Confused neighbours leads us to end up paying for fence panels on BOTH sides

spiritus

We live in a mid terraced. When we moved in neighbour (right hand side) told us the fencing between us and them is our responsibility. Whenever fence blew out we would duly replace it.
Last week we lost a panel on the other side between us and neighbour (left hand side). This neighbour also tells us that the side between us and them belongs to us. In fairness to both neighbours, we have seen them replace entire fence panels on the sides between them and their other neighbours but that problems leaves us with having to fork out both sides which cannot be right.
Our deeds mentions that all fences are "party fences" which I take to mean that they are a shared responsibility.. The trouble is no other neighbour seems to have the same wording in their deeds. Right hand neighbour claims there is no mention of ownership in their deeds. Left hand side neighbour claims they spoke to the council and they were told the fence between them and their other neighbour is their responsibility.
We don't want to fall out with anybody but at the same time we don't want to end up being the mugs that pay for both sides.
What's the best option? Try and get title deeds for our neighbours properties?

jimbog

£3 to download each neighbours title plan which might help
https://eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/eservices/FindAProperty/view/QuickEnquiryInit.do?_ga=2.149805366.1236519525.1609426548-869982282.1583569967

Mickey666

Also, 'responsibility' usually just means that the fence belongs to you.  There's usually no actual responsibility to maintain it if you don't want to for any reason.

lookstraightahead

If you want a maintained fence both sides I would go along with it. You don't have to have a fence up and your neighbours may decide to take it down and put a wire up instead.

spiritus

jimbog said:

£3 to download each neighbours title plan which might help
https://eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/eservices/FindAProperty/view/QuickEnquiryInit.do?_ga=2.149805366.1236519525.1609426548-869982282.1583569967

Thanks. I've just checked Land Registry but they claim there is usually no mention of fences within the title plan

spiritus

lookstraightahead said:

If you want a maintained fence both sides I would go along with it. You don't have to have a fence up and your neighbours may decide to take it down and put a wire up instead.

When both panels blew out and landed on one of the neighbour's side they knocked on our door asking us to remove "our" panels from their back garden.
Both sides appear to want fence panels there (as do we) as without them there would be no privacy in the back garden but it seems like we're getting screwed for maintaining both sides

eddddy

spiritus said:

When both panels blew out and landed on one of the neighbour's side they knocked on our door asking us to remove "our" panels from their back garden.

Both sides appear to want fence panels there (as do we) as without them there would be no privacy in the back garden but it seems like we're getting screwed for maintaining both sides

It sounds like... you have agreed to maintain both fences, because your neighbours said you should.

You are equally free to tell your neighbours that they should maintain the fences.

You probably have no duty to maintain boundary fences, and the neighbours probably have no duty to maintain them either. It tends to be worked out through goodwill etc.

martinbuckley

Its not compulsary to have a fence.  A boundary is a legal line whereby one property ends and another begins.  It therefore stands to reason that the fence will be on the land of one or the other.
If you feel you are being screwed, next time you replace the fence, put it 12 inches into their land!

NatNat77

How long have you lived there? As we're selling and buying and we've had to specify on a form which side fences our "ours", and so has our vendor. Do you have something similar in the paperwork from the previous owner when you bought? 

carefullycautious

Did the previous owners of your home put the fence up both sides and that is why these neighbours think you are now responsible for them?

Petriix

You seem to be confused. It is highly unlikely that there is any kind of legal responsibility for maintaining a fence, unless it is written into a covenant or contract which you agreed to.

It's probably best to avoid getting into a dispute with your neighbours in any case. If you want a fence all round then you may as well replace the panels when required. We've replaced a couple over the last few years and our neighbours today replaced four panels (not adjoining our garden).