"Irregularities" in neighbors' boundary construction ... Tips

Our house is steadily progressing towards completion, and we are gradually starting to think about the outdoor area, which also includes the boundary planting/construction. Regarding the specific planting of our property, I will address you in another, later post with a request for advice and help. With this post, I ask for your assessment, both subjective and objective, regarding the conditions created on site by our neighbors:

Neighbor on the left
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There is an earlier post from me about this; now I would like to know from you specifically whether, based on your assessment and experience, the neighbor’s concrete base on our property (see photos) disturbs the growth/planting of Thuja and whether the concrete base must therefore be removed (by us (?)).

(I know Thuja are controversial, hence the note that we only plant a few very small Thujas along the length of our neighbor’s parking space at the boundary to extend the neighbor’s Thuja hedge — except for the garage wall, where we will plant something else — up to the street and then also (in a spiral or rectangle) hide the garbage bins there in a Thuja niche. Since our kitchen terrace is expected to be placed here, we would also have a privacy screen towards the neighbor’s parking space.)



Neighbor on the right
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This is probably somewhat more delicate. The neighbor to our right has, which is not allowed, created a second driveway for one of his cars. As can be seen in the photo, a kind of "dark brown carport/covered parking construction" etc. has also been placed there, which "actually" is not allowed either. In principle, the second driveway and the additional parking space do not bother us since they relieve the public parking space, which is also in our interest. Here now two questions. Apart from the "dark brown carport/covered parking construction" that is "not to my taste,"

- the rainwater from the downspout of the "dark brown carport/covered parking construction" is directed almost up to the boundary, except for 3-4 millimeters, onto our property (which could possibly lead to undermining and thus damage to our own carport); this was the statement of an employee of the wastewater authority, who took over the inspection of our sewer connection.

- I am considering whether we can ask the neighbor if a hedge could be planted on the stone strip on his side (i.e., between the "dark brown carport/covered parking construction" instead of the stone strip) so that his structure would be hidden. On his side because it is his structure, and if we plant the hedge on our side, we would no longer have sufficient space for a carport ourselves. We would bear the costs and the work (or perhaps share them, depending on the neighbor’s willingness to cooperate).



Please also comment on whether it makes sense that any agreements made apply only to the current owners of the houses on the right and left and that in the event of a sale the brown hut would be removed. I do not know whether the "dark brown carport/covered parking construction" may be expanded if we currently accept it.

Or whether we should have everything removed that does not comply with the law and regulations. We ourselves, of course, comply with all laws and regulations, even if it is not easy.

We are interested in a good neighborhood and do not want to be fussy, but also do not want to have to tolerate too many disadvantages. Moreover, we are aware that we might one day also depend on the goodwill of our neighbors.

The concrete base must of course not be on your property. Just place the Thuja far enough away. If that is not possible, have the neighbor shorten the base, but the neighbor will probably not tolerate that and there will be a dispute. Tip: the concrete wedge draws moisture from the soil, I would cover it with foil or paint it with bitumen.

Regarding the carport, I don't find anything wrong, I would talk to the owner and point out that he has to drain his rainwater on his own property. If he has no connection, simply connect it to your carport drainage – that's at most 6 meters of drainage pipe. And peace is kept. For that, you ask him for a box of beer and you drink it together.

That is somewhat older, the house on the left? In the past, people didn’t take millimeters so seriously in the outdoor area… nowadays and in general not either, right? But it looks like the work of a professional to me. At least there won’t be any subsidence.

Anyone who plants Thuja has to provide enough space. They do get quite thick. The trunks should be at least 70cm away from the property line. In that respect, the base won’t be a problem. But the root system might later affect the paving.

Everyone has to drain on their own property. As long as there is only a meadow as a neighbor, it’s easy, especially since there are often some obstacles to connecting your drainage to the system. Many then opt for a rain barrel. I find ’s suggestion regarding drainage quite good.

Why you now think that the neighbors should plant something for you on their property is beyond me. This pergola, or converted terra cover, didn’t just appear overnight?! And whether you’re right to mention your virtue here, while the neighbor has two driveways?! I don’t think so. Do both of his driveways have a lowering to the curb? Only then do I consider it approved.

Apart from the fact that I find the stone solution combined with the black privacy screen quite neat, I don’t find the brown posts fitting, you or we or I might find it ugly, that doesn’t matter. It’s the neighbors’ property, and they apparently like it. The strip itself is too narrow for a hedge anyway. What you actually expect from him in plain German is that he gives up his 20cm strip for your hedge, because you planned too tightly and now can’t find space for everything.

Please also comment on whether it makes sense that any agreements made only apply to the current owners of the houses on the right and left and that the brown hut will be removed in the event of a sale. I don’t know whether the “dark brown carport/covered storage structure” can be extended if we currently accept it.

I don’t understand what you mean.

I do think it is called “finicky” in a nice way. The problem is always that newcomers can’t reconcile with what already exists. Others might see that differently, especially if it isn’t quite clear or obvious that someone has let their craftsmanship play out a bit more over the years on their property… Although I can’t imagine it’s illegal, since it is very visible from the street.

Be careful that you don’t make yourself unpopular with your personal wishes and the way you go about implementing them.
Is the thread with the left neighbor not known here? Where is the link?

When it comes to fussiness, it will surely be a pleasure to live next to you. And since you are "the new ones," a corresponding reputation will arise for you in the entire neighborhood if you complain about everything like that. Above all, I find planting on a neighbor's property interesting. I would laugh at you if you wanted to complain about something else at the same time. In this sense: ...to good neighborliness.

You don’t really want to plant on [Nachbars Grundstück], do you?

Tip, the concrete wedge draws moisture from the soil, I would cover it with foil or paint it with bitumen.

Thanks, I think that’s what we will do.

Regarding the carport, I don’t find anything wrong, I would talk to the owner and point out that he has to drain his rainwater on his own property. If he doesn’t have a connection, simply connect it to your carport drainage – at most 6 meters of drainage pipe.

However, we would then have to cover the costs for the drainage of his carport to the wastewater association, and I also don’t know what obligations we would therefore continue to take on. I think we will rather ask him to maybe collect the water on his property in a rain barrel or something similar or redirect it to his property. It can also be used perfectly as watering water if there is a desire for that. We were simply told that drainage onto our property could result in our carport being undermined.

This is somewhat older, the house on the left? In the past, people didn’t take millimeters outside so seriously… nowadays and in general not at all, right? But it looks like the work of a professional. There will at least be no subsidence.

The house on the left is the first house built in this development area; it was built about 15 years ago.
Well, it’s 30 cm that I would really miss if we couldn’t plant on those 30 cm. There isn’t much space left and right of our house, and we would also be happy about more than 30 cm from the neighbor’s property. ;-) Still, at least I will probably accept it according to your recommendation.

Whoever plants Thuja must provide enough space. They do get quite thick. The trunks should be at least 70 cm from the property line. So the base won’t be a problem. But the root system could possibly interfere with the paving later on.

Then I will check how far from our border the neighbor’s Thujas stand. He has a Thuja hedge along about 75% of the length of our property. We have already agreed that we may trim it on our side, and he trims it on his side.

Everyone must drain on his own property. As long as there is only a meadow as a neighbor, it’s easy, especially since there are often some obstacles to connecting your drainage to the system. Many then use a rain barrel. I think ’s suggestion regarding drainage is quite good.

For the above reasons, I would rather not take on the obligation to be responsible for the neighbor’s carport drainage, especially as then we would also have to pay fees to the wastewater association. I hope we find a solution that both parties can live with well.

Why you now think the neighbors should plant something for you on their property, I don’t understand.

Then let’s just forget that. So far, based on the information from the employee of the wastewater association, I assumed it was an illegal unauthorized structure. If that is not the case, then there is naturally no reason to hide the construction; not even from us. There will still be many other inspections on/in our house.

This pergola, or repurposed terrace roof, didn’t just appear overnight?!

Thanks for the term “pergola.” I just researched again whether and which boundary distances apply to pergolas, but didn’t find anything. Actually, it doesn’t matter because I have decided to solve it somehow regardless of whether the construction is legal or illegal. I don’t understand the question about the period of creation.

And whether you’re right now to mention your virtue while the neighbor has two driveways?! I don’t think so.

We wanted two driveways, the application was rejected, so we dropped it. I also didn’t want to portray myself as virtuous, please excuse me if it came across that way.

Do both his driveways have a lowering to the curb? Then I consider it approved.

I will check that. As mentioned, we came to this because the above employee said so and we just wondered ourselves because we thought two driveways were not allowed. Whether legal or illegal is no longer an issue now; we will find a solution.

It is the property of the neighbors, and they apparently like it.

I agree with you 100%.

The strip itself is too narrow for a hedge anyway.
What you actually expect from him in plain English is that he gives up his 20 cm strip for your hedge because you planned too tightly and now do not have space for everything.

We will try to enhance the area otherwise with greenery. I certainly do not expect him to give up anything from his property for us. For this, I have difficulty myself, see neighbor on the left side. ;-) :)

I don’t understand what you mean.

I meant by “Please also comment on whether it makes sense that any agreements made only apply to the current owners of the houses on the right and left and that in the event of a sale the brown hut will be removed. I don’t know if the ‘dark brown carport/covered storage construction’ may be expanded if we currently accept it,” that a possible future buyer might convert the “dark brown carport/covered storage construction” into a sauna, lounge, party room, or something like that and we then have to accept it because we did not object to the ‘dark brown carport/covered storage construction’ when taking over the property and moving into the single-family house there.

I think it is called “fussy” in a nice way.

Yes, I can accept that and am honestly thankful for feedback. Sometimes I do get a bit worked up about things. ;-)

Be careful not to make yourself unpopular with your personal wishes and the way of implementation.

I will pay close attention to that. My husband and sister-in-law already think I’m too “submissive” again, but that doesn’t matter, harmony is the main thing. :)

The thread with the left neighbor is not known here? Where is the link?

As requested: :)
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/betonsockel-des-nachbarn-unterirdisch-auf-unserer-seite.41741/

In this sense: ...to good neighborliness.

That is what this forum is for among other things, to sometimes get a reality check. I think that’s good. :)

You don’t really want to plant on the neighbor’s property?

No, only if the neighbor had wished to hide his, according to the statement of an employee of a public authority, illegally erected unauthorized structure. I have now understood that this is inappropriate.