Giving the neighbour the 'nice' side of the fence

[CauliflowerBalti]

I was unaware of this particular piece of crackers British social etiquette - I have just spent £2500 on fence panels for my boundary with my neighbour. The concrete posts are being installed today, and my neighbour just shouted across that she's done some research and I do know that I'm supposed to give them the 'nice' side, right?

No. No I did not know this. And it sounded like cheeky fuckery of the highest order, but it's a fucking THING. Our ridiculously courteous country really does expect people to not only fork out, but give the neighbours the best fecking view! It's replacing an old decrepit falling down wire fence. It's a SIGNIFICANT upgrade. And a heinously expensive one.

AIBU to think that some of our customs are truly baffling? And also that, while it may be a thing, it is not the kind of thing that would ask for in advance? Like, it's polite to let other people go through a door before you, but only a wanker would make a point of asking?

And no, I won't get the benefit of my neighbour on the other side extending the same bonkers courtesy to me. He can't afford a fence, nice side or otherwise. I have a falling down wall that side, unless I can find another £2500 to do his too.

HONESTLY.

As far as I'm concerned, the rule entirely relates to the old nailed-to-wooden-posts fences. And it was nothing about the "nice" side, it's just that you needed the posts on your own side, and the side without posts just so happens to be nicer. When it comes to panels slotting into concrete posts, the rule doesn't apply at all IMO.

Their is a site called garden law where you regularly see discussions on which way a fence should face.
The general consensus is is that there is no law and as long as it is wholey on your land then it is up to you.

Greenfingers you should not be banging nails in on hanging things from your neibours fence unless he has given his permission. You don’t have any rights over your neibours fence just because it faces your garden.

Bugger the etiquette, I paid a huge amount to sort our fence. Put up concrete posts and vertical fence panels with the horizontal struts their side. neighbour one side put up the same but had his struts on his side (so both sides the same from his view). Other neighbour put his fence up giving us the up slats and him the down so He got the good side (horizontal panels). I pay, I want the decent side. End of.

Your fence; you're paying for it; they 'slot' into the posts - have whichever side you prefer.

There's no 'law', there's plenty of evidence to dispute that. I have to maintain the fence on both sides of my garden, if they want to put one up....they can!

we paid for our fencing. Nice side faces us. Neighbours get benefit of solid fencing but contributed jack shit-so we get nice side on our side

NDN is indeed a CF for making assumptions and saying what she did.

Saying that and having seen the wrong side photo posted by PP, I personally would have the wrong side and get some wood from Wickes (other DIY shops are available). I'd screw it to the horizontals on the fence to create a sort of trellis of big squares cells and make it a feature wall so to speak.

A few climbers, narrow shelves with plant pots and flowers, maybe couple of little mirrors, few tasteful outdoor lights, a few small garden ornaments.

Good lord, does how much I miss having a garden show.

My neighbour suggested that the nice side should face the prevailing wind so it sheds water better when it rains and the panels are less likely to rot. So we got the 'nice' side. But it means we lose an inch of air space (due to the way the pre-made closeboard panels are built as per the picture shown above).

So there is a convention. But it is not a legal thing so you can do as you like (at risk of being a social pariah).

This is a bit like a debrettes article!

Its all about making it so that someone on the outside of the fence cant easily climb over.

IF your fence panels have any horizontal struts that stick out, someone can climb up them and then jump over very easily, so you should face that side into your garden to protect your privacy/security.

IF you have fence panels that dont have any horizontal struts, you can do whatever you want and it wont matter

I had honestly ever thought about or noticed this. It appears we have given neighbours the nice side, and our neighbours have given us the nice side.

And with the slot-in type you can swap the sides when maintenance (painting) time comes around just to mess with their heads. Also stops them attaching stuff to your fence.

Garden geek you cannot paint your neibours fence. You don’t own it and therefore it is not yours to paint.
Go for a nice hornbeam hedge instead.

OP you do not have to give them the nice side of all maintenance can be carried out without entering their garden. Ignore and do what you want with your fence.

We have the ugly side of the neighbours fence facing into our garden, they have the nice side from their neighbour. We will probably put the nice side towards our side when we have ours done, didn't even think to be any other way.

@GardenGeek second one to say you cannot paint your neighbours fence.

I've seen arguments on other forums because neighbours have painted fences with the wrong type of paint.

If the fence needs painting contact your neighbour and either arrange for them to come in and paint it, or get them to agree you can paint it but with a particular type of fence paint.

Otherwise grow a hedge in front of it.

Both our neighbours replaced their fence. Both gave us the crappy side.

Just do whatever you like!

Surely if it’s ALL in your garden, you can put it up either way. If it sits bang on the border then it’s a grey area.

Remind her that 'she who pays the piper calls the tune'... Or in this case, she who pays for the fence...

There is method in the madness, if it means your side is more secure lol
Stupid customs like warming the teapot before putting the tea in...only the Brits could have them.

What other CFuckery has she been up to? MN loves juicy stories :)

Yes - it’s for maintenance

It isn't a rule, it's a custom. As long as all of it is on your land, you can do what you like!

If your neighbour doesn't like it, tell them to put up a fence they do like. Our neighbours have done just that! (even though it's slot in panels , so it looks the same both sides. )

I thought you could put whatever side you wanted facing you as long as the whole thing is on your side.

Custom be damned; it's not a law.

Tell your neighbour if she wants a pretty fence to look at, she should pay for and install her own.

Where I live, we're not even allowed fence. Not solid fence at any rate, only wire fence. And hedges. Tons of bloody hedges that all need trimmed twice a year. Good for wildlife, crappy for owners that can't wield a chainsaw.

OP you have a big advantage in being able to paint both sides of your fence from your own property! Just choose a nice neon orange or gaudy purple for one side (the one away from you) and something else a bit 'quieter' for the side facing you.

It's one of those things your parents never told you.
Can you fit the panels in backwards so the nice side faces you but you still have the posts on your side?