible.
If you really can’t see eye to eye on the matter, mediation services could be a good place to go as they’re cheaper than court costs.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors offers a mediation service, helping neighbours resolve disputes about boundary lines and related issues.
Can I remove the fence?
As any encroachment on land belonging to you can be considered trespassing – and vice versa too.
You should never go onto another person’s private property without their permission.
If your neighbour fails to act, you could take court action against them but that is likely to be costly and stressful.
