Party fences and walls
Discussion
Whats the convention between neighbours and party fences?
Does each neighbour look after the left hand fence only, or, as I understand it, are both parties jointly responsible for upkeep and cost?
I replaced, at my cost, the entire run of fence panels when I moved into our house about a year ago.
Out of all the old panels there were two that remained which were servicable. I disposed of the rest and put the remaining two at the back of our property against a rear wall.
Neighbour has sent his builders into our garden whilst we were out and installed them in a fence project of his own.
His argument is that as he paid for them, (questionable), they are his.
My argument is that as I paid for all the replacement fence panels they are mine.
Does each neighbour look after the left hand fence only, or, as I understand it, are both parties jointly responsible for upkeep and cost?
I replaced, at my cost, the entire run of fence panels when I moved into our house about a year ago.
Out of all the old panels there were two that remained which were servicable. I disposed of the rest and put the remaining two at the back of our property against a rear wall.
Neighbour has sent his builders into our garden whilst we were out and installed them in a fence project of his own.
His argument is that as he paid for them, (questionable), they are his.
My argument is that as I paid for all the replacement fence panels they are mine.
You may have paid for all the new panels, but if he paid for the old ones, then they are his. I am surprised that he didnt claim them earlier for future use. Imagine a few years down the road, if he replaced the panels again, wouldnt you want the ones that you had paid for? Who do you consider 'owns' the new panels that you paid for? If you reckon they are 'yours' then surely he owns the old ones if he paid for them years ago.
I am fairly sure when I bought my house that the deeds showed which boundaries I owned & which I didn't. You would therefore only be responsible for those you legally own. And could possibly get into hot water if you did something to your neighbours boundary.
My folks have had a complete nightmare over the last 20 years getting their neighbours to trim the holly hedge they own to the point it's now taller than their house
They are allowed to cut it back to the border but must not touch any part of it that is on the neighbours side.
That said surely he could have just asked you for the fence panels in the last year?
My folks have had a complete nightmare over the last 20 years getting their neighbours to trim the holly hedge they own to the point it's now taller than their house
They are allowed to cut it back to the border but must not touch any part of it that is on the neighbours side. That said surely he could have just asked you for the fence panels in the last year?
andygo said:If you have only been there a year, how do you know he didnt? Even if you dont believe him, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
His argument is that as he paid for them, (questionable), they are his.
andygo said:So, if you put up a new greenhouse, this automatically means that your neighbours old greenhouse becomes your property?
My argument is that as I paid for all the replacement fence panels they are mine.
Blimey! two posts on fence panels, I must be bored! Better get to work
Balmoral Green said:
You may have paid for all the new panels, but if he paid for the old ones, then they are his. I am surprised that he didnt claim them earlier for future use. Imagine a few years down the road, if he replaced the panels again, wouldnt you want the ones that you had paid for? Who do you consider 'owns' the new panels that you paid for? If you reckon they are 'yours' then surely he owns the old ones if he paid for them years ago.
I see what you are saying, but I would have thought that as I paid some £400 for panels to improve our joint boundary, then if he wants to retain 'his' panels, then he should be making some contribution to the improvements.
I am afraid there is a bit of 'history' with this family, they are driving my wife and I mad with his totally selfish behaviour in other areas.
Looks like we are going to move anyway as the din he generates is so annoying. I suppose as they are 'my' fence panels, I can take them with me.
You have to check the vendor's statement from when you purchased your house. This will state who has responsibilty for the upkeep of each wall, either 'yes', 'no' or 'shared'. Deeds can be a bit patchy on this subject as, particularly with older houses, things may have changed after the deeds were written.
The previous occupants of our house 'stole' about a foot width of driveway from one neighbour and a bit of the bottom of the garden of the other neighbour... which has lead to some interesting conversations...
The previous occupants of our house 'stole' about a foot width of driveway from one neighbour and a bit of the bottom of the garden of the other neighbour... which has lead to some interesting conversations...
mrs puggit said:
I am fairly sure when I bought my house that the deeds showed which boundaries I owned & which I didn't. You would therefore only be responsible for those you legally own. And could possibly get into hot water if you did something to your neighbours boundary.
My folks have had a complete nightmare over the last 20 years getting their neighbours to trim the holly hedge they own to the point it's now taller than their house
That said surely he could have just asked you for the fence panels in the last year?
If you want to get rid of a tree nail the trunks with a copper nail, the tree will die within 3-6 months, end of story, and if you peel up a bit of bark before nailing it, it will also be invisible! Had an obnoxious neighbour with a tree he wouldn't cut, nailed it, then got the council to issue a felling order for a "dangerous" dead tree......sorted!
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