Who Owns The Fence

chateauneufdupape · 24 July 2007 at 5:34PM

Are there any rules regarding who owns boundary fences? When standing on the road looking at the front of the house, the fence on the left has recently been replaced and I went halves on the cost with my neighbour. The fence on the right also needs replacing. However, I do not get on with that neighbour. The fence on the right has the good side facing me which I understand to be an indication that it is the neighbours fence. Any thoughts?

McAzrael · 24 July 2007 at 5:50PM

The land registry will have a record of which boundaries you are responsible for maintaining (usually indicated by a red T on the plan). Dig through the paperwork from when you bought the house or log on to their website and spring £4ish for a copy of the record.

Subject to planning rules and the like, there is nothing to stop you or your neighbour putting a fence at the boundary of your property.

cattie · 25 July 2007 at 7:45PM

The fences in my garden which are my responsibility have the good side facing my garden, so this is not a true indication of who own's or is responsible for which fence.

There are no rules as to who owns a particular side of the fencing, but as McAzrael mentions, the land registry documents should indicate those which are your responsibilty.

BilboBaggins_3 · 25 July 2007 at 10:15PM

I have read somewhere that: if you stand in the garden at the back facing the house, the right hand fence is your responsibility. best to get this confirmed

HugoSP · 25 July 2007 at 10:33PM

To understand this you need to consider boundaries.

The boundary is an imaginary line that divides your property from your neighbour's.

You are at liberty to put a fence your side and he is at liberty to put a fence his side. The owner of the fence is the one who put it up.

In newbuild developments the T mark does give some indication of the maintenace responsibilities. For example, my neighbour in my last house was responsible for the fence on the right hand side of our plot whilst I was responsible for the other one. The fences appear to have been built on the boundary, rather than one side or the other.

In older properties it all depends who has put the fence up in the first place. This can be difficult to establish.

dzug · 25 July 2007 at 10:46PM

Even if it is your neighbour's fence, he is not automatically duty bound to maintain it - he may also be entitled to remove it altogether or, as long as it's not dangerous, to leave it as it is. In some areas there may be by-laws or covenants, but not universally.

Ultimately he who wants the fence pays. And he who pays can choose which way the 'good' side faces.

jimbo_the_jetset · 26 July 2007 at 10:48AM

In another thread someone tarted up their side of the fence with a cheap bamboo screen to make it look nicer since it was the neighbours fence and they didn't get on with them

never_enough · 26 July 2007 at 11:27AM

Reading another thread a few weeks ago I found out that you're not allowed to attach anything to a wall or fence that is not yours, no trellis, plants or painting with any kind of treatment. Wish I'd known that before, as I could've stopped an old neighbour from covering my fence with his horrid climbing plants. :mad:
As previous posters have said fence responsibilities should be marked on your plans.

adandem · 26 July 2007 at 3:57PM

BilboBaggins wrote: »

I have read somewhere that: if you stand in the garden at the back facing the house, the right hand fence is your responsibility. best to get this confirmed

Actually, at our last house this was the case, in our current property it's the opposite, I thik it varies from house to house.;)

Who Owns The Fence

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