Fence Dispute Forces Welsh Pensioner to Sell Her Home
A pensioner in Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, claims she is being forced to sell her home after a protracted and costly legal dispute with her neighbour over the ownership of a garden fence. Muriel Middle, aged 79 and a widow, states that the financial burden of the dispute—now totalling close to £20,000—has left her with no alternative but to sell her home to her daughter, Sam, in order to settle the court-ordered payments.
The conflict began in 2023, when Alexander Miles, Ms Middle’s neighbour, removed a section of the fence that separated their back gardens. Mr Miles said the removal was necessary to gain access to a drainpipe for essential maintenance as part of building an extension to his property. However, the drainpipe in question is situated on Ms Middle’s side of the original boundary, leading to a furious disagreement between the two parties regarding rights of access and ownership.
The disagreement escalated over several months, with tensions running high. Police were called multiple times in response to the increasingly heated exchanges between Ms Middle and Mr Miles. Hoping to remedy the situation, Ms Middle instructed a contractor to replace the missing fence panels, restoring what she believed was her rightful boundary. This, in turn, prompted Mr Miles to threaten legal action, claiming that Ms Middle had interfered with his property.
Legal papers submitted on behalf of Mr Miles argued that the replacement panels introduced by Ms Middle’s contractor did not match the original fence in size or colour, and potentially undermined the structural stability of the entire fence. Mr Miles further objected to his loss of access to the drainpipe, stating that the situation needed to be rectified.
Matters intensified as both neighbours declined to back down. Attempts to settle outside of court proved unsuccessful, leading to a civil case at Cardiff Civil Justice Centre. Last summer, the court partially upheld Mr Miles’ claim, culminating in Ms Middle being ordered to pay almost £13,000. When factoring in further legal expenses and costs, the total financial toll on Ms Middle now nears £20,000—a substantial blow for the retired beauty technician and childminder who had hoped to leave her property debt-free to her daughter.
Recalling the strain of the dispute, Sam Middle said, “This has absolutely crushed us. It has left my mother, who has worked all her life, needing to sell her home. She was too old to remortgage, so she’s selling to me so we can pay the debt. All of this has happened over a small part of a fence.”
Ms Middle’s regret is palpable. In a statement read during the court proceedings, she explained: “I have done nothing wrong and broken no laws. I’ve not had the easiest life. My first daughter and husband died, and I raised my remaining daughter alone. But never have I encountered the overwhelming stress of this ordeal.”
During court deliberations, a surveyor’s report—paid for at significant cost by the Middles—was ultimately not considered after the court ruled it had not been submitted as formal written expert evidence. The family maintain they notified the court of their intention to involve such an expert, but the omission contributed to their frustration and sense of injustice.
The eventual judgment found that the fence belonged to Mr Miles, with the court noting that the fence posts stood on his side. Consequently, Ms Middle was held liable for the damages and legal costs.
Reflecting on the outcome, Ms Middle said: “I worked continuously for 53 years to ensure my daughter would inherit a property mortgage-free. Now that’s gone. I’ve never been in debt—until now. This situation has completely destroyed me.”
When approached for comment, Mr Miles stated only that the court’s decision was clear and did not wish to elaborate further. The story stands as a cautionary tale about how boundary disputes between neighbours can spiral into life-changing legal and financial consequences.