A HOMEOWNER says he faces a massive repair bill after a council failed to fix a failing wall for a decade.
Tony Curtis’s garden has fallen off the back of his plot as a result of the crumbled wall – which finally buckled in January.
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But despite years of complaints to council bosses, the 61-year-old says they refused to cough up the cash to pay for damage to his property.
Tony, from Bristol, said: “I’ve been pushed into a situation where I have to pay probably thousands of pounds to repair a wall that isn’t even mine.”
Tony claims the council told him back in 2013 the wall was being monitored due to structural concerns, BristolLive reports.
But years went by and the local authority allegedly did nothing to prevent the inevitable collapse – which Tony is thankful did not hurt anyone.
“There could have been a catastrophic incident here”, he added, noting a footpath used by kids runs below it.
Bristol City Council originally came out to clear away the rubble in March but never rebuilt the retaining structure.
Tony has now accused the council’s Bridges and Highway Structures department for “neglect” over the wall which also caused considerable damage to his neighbour’s garden when it caved in.
Since the collapse, a massive chunk of Tony’s garden has spilt onto the footpath behind his home.
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He now lives with rickety Harris fencing as his garden hangs on a knife edge over a steep slope.
The fence poses a massive security risk and is easy for Tony’s Bulldog Eddie, which has to supervised at all times, to escape.
The carnage has left the householder miserable and he admits it has taken a toll on his wife’s mental health too.
As a result his family have been unable to enjoy his own slice of paradise “at all” since the wall caved in.
Tony says he had a verbal agreement the council would repair the “adopted wall” and, once complete, he would construct the remainder.
But despite some work by the council to shore up damage, the pensioner fears wet weather will be disastrous for the structural integrity of his garden.
The council have blamed a lack of resources for the extraordinary delays which could now stretch into next year.
The Sun Online has approached Bristol City Council for comment.
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What are your rights in a boundary dispute?
Fences are a growing source of disputes
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.
