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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

35 replies

IHTC · 20/04/2021 12:38

We live in a terraced house where the deeds state we are half responsible for the fencing on both sides of the garden. One our neighbours has said that they can't afford to contribute to the fence and they had always believed they were only responsible for the fencing the other side of their garden.

The fence this side is currently pretty much non existent, with panels missing along the entire stretch.

AIBU to suggest that it simply won't be done as we are not prepared to give them a fence for free?

I should add that my dad is a builder who has offered to install all 16 panels free of charge. The materials would cost about 1k meaning they would get their fence done this side for £500 max. Quite frankly, I don't believe they don't have the money as they have putting in planning to extend by 5m out.

Am I being too harsh? Would you just do the fence?

OP posts:

Timper · 20/04/2021 13:27

@IHTC

Thanks all! My husband also said I was being too harsh but just wanted to check. Just rubs me up the wrong way knowing they're probably going to get their fence done for nothing when they should be contributing. It desperately needs doing especially as we have a little tot who will soon be wondering around the garden. Finding it really hard to calm my stubbornness!

It’s here in black and white. You want it done now because of your child. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster

IHTC · 20/04/2021 13:35

@Zarinea It's a problem for both us and our neighbour. We could easily wait it out and hold off until it does become a problem for them i.e if they ever wanted to move etc.

@playeddepaler They are coming right up to the boundary so it will take out some panels. We thought about waiting but are gardens have basically merged into one with the number of panels that have fallen.

OP posts:

Original poster

IHTC · 20/04/2021 13:36

@Timper I want it done because it needs doing and as a side bonus, I have a kid who might like to use the garden some time soon. Not that I have to justify this

OP posts:

OmniversalSpecies2021 · 21/04/2021 23:39

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'

Alana24433 · 12/09/2026 13:54

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.

Alana24433 · 12/09/2026 13:59

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.

nomas · 12/09/2026 14:03

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

PatNoodle · 12/09/2026 14:08

Alana24433 · 12/09/2026 13:54

Edited

This thread is 5 years old

Seasidewalker · 12/09/2026 14:13

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!

looselegs · 12/09/2026 14:15

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.

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