Joint Boundary fences who pays?

[8-P]

Just had 3 fence panels go down, easy to sort because they slot in the concrete posts in no time.

I have one neighbour, we have equal amounts of fencing and share a straight boundary between gardens.

I ordered the panels and we agreed to fit them on Sunday. Pre ordering I told him the cost and he agreed.

I hadn’t thought for a second about who technically(legally should I say) was responsible for the boundary because we both get equal benefit from the fence being there and the job needed to be done.

My neighbour said nothing until we had fitted them, then right at the end dropped in that he thought I should check my deeds because he thinks they belong to me .ie now doesn’t want to pay.

Sure enough I checked and they belong to me so told him he had nothing to pay. I’ll know for the future too.

It is what it is, but I’m just wondering if others on here would agree with this or would you chip in, 50/50 it’s a shared fence regardless of who actually owns it - let me know your thoughts?

[Glassman]

I always understood the rule of thumb to be the left side as you look at the house.

[anonymous-user]

Usually the LH side (not always!) and whoever owns it would deal with it in my experience.
Just done my mothers long fence.. The fence had blown into the neighbours garden & they wanted it fixed asap…

[dundarach]

Unless it says anything in anyone's deeds, or covenants etc.

No one needs a fence anywhere, so if you've bought them, as your neighbour, thank you

[TownIdiot]

As a preference I'd rather "own" them and be responsible as it means I can do what I prefer.

In future if you want to change the fence then your neighbour has now forfeited any right to input.

I'd rather be in your situation having spent a few quid extra.

[Richard-390a0]

I don't see how paying 50/50 benefits anyone, as you'll still be paying the equivalent of 100% if you agreed the same with the other side?. Surely it's simpler just to pay for what you're responsible for, although I could easily see one of my scum neighbours happily leaving their fence down if / when it goes.

[8-P]

Richard-390a0 said:

I don't see how paying 50/50 benefits anyone, as you'll still be paying the equivalent of 100% if you agreed the same with the other side?. Surely it's simpler just to pay for what you're responsible for, although I could easily see one of my scum neighbours happily leaving their fence down if / when it goes.

I have no other neighbour. Think of plot like a square with a line down the middle. We both have very obvious fences that are our own of equal measure which is why I just thought we would split it.

[8-P]

TownIdiot said:

As a preference I'd rather "own" them and be responsible as it means I can do what I prefer.

In future if you want to change the fence then your neighbour has now forfeited any right to input.

I'd rather be in your situation having spent a few quid extra.

This is the benefit, I can do what I like, choose the quality of panel etc.

Maybe I’m too nice. If he had responsibility for the boundary and asked me to split the cost I would have said no problem.

[speedyman]

I have neighbours on both sides. I also have responsibility for both boundary fences. I have a plan which shows a T on it which indicates ownership is mine. Fence at the bottom of the garden belongs to another house. I put up my own fence on my side of the boundary there so all the fences match. Twenty six panels in total.

[TownIdiot]

8-P said:

This is the benefit, I can do what I like, choose the quality of panel etc.

Maybe I’m too nice. If he had responsibility for the boundary and asked me to split the cost I would have said no problem.

Same here
He should have said he wasn't paying before installation.

[Zetec-S]

8-P said:

Richard-390a0 said:

I don't see how paying 50/50 benefits anyone, as you'll still be paying the equivalent of 100% if you agreed the same with the other side?. Surely it's simpler just to pay for what you're responsible for, although I could easily see one of my scum neighbours happily leaving their fence down if / when it goes.

I have no other neighbour. Think of plot like a square with a line down the middle. We both have very obvious fences that are our own of equal measure which is why I just thought we would split it.

We had a similar situation. At the start of the year the fence down the middle came down, our neighbour came round and said she'd be sorting it asap as she thought it was hers. I asked her to let me know how much it would cost once she had some quotes, and agreed to split it 50-50. Can't remember what's on the deeds, but just seems like the decent thing to do in this sort of situation.

[8-P]

Zetec-S said:

We had a similar situation. At the start of the year the fence down the middle came down, our neighbour came round and said she'd be sorting it asap as she thought it was hers. I asked her to let me know how much it would cost once she had some quotes, and agreed to split it 50-50. Can't remember what's on the deeds, but just seems like the decent thing to do in this sort of situation.

I think those were the words I was looking for - decent thing to do. Guess we don’t all think alike though.

[Acorn1]

On the LR plan your fence should have a "T" in a circle denoting ownership.

If not, it's a shared responsibility

[anonymous-user]

We've got this at the moment. 3 panels blow down. Three posts need fixing.

There's nothing in the deeds about who owns the boundary, so I assume it's shared. BUT in the questionnaire the seller of our house filled out, it outlines the boundaries we're supposedly responsible for and this isn't one of them.

Next door have had their handyman round twice now (no sign of a quote though) but didn't actually mention it to me until I went round to ask what was happening. I assumed they were just going to pay but I think they're now looking to go 50:50. I'm not against this in principle, except for the fact that the neighbours on the other side are vehemently against contributing anything to that fence as it's 'ours'. There's nothing in the deeds to support this, but the rails are on our side.

I think it would be fair for me to contribute, but I'm just reluctant to end up the doormat who ends up either paying for every fence.

Also, there's a ruddy great hedge up against the fence that needs fixing (on their side), so part of me's just tempted to refuse to pay but also not insist it's actually replaced, which I think is fair enough.

Incidentally, what do we reckon is the going rate for three close-board panels and posts in the South East?

[irc]

[quote=LR90]
Also, there's a ruddy great hedge up against the fence that needs fixing (on their side), so part of me's just tempted to refuse to pay but also not insist it's actually replaced, which I think is fair enough.
[/quote

Why replace a fence if there is now a hedge? Assuming it isn't a Leylandi which will look crap from your side if it has been shaded by a fence and never fills out well. If they want to replace their fence let them.

Our shared fence was a 3ft high metal rail. I built a fence with posts and 6 ft panels just my side of it. Naturally over th years the panels needed replaced. I woulddn't dream of asking the neighbour to pay. On the other side the neighbour planted a Privet hedge his side. At the point I bought the house it had spread 3 feet into my garden. I cut it right back to the boundary and regained 3ft of lawn. Being Privet it filled out and looks better as a narrow hedge than a 6ft wide sprawl.

On the same side we also have a short 12ft long fence which I put up for patio privacy. Any subsequent maintainance also done by me. The neighbour offered to contribute but I declined. It was only the cost of materials. I do the work myself. He gave me a bottle of malt.

[Antony Moxey]

Left side theirs, good side ours, I'm not having any of that. Any time there's been any issues on any of the three sides we share with our neighbours we have a conversation and split the bill 50/50. I can't see any point in anyone being antagonistic over a fence.