Responsibility of garden fences

[Booldawg]

Am I right in presuming that when you have properties both to the left and right of you, you're responsible for maintaining the fence to the right of your property (as you face the house, front and back gardens).

I only ask because my neighbour is replacing our fence on the right hand side of the back garden and hasnt asked us if we mind. Of course I dont mind because it saves me time and money - but what comeback, if any could there be?

[Lonnie]

generally, yes, but not always, to be sure, check your deeds, also, you can ask some of your neighbours.

[chasbo]

As a very general rule, you are responsible for the fence that has the support posts on your side. I.E. the "bad side" of the fence! It could be to the left or the right of your property.

[spudqueen]

You DO need to check the deeds (or whatever) of your house. In the first house I owned we were responsible for the fence on the right, the second one the fence on the left and in this house all boundaries are jointly owned - so I would say there is no hard and fast rule!
I wouldn't worry if your neighbour has replaced 'your' fence, as you say it has saved you time and expense, and I can't think of any 'comebacks' at all.

[Kos]

I've had an on-going issue with fence-ownership since moving in to my house in that the previous owner out of the kindness of his heart, bless him, erected the fences on the right, left and at the end. Now the neighbours think I am responsible for them. Which I probably am but I do then also have the right to completely remove them!

Be warned- before going to the expense of looking at your Title Deeds- not all Deeds show boundary ownership in which case you will have to go to court to establish responsibility.