Garden fence matainance

[sedgley43]

our neighbours fence is in need of treating,so as our was too we decided to paint them all green to match.Our neighbour shouted through the fence that it was theirs and they had bought the stain to do it.Are we not allowed to choose what colour for the fence in our garden?

[tetherend]

Yes, so long as your colour does not drip or run onto their side.

[flaming]

Are you 100% sure of that, tetherend?  If you are, well and good.  I should have thought he could do the painting only with their permission.  The fence on that side, if it is theirs, means that the fence on the opposite side is yours and you too can allow or not allow the neighbour on that side to paint - or you mighn't care?

You can tell whose fence is whose usually; the 'good' side ought to face you.  I think you should be careful, as boundary disputes have a nasty habit of escalating into the solicitor's office.  I think you ought to get qualified advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau on this issue, unless tetherend is sure of his ground.  You could always put a second fence inside the other fence and do what you like with that one!

[tetherend]

Didn't intend to give incorrect info here.  I have always painted all fences in our gardens and have always been careful not to let any paint stain my neighbour's sides.  I have never had any problem with this at all.  My neighbours paint their side of our fence too, and I understood that this was an acceptable practice.  Sorry if I was wrong here sedgley, I would not want you get you into grief with your neighbours.

[flaming]

Usually people wouldn't mind, so it'seasy to forget the legalities that apply.   I urged caution simply because you, sedgely43, have been shouted at which denotes that the neighbour are sticking  to their legal rights.  They must be sure it is their fence, knowing you could find out it was not.   I am sure there used to be a hard and fast rule about whose fence was on which side.  Each house owns one.   That's why I advocated a call to the CAB.   After you establish whose fence is whose, then try asking nicely if they mind you painting your side of their fence, so long as you do not splash their side.  If they agree make sure they have no cause for complaint - and it would be in the interest of neighbourly relations to pop a bunch of flowers or box of chocs. into them fas a reward for having agreed.  If they own the fence and will not allow you to paint your side, you will have to accept that or run your own fence inside theirs.   Or, you could ignore their refusal and go ahead, but that's the stage when you risk their legal action against you.  I have known much unpleasantness between neighbours stemming  from stuff like hedge-cutting (whose owns the cut-off twigs);  tree planting on boundaries, etc.  Just trying to save you that !  Also, you never know when you need the neighbours, or they you.  That's why it's best to try and negotiate.

[sedgley43]

tankyou for all your advise.my neighbour knocked on the door and agreed to us painting our side.I think they realised less work and cost for them.Only sad thing is because of the stain they used being so dark it will take us about 3 coats of green atleast..........Oh well! I will take the advise of giving flowers thankyou

[flaming]

Glad to hear it's a resolved issue - no upsetting hassles!