Garden fence

AndyB82

Hi all,

We've got an issue with our garden fence. The owners next door want to replace the entire fence, as three panels are falling down and need fixing. We can't afford anywhere near half of the £1700 quote to do it all, and frankly, can't see why the whole fence needs replacing.

Title deeds tell us nothing about ownership of the fence, but next door say they have a solicitors letter saying it's a party fence. However, the 3 panels that really do need fixing have their posts on our side of the fence, which I believe in lieu of any real info from the title deeds makes them our responsibility. Further down from there the posts are shared across both properties.

As we can't afford the full repairs, we are going to propose that we fix (and pay for) the 3 panels that do need fixing, and cut down/poison the ivy that isn't helping the fence further down. We have offered to do this before, but they seem very insistent on doing the entire lot, though not unpleasant about it. Last night, they effectively said that they're going to do it and anything we can contribute would be appreciated. But we've estimated to repair the 3 panels would only really cost about £150, so should we offer that towards the entire job if they really want to do that? It's only about 10% of the total cost, so appears a bit insulting - however, they are the ones wanting the total replacement.

laurz121

A few questions
How many panels are there in total along the fence?
How high is the fence?
What kind of panels are there already?
What kind of panels are you suggesting replacing the 3 damaged ones with? like for like?
And are they suggesting replacing it with a better quality fence?

I only ask because £150 for three panels is a lot of money so it suggests you're building a really good quality 'fancy' fence there and if £150 is for three panels then that is £50 a panel which means that £1,700 is 34 panels which is more than half the length of a football pitch.

theonlywayisup

AndyB82 wrote: »

Hi all,

Title deeds tell us nothing about ownership of the fence, but next door say they have a solicitors letter saying it's a party fence.

Title Plans (deeds) should have a 'T' or 'H' on the boundary line. This tells you who owns the boundary if it is owned by either of you outright or if it is jointly shared.

T marks and H marks along a boundary show ownership or maintenance responsibility. The land containing the bar of the T is the land having ownership or responsibility. H marks represent joint ownership or responsibility

Johnhowell

Sadly, Land Registry do not generally record the boundary marks when they create their records.

You need to look at the original title deeds and plan - which many institutions are destroying as no longer required!

John

AndyB82

laurz121 wrote: »

A few questions
How many panels are there in total along the fence?
How high is the fence?
What kind of panels are there already?
What kind of panels are you suggesting replacing the 3 damaged ones with? like for like?
And are they suggesting replacing it with a better quality fence?

I only ask because £150 for three panels is a lot of money so it suggests you're building a really good quality 'fancy' fence there and if £150 is for three panels then that is £50 a panel which means that £1,700 is 34 panels which is more than half the length of a football pitch.

I'll try my best!

Off the top of my head, I think there are 10 panels in the fence in total.

Height is 6ft-ish

The three damaged ones are newer than the rest of the fence, pretty standard slatted fence panels. I think they were put in badly a few years ago by the previous owners, hence the collapse now. Rest of the fence is a grayer wood, again slatted but not as good quality and older.

Yes, we'd just get 3 panels from Wickes or somewhere, and if needed some wooden posts, as near as possible to what is falling down.

The total replacement the neighbours are suggested would involve concrete posts rather than wood, but a standard fence slotted in between.

I think £150 is our "worst case scenario" though, looking at internet prices 3 wood panels could be £60, posts £8-10, couple of bags of concrete £40, repair spikes £10 = total of £120.

AndyB82

Johnhowell wrote: »

Sadly, Land Registry do not generally record the boundary marks when they create their records.

You need to look at the original title deeds and plan - which many institutions are destroying as no longer required!

John

As is the case with our title deeds, no H or T on there. Where would the original title deeds/plan be held?

darich

AndyB82 wrote: »

I'll try my best!

Off the top of my head, I think there are 10 panels in the fence in total.

Height is 6ft-ish

The three damaged ones are newer than the rest of the fence, pretty standard slatted fence panels. I think they were put in badly a few years ago by the previous owners, hence the collapse now. Rest of the fence is a grayer wood, again slatted but not as good quality and older.

Yes, we'd just get 3 panels from Wickes or somewhere, and if needed some wooden posts, as near as possible to what is falling down.

The total replacement the neighbours are suggested would involve concrete posts rather than wood, but a standard fence slotted in between.

I think £150 is our "worst case scenario" though, looking at internet prices 3 wood panels could be £60, posts £8-10, couple of bags of concrete £40, repair spikes £10 = total of £120.

First off......a price to rebuild that fence at £1700 seems VERY excessive. Have your neighbours had more than one quote?
Concrete posts are completely unnecessary and more costly than timber.
Your estimated "worst case scenario" prices are fairly good.....except for your concrete. 1 bag of post mix concrete can be picked up from Homebase for £4.99 if I remember correctly. I bought 3 recently to be used as decking foundations so I've more to buy.

Johnhowell

AndyB82 wrote: »

As is the case with our title deeds, no H or T on there. Where would the original title deeds/plan be held?

The originals should be with the mortgage holder. A lot of banks/building societies do not require holding these deeds now. We asked our mortgage provider and they released the "deed pack" to us. You can but ask.

With old properties you can get some lovely documents!

John

27col

AndyB82 wrote: »

Hi all,
As we can't afford the full repairs, we are going to propose that we fix (and pay for) the 3 panels that do need fixing, and cut down/poison the ivy that isn't helping the fence further down. We have offered to do this before, but they seem very insistent on doing the entire lot, though not unpleasant about it. Last night, they effectively said that they're going to do it and anything we can contribute would be appreciated. But we've estimated to repair the 3 panels would only really cost about £150, so should we offer that towards the entire job if they really want to do that? It's only about 10% of the total cost, so appears a bit insulting - however, they are the ones wanting the total replacement.

As you say, you cannot afford to pay for half of what your neighbours want to do. The ball is effectively in their court, if that's what they want, then it's up to them to pay for it, and to be grateful for any contribution that you can afford to make. Don't feel guilty about anything and don't be bull-dozed into something that you can't afford and do not think is really necessary. If you can't afford it, then that is the end of the matter as far as you are concerned.