Fence alternatives or ideas

[sonny8]

One side of the fence is fine, the back is a brick wall but the other side is high at the very start of the garden then lower and lower giving no privacy which has been bothering me. It's something I'd really like to get sorted. I have no idea why it wasn't put up the same height as the other side. I also don't know if it is ours or not, can't find anything in the deeds about fencing. I don't want to replace the other side as it is fine, I just want something to make this side as high as it is at the start without paying a fortune if possible as we have lots of other things that need doing including putting decking at the back which is why I would like the privacy.

This is the other side which is absolutely fine

Generally a back garden fence can be up to 2m in height without requiring planning permission (although there can be specific restrictions in place, so check with your local council). If this is the case, and it is your fence you could put a trellis on top of the lower panels to the maximum height. If it's not yours and your neighbours won't agree to this, or replacing the fence, then you could erect a taller fence on your side of the boundary.

I would have thought your best option though would be to plant quick growing shrubs in front of the fence.

OP, I've got an open wrought iron fence at the bottom of my v long garden. It leads on to allotments but I feel very open and not a fan.

I can't afford a new 6ft fence. Plus it seems a shame to remove the rock solid iron fence (that's probably been there for decades). So I've spent forever looking at ideas this past week or so and I think I'm going to plant clumping bamboo. It is really important to get the right type of bamboo (you will find lots of threads in here about how awful it is as it spreads) to make sure it isn't the spreading kind. Look for clumping.
It will grow really really quickly and form a 'hedge' across my open iron fence. Will feel more secure and I hope offer us some privacy for a fraction of the cost of a new fence.

You could try talking to the neighbours on the other side of the fence? One option would be to attach trellis panels to the top of the existing fence, if they agree. You may need to foot the bill. Alternatively, then growing shrubs against it or putting your own fence in as suggested above would be the way to go.

user laurel is fast-growing as is evergreen honeysuckle - the variety with small leaves that doesn't have scented flowers. It might be nice to alternate different plants along the fence.

Is there a way to find out who's fence this is? If it is mine, do I need his permission to remove it/add a trellis? If it is his, would I need permission to add a trellis? He is quite elderly but seems friendly enough.

Oops didn't mean to attach pic again.

I think it's your fence as the horizontal batons/supports usually go on the owner's side.

You need to check your deeds - it may be on there, but not always. there should be little 'T' marks on the boundary to show which is yours.

If your neighbour owns it, yes you will need his permission to remove it or attach a trellis to it.

If it is yours, no you wouldn't need his permission.

I think it's your fence as the horizontal batons/supports usually go on the owner's side.

Not necessarily so. And this would mean the OP owns both sides, which is unusual.

If it is not clear from your deeds, you will have to assume joint responsibility and just discuss it with your neighbour to see what he will agree to.

Have you just bought the property ? There should be some info as to the ownership on the property information sheet
Usually the fence is owned by the garden that the fence is backed on to , in this case yours - in other words the smarter side faces outwards

Also have a look at the point that it joins the house wall , is it slightly to one side or another ? Or directly on the boundary ?

There might be a fencing covenant that restricts fence height. It'll be on the titles.

I have recently moved yes, I'll have another look at the paperwork later and see if I can see anything. I think it would be unlikely there would be restrictions to the height as all the other fences that I can see in the area are the height I would like, it's just this one.

If you own the fence then no, you do not need to ask the neighbour's permission to remove the fence or add trellis to the top to make it all the same height. It would be neighbourly and polite to let him know what you plan to do.

From the photos the houses look to be fairly newly built. I'd be surprised if there was nothing about boundary structures or similar in the title register and title plans. There may well be covenants limiting the fence heights or stating that there must be fences maintained between the properties. If you can't find copies in your paperwork then you can download them for £3 per document from the gov.uk Land Registry website.

Ignore all the posters saying ownership depends on which side the good side battens are on etc.

This may have been a convention at one time and obviously it is harder to climb the fence using the good side but it is not proof of who owns it and is often ignored.

If it is within the boundary it is more likely to be yours but ownership depends on who paid for it; as others have said check your property information forms

If you don't mind a 'cottage garden' type look, you could attach 6ft hazel hurdles to your side of the fence. If you drilled small holes through the upright supports of the existing fence, you could attach the hurdles by wire/cable tie.

www.primrose.co.uk/hazel-hurdles-c-65_1316.html

The problem with that is if the OP doesn't own the fence she's committing an act of criminal damage.

Would feather boards work on this to add height do you think? If I had them nailed on? Not sure if that would only work when your attaching them to a fence of the same height. As you can tell, it's all totally new to me.

@flight2020

Also have a look at the point that it joins the house wall , is it slightly to one side or another ? Or directly on the boundary ?

I've just double checked and where the fence joins the house wall, it's attached to my house only, as his house if further back than mine so it doesn't touch his actual house, does this mean anything?

Have you looked at the title register and title plan? For all we know, the NDN could have moved the fence to make his garden bigger. Find or download the documents and see what they state/show.