How do you approach the subject of neighbours replacing fence panels?

[hogu]

The fence panels that separate our gardens (their responsibility) are terrible, some boards are hanging off with nails sticking out, some bulging out etc and just look really shabby.
We've replaced the side which is our responsibility but they haven't touched theirs. I feel awkward just asking.
What would you do?

You have to just ask. There is no non-awkward way if you are the type to feel awkward (I am!).

They don't actually have to do anything though. They don't need to have a physical boundary at all.

Surely it's not your decision? I'd possibly broach if was willing to pay half. Otherwise I'd leave it.

Or you could do what the woman nextdoor did and talk very loudly on her phone to everyone about the appalling state of the fence and that I'd been here 2 years (I hadn't) and I hadn't done anything about it at the top of her voice in the garden. Her husband was so embarrassed and kept telling her to shut up.
I did replace the bit she was on about but a few months later I was looking on the deeds for something else and noticed I didn't even have that piece as my responsibility 😠. I've decided to move the larger piece backing their garden further down my list of priorities. They are the ones with the dogs. I can't even see the bloody fence from my house and it's still standing and no holes.
Some people have other priorities. It's not a requirement (usually) to have a fence as a boundary. Let alone a nice new one.

Why didn't you just replace those at the same time? I paid for all the fences in my garden, wouldn't dream of asking the neighbour to stump up, some people just aren't arsed about scruffy looking fences.

I don’t think it’s your decision to ask to be honest. They don’t have to do anything to them and as far as I know legally a fence doesn’t have to be in place at all. If my neighbours came and asked me I’d think they were really rude.

If you’re really bothered you could put up your own fence infront of it so you can’t see it?

I had to replace several panels of my neighbour’s fence.

One panel got blown down in a gale and she said she couldn’t afford to replace it and the other panels that were damaged at the same time.

I really didn’t like the lack of privacy in the summer when I was sitting in the garden, plus the fact that young neighbourhood cats could creep easily up on my elderly cat and attack her when she had cancer, whereas before she could hear them scrabbling up the fence and run away.

Neighbour said she would pay back some of the £400 it cost us to repair her fence but she never did.

I believe it's possible to be adults and just ask what their plans are. You could start by offering to sort out the sticking out nails, and straightening some of the panels up, and ease that conversation into whether they have ability or desire to replace & repair. They may have enough money for new panels but not to pay someone to put them in place or ability to do that work themselves (could you do it?). Or maybe they don't know how bad it is on your side. See what they say.

Locally is a family who keep their garden in chaos; they own the south boundary but don't care about fixing the fence; southern neighbour put up a parallel completely new fence (Posts panels & all) rather than see the chaos every day. I believe they have good relations.

Just ask. I've been trying to catch my ndn for a few weeks now (works shifts so reluctant to knock door) as the winds have damaged a panel.
Last time it happened she already had someone to fit it so I just gave her half towards a panel so I'm going to see what she says.