Lefty Lucy
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
Next door to me are very old apartments that would not meet code if they were just built. The latest owner is refurbishing to sell. I have lived here for 32 years with the same chain link fence between us. I believe that I am co-owner of the fence as I maintain some lawn up to it, I have repaired it, I had a bamboo screen attached to it for about two years until last week and it serves to help completely enclose my yard. Code calls for a 6’solid wood or masonry fence between apartments and other land. Owner bought cheep redwood picket fence in 8' panels. A carpenter partly attached the panels to the posts of the chain link fence that are spaced at 10’ instead of posts at 8‘ as they should be. The panels have three horizontal 2x4 rails with 1x6 boards nailed with uncoated nails. A few of the panels were only toe-nailed to the panels beside them. The others joined together with small splice plates nailed and/or screwed at one or two rails. The fence is not attached to some of the posts and at others with a bracket at one or two of the rails using two small screws. I told the maneger, the carpender and a guy that said he was the owners boyfriend that the fence was not sound and the maneger and boyfriend said it would be fixed. I realy believe they will do nothing else if nobody says anything and I think I have said enough. The best looking side of the fence faces to the apartments, rail side to me. We have a world famous wind (Santa Anna Winds) blow here about 25 or more days a year. If they do no not do something soon, I plan on fixing the fence with two 4foot 2x4s at each panel joint on the apartment side nailed through to the top and bottom rails on my side. Then attaching every post with two brackets. When I do this I think the owner may be angry as the apartment side will not look so good but the fence will be very much stronger. What kind of legal trouble may I get into?
Next door to me are very old apartments that would not meet code if they were just built. The latest owner is refurbishing to sell. I have lived here for 32 years with the same chain link fence between us. I believe that I am co-owner of the fence as I maintain some lawn up to it, I have repaired it, I had a bamboo screen attached to it for about two years until last week and it serves to help completely enclose my yard. Code calls for a 6’solid wood or masonry fence between apartments and other land. Owner bought cheep redwood picket fence in 8' panels. A carpenter partly attached the panels to the posts of the chain link fence that are spaced at 10’ instead of posts at 8‘ as they should be. The panels have three horizontal 2x4 rails with 1x6 boards nailed with uncoated nails. A few of the panels were only toe-nailed to the panels beside them. The others joined together with small splice plates nailed and/or screwed at one or two rails. The fence is not attached to some of the posts and at others with a bracket at one or two of the rails using two small screws. I told the maneger, the carpender and a guy that said he was the owners boyfriend that the fence was not sound and the maneger and boyfriend said it would be fixed. I realy believe they will do nothing else if nobody says anything and I think I have said enough. The best looking side of the fence faces to the apartments, rail side to me. We have a world famous wind (Santa Anna Winds) blow here about 25 or more days a year. If they do no not do something soon, I plan on fixing the fence with two 4foot 2x4s at each panel joint on the apartment side nailed through to the top and bottom rails on my side. Then attaching every post with two brackets. When I do this I think the owner may be angry as the apartment side will not look so good but the fence will be very much stronger. What kind of legal trouble may I get into?