Is it worth building a fence around front garden?

cepheus

I have placed a large stone block in a strategic place on the small plot which is separated from the main plot by a public path which causes the problems. The main plot borders mainly onto connecting paths or allocated parking spots.

J_i_m

My questions would be, "Do you own the patch of ground in front of your house/flat?" And "do you have permission to build on it?"

If it is and you do, then my motivation for puting up a fence would not be of property value, since it's probably neglible and subjective anyway.

I'd be motivated by creating a physical boundary to increase the privacy of my home. I would not be pleased if the patch of my ground directly in front of my home opened itself up to be either a through-way, parking spot or an area where people might gather recreationally.

Furthermore I have first hand experience of people rapping their knuckles on my windows as they pass, and/or pointing at me and making some kind of comment about me to their companion. It's an invasion of privacy.

And it's for that reason why I would be motivated in creating some kind of physical boundary infront of my home.

Owain_Moneysaver

Sarah Beeny did a programme a few years back where owners in a street all spent £1,000 each tarting up the front of their houses, and the average increase in value was £10,000.

Obviously the market has changed since then but - provided it's in keeping with the neighbourhood - smartening up the front and increasing kerb appeal does have a positive effect, on saleability if not price.

10 foot high chainlink and searchlights may give the wrong impression however.

By the way, it's only a fence if the posts are buried in the ground or it's otherwise fixed. Something like half-barrel pot planters, with posts in them linked by chain, would be an effective barrier but be moveable if required.

cepheus

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

10 foot high chainlink and searchlights may give the wrong impression however

last comment on here said the same, but the view is mostly positive

http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/Does-putting-a-fence-on-your-property-increase-the-value/290889/

Yorkie1

cepheus wrote: »

... so in plain English, does that mean I need planning permission to erect a fence?

lincroft1710 wrote: »

No, it means you need the consent of the builder of your house.

Davesnave wrote: »

However, if the estate is finished and the builder has no more houses to sell, their interest in the subject may be marginal, or even non-existent.

That may be so, but as and when the OP comes to sell the house in the future, you can bet your bottom dollar that the buyer's solicitor will ask to see written evidence of the permission.

As previously mentioned, if the fence borders the road and is more than 1m high you need separate planning permission for it from the council.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/fenceswallsgates/

cepheus

This is probably more similar but with parking bays rather than a road outside. These are terraced because they have an adjoined house at the back as well as well the side so there is a front and side garden/lawn only.

carefullycautious

If those houses are nearby why don't you knock and ask if they had to have permission?

I would not be too happy with a dog/people unknown walking and doing god knows what on my garden.

Davesnave

Yorkie1 wrote: »

That may be so, but as and when the OP comes to sell the house in the future, you can bet your bottom dollar that the buyer's solicitor will ask to see written evidence of the permission.

One look around the neighbourhood, as the OP has described it, will probably reassure buyers, and as their solicitor won't actually see the property, it may not be brought up.

I say this as someone who sold a bungalow with exactly the same sort of clause, on what was an 'open plan' estate when built in 1984. Thanks to my Dad's dislike of a chavvy neighbour, by 2006 we had a 6' fence at the front backed by conifers. By then, next door had twee picket fence and the chap on the end had closeboard painted in that hideous orange colour they jestingly call 'cedar.'

Yes, it was a mess, but no one mentioned the fence.

[Deleted User]

I rent my (slightly adapted) 1999-build bungalow from an HA but there was also a 'no fences' rule, which is enforced due to regular inspection visits from HA manager.

I did ask about planting shrubs and trees and was told 'anywhere you like' so I did what was suggested earlier and planted a complete boundary of native mixed seedling bare-root hedging (mostly thorny species), which 10 years later is kept 1.5m high and 40cm wide. This was the cheapest option, using seedling (less than 1 yr old) plants

Planting a bare-root native hedge this winter made of 2-3 year old saplings is still an option. Even when bare of leaves, the thick mesh of thorny branches is still a great barrier and boundary. And my HA is very 'green' so I get brownie points for my contribution to local wildlife

Add in a pair of gateposts & a gate and you'd have a thick boundary within 3-4 years.

cepheus

joolzred wrote: »

I rent my (slightly adapted) 1999-build bungalow from an HA but there was also a 'no fences' rule, which is enforced due to regular inspection visits from HA manager.

I did ask about planting shrubs and trees and was told 'anywhere you like' so I did what was suggested earlier and planted a complete boundary of native mixed seedling bare-root hedging (mostly thorny species), which 10 years later is kept 1.5m high and 40cm wide. This was the cheapest option, using seedling (less than 1 yr old) plants

Planting a bare-root native hedge this winter made of 2-3 year old saplings is still an option. Even when bare of leaves, the thick mesh of thorny branches is still a great barrier and boundary. And my HA is very 'green' so I get brownie points for my contribution to local wildlife

Add in a pair of gateposts & a gate and you'd have a thick boundary within 3-4 years.

Yes that would be the only practical way of keeping him in. If I erected barbed wire there would be an uproar about animal cruelty, but a hedge, an award for environmentalism! There is no shading on others property either because I'm the most Northward of the adjoined houses. It would take time though and he is fully grown.

Is a hedge an 'erection though?

"No building structure fence wall or erection other than the dwellinghouse garage and outbuildings (if any) being erected by the Transferor shall be erected on the said property without the consent in writing of the transferor

My other idea is a retractable lead secured a metre or so up so it doesn't tangle around his legs.