Boundary Fences

pollyanna24

How do you know who owns them? I have looked it up on the internet and the government website says that no one does and boundary agreements need to be drawn up.

My situation is that next door to me has been bought by a couple and they are doing extensive renovations. Their builder came round and told me they are replacing the fence between our gardens and then gave me the choice to either just leave the fence that was there already (been there since I bought the house almost 11 years ago) and they will butt up to it, or because it is not in a good state, just take it down.

I said as long as my garden was secure, to just take it down. This has been done.

However, my garden on the left side, sides on to a number of gardens (my next door neighbour is the end of the street and so the street perpendicular to mine has about three of four of the bottom of their gardens alongside my left hand side).

For whatever reason, the fence panel connecting my garden to next door extended a tad too far and connected to the next garden in the street around the corner.

The builders have erected a fence that makes my next door neighbours (i.e. the ones who paid for the fence) all lovely and secure, but there is now a gap between the first house “around the corner” and mine.

My dilemma is that my new neighbours put up a new fence at no expense to me and their garden is secure, but I now have a gap between me and another neighbour.

Whose responsibility is this gap when it is not connected to my next door neighbour, but wouldn’t have appeared if they hadn’t replaced the fence between our gardens?

The builders have propped up a fence panel to cover the gap, but not actually secured it as I’m assuming the builders think it is my problem.

Hopefully I have explained it clearly enough.

Guest101

That's not what the government says.


The person who pays for it owns it.

pollyanna24

Guest101 wrote: »

That's not what the government says.


The person who pays for it owns it.

Okay, thanks for that. So my new neighbours owns the new fence.

But there is still a gap that wouldn't have existed if they hadn't taken the old fence down.

Is this now my problem to deal with (and the other neighbour round the corner) or do my next door neighbours have to rectify the gap?

glentoran99

Its for you to deal with, you told them to take it down

pollyanna24

With the condition that my garden would be made secure.

I must admit at the time of the conversation, I was unaware that the original fence panel extended past their garden.

Guest101

pollyanna24 wrote: »

With the condition that my garden would be made secure.

I must admit at the time of the conversation, I was unaware that the original fence panel extended past their garden.

Well l it is secure from their side, have you spoken to the other neighbour?

pollyanna24

Not yet.

I think I have concluded it is my (and the neighbour round the corner) problem.

Just annoying as my garden was fine until next door started pulling fences down.

Guest101

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Not yet.

I think I have concluded it is my (and the neighbour round the corner) problem.

Just annoying as my garden was fine until next door started pulling fences down.

You could've said no though.


Anyway just put up your own fence next to it.

moneyistooshorttomention

It sounds like your own fence needed replacing anyway. You now have had the vast majority of it replaced at no cost to yourself.

Put like that - in your position I think I'd just commission the odd bit of fence that is now a gap (sounds like it's just one fence panel anyway). No big deal - and how about asking that builder to come back and just do the one more fence panel? You'd be the one to pay them for it - but one fence panel isn't going to cost much.

essjae

I suggest your easiest option is to have a friendly chat with the builders (assuming they are still on site), and ask them to fix the propped-up bit in the the gap properly - you will probably need to give them access through your garden to get to it (this might be why they didn't do it in the first place).

If they are unwilling, or have already finished the whole job and left site, then have a (also friendly) chat with your neighbor, pointing out that it was advantageous to them the replace the fence rather than put it up next to the old one (since they didn't lose any garden space), so it would be reasonable for them to arrange/pay to have this gap filled!