Opinions on garden fence
Discussion
An old friend of the family is having a heated discussion with her newish neighbour, in that the front garden fence on the right left, as the old friend looks out from her front window, requires replacing.
Now there is no problem with the fact that it needs replacing, except for the opinion of the neighbour that the "decorative side" should be facing into the neighbours side, and that both sides of the fence should be of the same aesthetic appearance.
I am of the opinion that if the fence is the responsibility of the old family friend then she should be deciding where the "decorative side" should face, am i correct on that, looking at the local council website only brings up the requirements for height etc.
Having looked at the houses on the street where i live it seems that the "decorative side" on all is towards the garden on the right as you look out of the front window.
Now there is no problem with the fact that it needs replacing, except for the opinion of the neighbour that the "decorative side" should be facing into the neighbours side, and that both sides of the fence should be of the same aesthetic appearance.
I am of the opinion that if the fence is the responsibility of the old family friend then she should be deciding where the "decorative side" should face, am i correct on that, looking at the local council website only brings up the requirements for height etc.
Having looked at the houses on the street where i live it seems that the "decorative side" on all is towards the garden on the right as you look out of the front window.
Edited by Racing Newt on Sunday 22 January 15:30
Racing Newt said:
An old friend of the family is having a heated discussion with her newish neighbour, in that the front garden fence on the right, as the old friend looks out from her front window, requires replacing.
Now there is no problem with the fact that it needs replacing, except for the opinion of the neighbour that the "decorative side" should be facing into the neighbours side, and that both sides of the fence should be of the same aesthetic appearance.
I am of the opinion that if the fence is the responsibility of the old family friend then she should be deciding where the "decorative side" should face, am i correct on that, looking at the local council website only brings up the requirements for height etc.
Having looked at the houses on the street where i live it seems that the "decorative side" on all is towards the garden on the right as you look out of the front window.
I believe you are correct, you own the fence on the right as you look out of your property, but the "decorative side" will face your neighbour. This is how it has been for many a year, but I am prepared to be corrected.Now there is no problem with the fact that it needs replacing, except for the opinion of the neighbour that the "decorative side" should be facing into the neighbours side, and that both sides of the fence should be of the same aesthetic appearance.
I am of the opinion that if the fence is the responsibility of the old family friend then she should be deciding where the "decorative side" should face, am i correct on that, looking at the local council website only brings up the requirements for height etc.
Having looked at the houses on the street where i live it seems that the "decorative side" on all is towards the garden on the right as you look out of the front window.
You can face it anyway you want if you are erecting it on your own property.
Less and less people are following the 'nice face out' unwritten rule. It all depends on the type of fence as to the reasons the way you might face it.
If the neighbour doesn't like it the are free to put their own fence up on there own side.
Less and less people are following the 'nice face out' unwritten rule. It all depends on the type of fence as to the reasons the way you might face it.
If the neighbour doesn't like it the are free to put their own fence up on there own side.
cjb44 said:
Racing Newt said:
An old friend of the family is having a heated discussion with her newish neighbour, in that the front garden fence on the right, as the old friend looks out from her front window, requires replacing.
Now there is no problem with the fact that it needs replacing, except for the opinion of the neighbour that the "decorative side" should be facing into the neighbours side, and that both sides of the fence should be of the same aesthetic appearance.
I am of the opinion that if the fence is the responsibility of the old family friend then she should be deciding where the "decorative side" should face, am i correct on that, looking at the local council website only brings up the requirements for height etc.
Having looked at the houses on the street where i live it seems that the "decorative side" on all is towards the garden on the right as you look out of the front window.
I believe you are correct, you own the fence on the right as you look out of your property, but the "decorative side" will face your neighbour. This is how it has been for many a year, but I am prepared to be corrected.Now there is no problem with the fact that it needs replacing, except for the opinion of the neighbour that the "decorative side" should be facing into the neighbours side, and that both sides of the fence should be of the same aesthetic appearance.
I am of the opinion that if the fence is the responsibility of the old family friend then she should be deciding where the "decorative side" should face, am i correct on that, looking at the local council website only brings up the requirements for height etc.
Having looked at the houses on the street where i live it seems that the "decorative side" on all is towards the garden on the right as you look out of the front window.
I have just found this on pettyson.co.uk.
(We’ve already touched upon this above, but it’s well worth reiterating as it can cause confusion. The rules are that the fence posts must be on the owners side of the boundary, but there is no law that states the smooth side must face either way. It is entirely their choice which way the fence will face.)
(if your deeds indicate that the fence in question is your responsibility, then it is down to you to erect the new fence. Party fences are the joint responsibility of both parties.)
(if your neighbour is unwilling or unable to spend money on their fence, you cannot force them to do so by legal means.
If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is leave their fence where it is and erect your own on your land. It doesn’t matter if your fence is touching theirs, providing that it is situated within your boundary.)
From the above i am going to advise the old friend to suggest going 50-50 with the fence and let the neighbour have the decorative side as long as the fence posts are on the neighbour side.
Would the general opinion be that this is an equitable compromise.
(We’ve already touched upon this above, but it’s well worth reiterating as it can cause confusion. The rules are that the fence posts must be on the owners side of the boundary, but there is no law that states the smooth side must face either way. It is entirely their choice which way the fence will face.)
(if your deeds indicate that the fence in question is your responsibility, then it is down to you to erect the new fence. Party fences are the joint responsibility of both parties.)
(if your neighbour is unwilling or unable to spend money on their fence, you cannot force them to do so by legal means.
If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is leave their fence where it is and erect your own on your land. It doesn’t matter if your fence is touching theirs, providing that it is situated within your boundary.)
From the above i am going to advise the old friend to suggest going 50-50 with the fence and let the neighbour have the decorative side as long as the fence posts are on the neighbour side.
Would the general opinion be that this is an equitable compromise.
I think I might say to my old friend that I had no advice to give whatsoever other than to maybe discuss matters with the neighbour and let the two of them sort it out themselves. The last thing I’d be wanting to do is give my old friend unqualified advice that had the potential to open up a whole world of petty hurt and costs between warring neighbours.
Unless this is your field of expertise OP steer well clear and let them work it out between themselves.
Unless this is your field of expertise OP steer well clear and let them work it out between themselves.
Racing Newt said:
Pardon, i have made an error, it should be fence on the left!
(in that the front garden fence on theright)
It's whatever side is indicated by the little T marks on the land registry title plan.(in that the front garden fence on the
The proper thing to do is if it's your fence, it's physically on your property.
But you want it to line up with the boundary.
This kind implies that the side facing the neighbour is a smooth plane aligned with the boundary.
The posts being on your land means your side is ugly.
IMHO, all panel fences are ugly horrible things that always look like they will either blow over or need maintenance before long.
You did ask for opinions!
I have owned two houses which owned the fence on the left looking towards the road and one owning the fence on the right.
I think it sometimes varies for reasons like being on a hill or the order property was developed, or the developer just happened to do it that way.
The left / right thing is meaningless and doesn't define who owns the fence.
If your friend owns the fence, she needs to build it on her land and can construct it in any way she sees fit as long as it is on her land. You normally have the decorative side facing the neighbour as that gives you the maximum extent of land on 'your' side.
If you 'go 50/50' and build the fence on your neighbours land, then it is the neighbours fence from that point onwards. And in turn, they can do whatever they want with it in the future.
If your friend owns the fence, she needs to build it on her land and can construct it in any way she sees fit as long as it is on her land. You normally have the decorative side facing the neighbour as that gives you the maximum extent of land on 'your' side.
If you 'go 50/50' and build the fence on your neighbours land, then it is the neighbours fence from that point onwards. And in turn, they can do whatever they want with it in the future.
It's funny, having worked in some right grotholes around the world and amongst people who can count the contents of a wheelbarrow as their life possessions, how this sort of s
te just makes me want to drive round to the neighbours gaff and punch them in the throat.
Get a shagging life.
te just makes me want to drive round to the neighbours gaff and punch them in the throat.Get a shagging life.
Spleen said:
It's funny, having worked in some right grotholes around the world and amongst people who can count the contents of a wheelbarrow as their life possessions, how this sort of ste just makes me want to drive round to the neighbours gaff and punch them in the throat.
Get a shagging life
Think we'd all like that! te just makes me want to drive round to the neighbours gaff and punch them in the throat.Get a shagging life
there's no panting smiley so that had to do
As to the op's question, I'm a bit undecided you might say
Edited by Short Grain on Sunday 22 January 16:30
I would find it weird to have a fence that I owned with the good side facing me.
If it is my fence I expect the smooth good side to be facing out and for me to be able to see the frame pieces on my side.
It is my fence and it is there to keep you out and I want you to see the smooth side so that can't easily use the frame of the fence to climb over and attack me.
If it is my neighbours fence then he shows the smooth side to me so that I can't climb over and attack him.
If it is my fence I expect the smooth good side to be facing out and for me to be able to see the frame pieces on my side.
It is my fence and it is there to keep you out and I want you to see the smooth side so that can't easily use the frame of the fence to climb over and attack me.
If it is my neighbours fence then he shows the smooth side to me so that I can't climb over and attack him.
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