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Original poster

Neighbours painting our fence?

148 replies

CherryStoneTree · 02/05/2020 12:14

We are in a new build, fence is ours and marked on both deeds as such. Neighbours are aware it’s ours. Both owners.

They’ve started painting their side today. I know the law states they should have asked our permission first, but we can’t exactly go and speak to them/go near the fence today. Do we let them do it in spirit of keeping things civil/haven’t had an issue with them before. And as long as the paint doesn’t bleed through it’s protecting the fence?

OP posts:

InMySpareTime · 02/05/2020 14:00

@Itwasntme1 I'd been painting the back fence for years (we each did our own side) so when they put a front fence in as part of an extension I assumed it was a boundary fence same as the back. I paint my side of the other front fence regularly and the neighbours paint their side. It didn't even occur to me that I'd need to mention painting.

Elsiebear90 · 02/05/2020 14:02

Do you really want to fall out with your neighbours over them painting a side of the fence you don’t even see? Because I guarantee it’s going to cause ill feelings if you tell them they should have asked your permission. It’s done now, there are much bigger issues to complain and fall out about imo.

Itwasntme1 · 02/05/2020 14:05

In Myspare time - but you didn’t pay half thee fence - so it’s theirs. Would you not even lightly mention it just in case if dribbles and stains on someone else’s new fence? Just out of politeness?

Interested in this thread?

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Home improvement

Marchitectmummy · 02/05/2020 14:10

Assume you aren't too keen on your neighbours? I can't think of any other reason this would bother you. Can you think of anywhwre yoy have been where neighbours have two fences back to back? That should tell you tge answer to your reaction.

scarbados · 02/05/2020 14:22

What's the problem?

Are you this childish and petty about everything?

I feel sorry for your neighbours.

imsooverthisdrama · 02/05/2020 14:24

Perhaps they didn't know you had to ask I didn't . One side of my fence my neighbours paid for the fence and on the other side we both paid . the back no idea , during a storm we replaced one panel and other time the neighbours did .
I thought you are supposed to paint the fence to protect it ? .
I honestly do not see a issue if you can't see it .

BeetrootRocks · 02/05/2020 14:31

I also didn't know tbh

InMySpareTime · 02/05/2020 14:36

@Itwasntme1 who pays for a fence and who can paint it are not the same thing round here generally.
Nice neighbour side we went halves on new fence panels and both paint it (nice neighbours always dribble paint through so I always carefully paint my side second).
Petty neighbour side we had previously gone halves but when they got a dog they wanted to raise the fence height of otherwise good condition fence panels so they paid. Then they put in the front fence to stop their dog running into our front garden and out of the open drive.
Their bizarre overreaction to a previously neighbourly act was weird. I now don't paint my side of the back fence either, so it is falling apart after only 3 years (other side fence is going strong after 10).

threemilesupthreemilesdown · 02/05/2020 14:54

I am so surprised by many of these posts - you really wouldn't just mention it to your neighbour before painting something that belonged to them? And yes, it'd be incredibly petty to object if it can't be seen from the other side but what if it dribbles through and looks unsightly?

em90792 · 02/05/2020 15:06

Surely if a little paint comes through you can sand paper it a little. I think it's a bit ridiculous tbh. It's only a fence and not really affecting you. In theory they are only protecting the fence from weather further than it was. I dont see an issue at all!

TheGreatWave · 02/05/2020 15:18

A new unpainted fence shouldn't really be painted without permission.

We share boundary fences with both neighbours, the fences are quite new so I am just leaving them.

Original poster

CherryStoneTree · 02/05/2020 15:34

@InFiveMins *
It's unlikely to be YOUR fence. Is it between both of your properties? Has a solicitor confirmed it for you?

Er, yes thanks. At point of sale we were sat down and pointed to the deeds and told who owns what fence. Ours is entirely on our land. HTH.

We would have said yes to them painting it if asked. Just wanted to gauge the general reaction as to if they were being CFers for not giving us the heads up/asking first.

OP posts:

daisymay133 · 02/05/2020 15:41

Most people own one of the fences

That’s normal isn’t it? One buys and maintains the left and the other the right? Totally normal round here but I still wouldn’t consider permission etc for purpose of painting etc

LindainLockdown · 02/05/2020 15:50

No they are not being CF, it is quite usual to paint the side of the fence facing into your garden, the other boundary in your garden will no doubt be the responsibility of your other next door neighbour and the fence will belong to them. So are you not going to paint "your" side of that fence? I have always painted "my" fence, ie that side of the fence that faces into my garden (and by painted I mean using protective fence paint the lengthens the life of the fence). Thankfully I have never had any a problem with this because most people know this is a common precedent and my neighbours have mostly been reasonable people.

Somanysocks · 02/05/2020 15:52

I don't own either side of mine which is great as it costs me nothing. However I have to put up with the fences they choose.

I think I should ask before any painting is done though.

temporarygate · 02/05/2020 16:02

We’ve got double fences, we border five properties and when we moved in had a variety of different hedges, conifers and fences belonging to various neighbours.

We installed tannolised panels inside our boundary around both sides and the end. Some panels are in full sun and bow a little so DH will swap panels around when this happens.
I’d be cross if any of the neighbours painted the reverse as we paid extra for the type that don’t need treating for a long time and any painted ones would be facing other neighbours when DH moves them

Windyatthebeach · 02/05/2020 16:05

Our ndn painted our black fence brown and it all dripped through. Had to get a solicitor to write to her. Didn't go well. She attacked the fence with a claw hammer in her fury... She was advised I was legally allowed into her garden to maintain my fence.
Your neighbour has tampered with your property - why would you not be pd off?

LindainLockdown · 02/05/2020 16:10

Because life is too short for paying solicitors and ensuring you have shit relations with your neighbours for as long as you both live there. I'm surprised someone on here hasn't suggesting calling the police because your neighbour is doing a "non-essential" activity.

PickleSarnie · 02/05/2020 16:15

Our neighbour painted our fence that we had just paid to replace after it got blown down grey. It leaked through loads so we had no choice but to paint our side and the rest of the fences grey too. I hate grey.

PrincessBiscuit · 02/05/2020 16:17

Oh my Christ! I know we are all bored OP but unclench! It's a fence... birds shit on it! Let it go!

TheClitterati · 02/05/2020 16:26

So glad I saw this thread! My fence comprises 19 different fence panels with 5 neighbours. Looked hideous. I set about painting them all. I painted the non neighbour panels first to check the paint didn't bleed through - it didn't.

Then I read on another MN thread I needed neighbours permission to paint my side and it really messed with my head. It seemed like a strange think to ask, and if they objected I'd be really annoyed. Plus I rarely see them so asking if I could paint the side of a fence they would never see just felt too weird.

So came to a bit of a hault & I still have 8 panels to go.

They will be painted tomorrow without delay.

BTW I got some Culprinol from B&Q a few weeks ago - they have a click & collect drive through pick up thing going on.

TheClitterati · 02/05/2020 16:26

It's a fence... birds shit on it

Witchend · 02/05/2020 16:35

Wasn't there a thread a few years back where someone wanted their fence painted red-both sides. The neighbours painted their side a more reasonable colour, and they went back round and did it again under cover of darkness. Apparently when walking into the house from the car, the neighbours having it a different colour offended them.

One of those times when you realise how petty some people can get.

BrooHaHa · 02/05/2020 16:40

It genuinely would not have occurred to me to ask before painting a fence. Nor would it occur to me that others should ask me. Everyone technically owns one fence usually, but if they're different colours and you aren't allowed to paint them it looks really weird. Also, how do you protect them if you don't coat them in some way?

Robin233 · 02/05/2020 16:42

Always thought as you stood looking at your house from the front you owned the fence on the right.

In reality, As fences were replaced or fell down, it always fell to which neighbor could afford to do it. (Give and take)

We replaced one that kept falling down.
Neighbour came over and gave us some money (was there side)

Another time a neighbor replaced all 3 sides of fencing including ours. We just did not have the money - 4 kids.
I asked what colour they were painting it and did the same our side - they were thrilled.

Few years later we did we replaced the left side even though that was not ours.
Asked neighborgh if we could replace their falling down fence for free and they also were thrilled.

Last house left side paid for theirs and we went halves with the right hand side. (Ours) we both took down the huge hedge between our houses first

And painted our respective sides the same colour.

Glad to say in our new house we have a combination of walls and hedges - and once again fabulous neighbors.

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