AIBU to refuse to pay for a shared fence? [Edited by MNHQ at posters request]

It's annoying isn't it! They won't pay towards a new fence, but will benefit from it if you pay for it all!
In our row of terraced houses, we have an alley way along the back- each house owns it's own bit of it. We had a problem with garages and sheds being broken into, and local school kids skiving school down there, so my neighbour looked into getting gates put on the entrances to the alley way. She got a price for it etc, and divided it between all the houses. All but 2 of the neighbours paid up. But because the rest of us really wanted it doing, we all paid extra to cover it.
Annoyingly, those that didn't pay also got keys to the gates because they had right of way to the backs of their properties and they used them all the time, probably more than the rest of us. We couldn't do anything about it, but it's very annoying when they wouldn't pay, we had to pay more and they seem to benefit more than the rest of us.

Make sure you are aware of the Party Wall Act requirements if they are close to or up to the boundary (wall or not).

Your other option that will take longer is to grow a decent hedge just inside the boundary line. Our unpleasant neighbour behind us (we're corner plot) has decided that the fence between us and them is ours, it's absolutely not, I also know that the outgoing neighbour confirmed that it was their's on the conveyancing forms - he's being an arse. The fence is falling down, we've got shrubs in front of it which is fine over the summer but won't give cover over the winter when the fence finally falls apart so we have planted decent sized laurels our side of the fence. Laurels grow fairly quickly and if we get a problem sooner we'll use some of the flexible bamboo type panels to cover gaps. I'm buggered if I'm paying for his fencing. We've got hedges on the other boundaries anyway so it's no different for us. He'll get a view of our compost heap in one corner!

This thread is 5 years old

Don’t get it done, they will probably do it when they do their extension.

I would offer to help pay for a shared fence even if neighbours insisted on paying. It's just a bit scummy and feeloading not to offer to pay something.

If the neighbours offer nothing for the shared fence, then that is their problem, not yours. Personally, I would feel scummy not contributing whilst enjoying the new fence, even if they had originally insisted on paying for themselves, just offering something is better than nothing.

seems you're kind of cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Get yourself a fence - just make sure the best side is facing you and they get the 'backside'

Maybe try and reframe the situation that your making your garden safe for the tot and ultimately that’s all that matters. In most properties you would be responsible for your fence had your lawyer not mention it to you would non the wiser.

they are jointly responsible

They are jointly responsible for maintaining the boundary not replacing the fence.

Where are the building in relation to the fence OP?? If it's close to the fence then the fence could get damaged? Will they need access near the fence? etc etc I would hold off until the building work is done to be honest now that I think of it.

"It desperately needs doing especially as we have a little tot"

There's your problem. You need it doing, not them!

It might not be fair that you're paying it all, but neither would it be fair if they had to pay for something they don't care about.

Tell them you’ll pay for it yourselves and install it then

Then write
SHIELA AT 87 HAS A GIANT HOOF AND GEOFFREY SMELLS OF YOGHURT

All along the panels on their side

It doesn’t become priority for them just because you have a child who will soon be using the garden. That’s absolutely not your neighbours problem.

Ultimately if you want a fence just get it done. I had to pay to get my neighbours tree removed because I wanted the light, they let it grow out of control but weren’t going to pay. I resigned myself to the fact that it was better to pay and keep amicable that cause a fuss and get nowhere - focus on the end goal.

I’d just do the fence. It’s not worth getting into a massive bust up and there’s no practical way of forcing them to pay. It’s also preferable to have a crap fence.

Well ultimately how much do you want the fence done? If you do want it there seems limited point cutting your nose off to spite your face in the respect of it, even if it is potentially 'unfair'.

I would give them the quote for half the work and suggest you would appreciate them considering splitting it as it benefits both of you, perhaps when they see it's less than they suspected they might get on board.

You can't make them though and analysing their finances won't change what is ultimately up to them. You benefit from a considerable saving yourself by only paying materials so all things considered I'd do it and enjoy the fact I didn't have to see my neighbours in my own garden.