Replacement Garden Fence

Jono

I’m after some advice about how to deal with replacing the shared fence between my property and my neighbour. It blew down in the recent strong winds and she would like to replace it with a 4’ fence with 2’ of trellising on top and I’d like a 6’ fence instead. How could I persuade her to go for the 6’ fence?


Some further background: When I moved in (new build, end terrace), there was a 2 meter long 6’ fence (for privacy) leading from the house, with the rest of the fence being a 4’ “post and rail” style to the bottom of the garden. The other three fences around the garden were all 6’.

On the post and rail section, I put on boards to make a 4’ fence and then 2’ of trellising on top (at my own expense), before my neighbour moved in. I would have preferred a 6’ fence, but that would have required replacing all the existing posts (at additional cost, plus a lot of work and I would have need permission from my new neighbour, who hadn’t moved in).

She’s essentially suggesting that we replace what is already there, however, I’d like to take to opportunity to match the fencing around the rest of both our gardens – her justification is that she can “see” out when she’s in her conservatory, my justification is that it would make my garden more private (and secure).

I get on well with my neighbour and I don’t want to upset her. We’ve both got quotes for our preferred fence styles and are currently “having a think” about how to proceed.

Any advice gratefully received.

Jono

phil24_7

If it's her fence and on her land, she can do what she wants with it. If it bothers you that much you can erect a fence on your side to your own specification, but I suspect this might cause a rift between you.

Regards
Phil

Kim_kim

As its her fence the costs lie with her.
I suggest you offer to split costs if she puts up what you want & don't if she has what she wants.

phil24_7

Didn't notice you were paying part of it.

It's not your fence so not your responsibility to pay. If she wants you to split costs, and your happy to, then get what you want, else let her fork out for what she wants at her own cost.

Regards
Phil

Jono

Thanks for the replies so far. Just to clarify, it’s a shared fence, so we are planning to share the cost. So far, I’ve thought of the following:

• As it’s a shared fence, I could nail 6’ board to my side (this could would put additional weight on the fence).
  
• I could plant a hedge on my side (to grow up to 6’).
  
• Offer to pay completely for the fence if we install the 6’ one (but then I’m a bit out of pocket).

Any other ideas?

Davesnave

If you needed permission to replace the fence, presumably it's not yours, nor is it 'shared,' because you shouldn't have attached anything to it without permission.

The fence can become shared if you both want to share costs for a replacement, but sharing often means compromise, on both sides.

Others have suggested that if you can't get your own way, you should let the neighbour pay for the whole fence, which is one solution.

The other solution is to allow the neighbour to put up what she wants, (maybe with a goodwill contribution at your discretion) and then grow something that will eventually reach 6' on your side. If it's something prickly that will take care of the security aspect too, although trellis is usually viewed more of a deterrent than a plain 6' panel for reasons that seem obvious to me.

Jono

Thanks for the replies so far. Just to clarify, it is a shared fence that needs to be replaced (it belongs to both of us!). People seem to think I asked a question about who owns it or who should pay for it. We are both planning to pay half for the replacement fence - this means, as we are joint owners, that we can paint our “own” sides of the fence and attach anything that we wish (just as we have previously done).

Anyway, now that’s cleared up, perhaps I should re-phrase my original question:

How can I persuade my neighbour to have a 6’ fence, rather than a 4’ fence with 2’ of trellising?

Thanks ,

Jono

[Deleted User]

Hi,

maybe your neighbour is sitting with a cup of coffee just now thinking,

mmm, wonder how I can persuade my neighbour to have a 4' fence with a 2' trellis, don't want to upset him, maybe if I just offer to pay it all myself?

My thoughts, there's going to have to be a compromise.

Davesnave

Jono wrote: »

How can I persuade my neighbour to have a 6’ fence, rather than a 4’ fence with 2’ of trellising?

The short answer is that you can't.

I've found that there is a plant-based solution to every boundary issue. If it were me, she'd get the trellis and then I'd grow something at least 2m tall behind it. That's my kind of compromise.

phil24_7

What do your deeds say. There may be stipulations on what fence can and can't be put there.

Regards
Phil

warehouse

Trellis is actually very nice for growing things into such as a clematis. Before you know it you'll have 6 feet of privacy again.