Please Settle The Fence Argument Lol

[Smowball]

I’ve Googled it and got so many different answers! So, as I stand at my patio doors looking into my back garden, the fence on the left has broken in the storm. Is that mine or next doors fence?? Sorry if I sound daft but I really have tried to find out overnight lol.

[aelmpvw]

i think the one on the left is your neighbours

[Bobbisox1]

Isn’t it where the ‘posts’ go into the ground? if they’re on your side then it’s your fence ?

[mallyh]

according to the deeds of our property the left is our fence

[fiction-factory]

What do the deeds say?
But in practice it's something you need to agree with your neighbour. Are you happy to see it broken? If not, what if your neighbour just wants to leave it broken? The best thing is normally to agree to share the cost in my opinion. If they refuse to pay then either stump up yourself, leave it broken or study your deeds and /or engage a solicitor.

[JJ109]

They can also be party fences. Check your land certificate.

[emmie]

speak with the neighbours about sharing the costs, that is if you want it repaired.

[Bobbisox1]

We did speak to ours after some storm damage, the result was Luke warm so we had it done anyway ( still on good speaking terms with them though)

[Smowball]

Well it’s going to fall down so either way needs to be repaired lol

[Deskdiary]

Engaging a solicitor over something as trivial as fencing is a spectacularly bad idea - avoid at all costs - neighbour disputes are notoriously expensive, victory is generally pyrrhic, it will result in permanent bad blood, and if you want to sell/need to sell in the future, you will be required to disclose the dispute to any potential buyer.

[Smowball]

I am NOT speaking to a solicitor. If it comes to the worst I’ll just ask to split costs. Was just genuinely wanting to know who owns what

[emmie]

that is the only thing you can do.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't believe there is a hard & fast rule.
You could try checking with the deeds and local authorities.

At the house i3grew up in it was always the case that as one exited the front door, the wall to the right was our neighbour's, the one to the left, ours. Sine my parents died, the original neighbours too, new owners suddenly decide it's nothing to do with them and they aren't maintaining/repairing it. One wonders how to force the issue. Always seems responsibilities seem to change depending on whether something is a benefit or a responsibility. Years of being told as a kid not to get on it because it's the neighbor's can't change to, "You pay for it because we're not admitting it's anything to do with us". Hope it doesn't fall on the postman one day.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Standing at the front of your house looking at your front door, the boundary on your RIGHT is usually your responsibility and the LEFT your neighbours. This is not written in stone though. If the fence is wooden and has posts, if you can see the posts in your garden its the neighbours fence, if you see the planks on your side its usually yours. My best advice would be to talk to the neighbour as they may be fervently googling what to do at the same time as you.
In the mean time you could prop it up with your valentines pressie lol!

[Old_Geezer]

... I grew ...

[Smowball]

Think I’m going to pop round and talk to him lol

[aelmpvw]

if an argument ensues don't sit on the fence ...

[1ozzy]

Be prepared.
"De fence is de best attack !!

[anneasquith]

Surely the first port of call would be, talk to the neighbours ?

[Ken4155]

Always wondered this; if a neighbour paints his side of the fence (which he erected) do you, by law, need his permission to paint the side of the fence facing your house?

[diddlydo]

If you've got a copy of the deeds to your house, they should show ownership of the fences - the fence is marked with a sort of "T" on the side of the person who owns it.