Shared fence - rights???

danlojo

Hi

I'm after some advice if anyone can help me out.

We purchased a house 6 months ago and the deeds say that the fence between the neighbours over the back is shared. We are backed onto by 2 houses. The current fence is wooden, stained green with trellising on top.

One of the back neighbours asked me this morning if they could pull 4 of the fence panels and replace them with curved top brown stained wooden fencing. Obviously that would then make our back fence half green and straight and half brown and curved.

I wouldnt mind but the fence is in really good order and they are selling the house (well, trying to as it has been up for sale over a year)

The reason he is doing this is because his side neighbour has erected new brown curved wooden fencing and he wants his garden to match.

We have said that he can attach his fence panel onto ours so that it does not affect our look on our side, but he was not happy with that.

Does anyone know where we stand?? As it is shared has he the right to change it whenever he wants without our full consent and if he does what can we do. We are away on holiday in a couple of weeks and we are worried he may do it then.

HELP!!

Al1x

It seems a bit unreasonable that he wants his garden fences to match and therefore leaving yours not matching. Your suggestion sounds perfectly fair to back the fences together.

Sorry I don't really have any advice.

Enterprise_1701C

I would explain to him why you don't want it to happen, and tell him if he is really desperate then he could replace all your fencing to match. Of course, that would probably mean that he would have to replace more fencing for the next house etc etc, might just be enough to put him off!

ormus

just remind him that any decision re the fence, must be a joint decision.
if you come back off holiday and theres a new fence, you will remove it. thatll put off any new buyers.