painting fence - who owns it??

11 months ago

We moved into our home about a year ago and share a fence with our neighbours. When I enquired with the previous seller who was selling on behalf of her deceased parents, she told me that her parents and the neighbours went halves on the fence a few years ago when it was replaced.

Our neighbours are quite awkward and have never been friendly or forthcoming since we moved and it causes me a lot of anxiety to even consider asking them their permission if I can paint our side.

However, if the fence was paid for by both our previous sellers and the neighbours, then would we be okay to paint it without asking?

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Comments (13)

Daisy England
11 months ago
last modified: 11 months ago
It should be on your Deeds who owns the fence. Normally you own the fence on the left hand side looking out the back of the house, but you do need to look at the plans. If it has a T it’s yours and if it has an H it’s joint.
Abbie
Original Author
11 months ago
The deeds we have a copy of don’t show anything like this - just a red line around the land we own. Will I need to pay to get a copy of the specific deeds that shows this? Happy to do this if so!
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PRO
The Rooted Concept Garden Designs
11 months ago
In my experience, when fences are shared, it is usually the right hand side (looking from house to garden) that belongs to the house owner. To be very honest with you, if the fence belongs to them, I think that they would be delighted to know that you are someone willing to maintain the fence (paint usually helps to preserve the wood).
Abbie
Original Author
11 months ago
Thank you I believe it’s theirs too the more I look at it. I’m hoping so - worst they can say is no I suppose!
Ricky Watkins
11 months ago
Is there a good or bad side to the fence? Ie feather edge has one good side whilst other side has rails.
Lisa D
11 months ago
Surely you just paint the side facing your garden? I would paint anything that looked into my garden without consultation
Abbie
Original Author
11 months ago
Ricky - no I don’t think so unfortunately both sides of the fence look the exact same.

Lisa - I would have done but after a lot of researching if we painted it without their permission (if it does end up being on their boundary line) they could sue us for criminal damage.
Ricky Watkins
11 months ago
Abbie think you just need to bite the bullet & knock next door or drop a note through and politely say I'm going to paint our side of the fence for maintenance purposes to keep it in good shape hope that's ok with you?
Abbie
Original Author
11 months ago
Hi Ricky I have done this first thing this morning - no answer so I left a note and asked them to message me if they were okay with it. It’s been 6 hours and had no reply and I know they’re in the house as they have put the washing out 😂 so I think they’re ignoring me, but at least I’ve asked, right?
Abbie
Original Author
11 months ago
He’s just come round and given us the green light - panic over 😂
Ricky Watkins
11 months ago
Great news 👍🏻
Daisy England
11 months ago
That’s good news. Awkward neighbours need to be mindful of the fact that one day they might want assistance or help with a query.
Sonia
11 months ago
That’s good to hear, but I confirm our deeds do not state who owns what fence either, just a line around our plot, like you. There is a big discussion on MoneySavingExpert as to who owns what fence, and basically there are no hard and fast rules, so god only knows!

painting fence - who owns it??

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