Confusion over who has responsibility for fence

Matt_2020

Hello, I have a potential issue over who has responsibility for a fence that borders my property and my neighbour's. When I bought my property, my conveyancing solicitor told me that my neighbour was responsible for maintaining the fence. I have a copy of the 'property information form' and an email from my solicitor confirming this. Unfortunately my neighbour's landlord has said that I am responsible for maintaining the fence between the two properties. In view of this, I was wondering the best course of action to take, whether to wait for the fence to blow down and then present the neighbour's landlord with my evidence that they are responsible or whether there is something I could be doing now. Any help and advice would be much appreciated!

davidmcn

What evidence would you be presenting them with? Have you actually checked your (and their) titles?

AdrianC

Your solicitor told you that the neighbouring property's owner was responsible for maintaining the boundary...

That doesn't mean they own the fence.

bouicca21

No obligation to have a fence ...

Matt_2020

davidmcn said:

What evidence would you be presenting them with? Have you actually checked your (and their) titles?

Well at the moment I just have the property information form (completed by the previous owner) and an email from my solicitor to go on. I have looked at my title plan and register and it doesn't give any clue as to who is responsible for that boundary. Also I am in the process of getting a copy of my neighbour's title plan and register.

Matt_2020

bouicca21 said:

No obligation to have a fence ...

I agree, my neighbours are lovely people and I am sure they would be ok if we had no dividing fence at all. I still think I need to know in case they move on in the future or I decide to sell on my property.

Matt_2020

AdrianC said:

Your solicitor told you that the neighbouring property's owner was responsible for maintaining the boundary...

That doesn't mean they own the fence.

I am still trying to meet with my neighbour's landlord, as I have only found out second-hand via my neighbour. It would certainly be useful to hear what they have to say if they have owned the property for a considerable time.

Comms69

It doesnt matter, you're missing the point.

No matter who owns it, there's no obligations to repair it. You want a fence, put one up. 

Matt_2020

Comms69 said:

It doesnt matter, you're missing the point.

No matter who owns it, there's no obligations to repair it. You want a fence, put one up. 

I apologise I am new to the whole business of home ownership. So I could just put in new fence panels as and when they need replacing to improve the look of my garden and then when it is time for me to sell just put 'unknown' on my property information form for who is responsible for the boundary? 

Mojisola

Matt_2020 said:

bouicca21 said:

No obligation to have a fence ...

I agree, my neighbours are lovely people and I am sure they would be ok if we had no dividing fence at all. I still think I need to know in case they move on in the future or I decide to sell on my property.

If you think the garden needs a new fence when you come to sell then you put one up. 

greatcrested

Matt_2020 said:

davidmcn said:

What evidence would you be presenting them with? Have you actually checked your (and their) titles?

Well at the moment I just have the property information form (completed by the previous owner)

Well - and what exactly does it say? I can't read it from here????

This comes up so often we really need a stickie......