To tell the neighbours they can paint their side of the fence?

[Notthemessiah]

We are solely responsible for the fence that is the back of our garden, but the side of the garden for the neighbours on the other side. We replaced the whole fence about 7 years ago and then last year we treated the side facing us with a creosote subsitute.

We did think of letting the neighbours know at the time we did the treatment as there is no doubt some will have seeped through cracks and knots on to the side facing them. However they had thick bushes\trees all the way along so A: it really wouldn't have been visible and B: they physically wouldn't have been able to do that side anyway.

However today we've noticed that they have cut a lot of those bushes back and, without looking, I'm presuming that it will be a lot more visible and, if it were me, I'd now be thinking about doing something about it.

Sooooo... I was thinking about dropping round, explaining why we didn't say anything at the time but also saying we'd be happy if they wanted to treat\paint the side facing them if they wanted to (and equally as happy if they didn't) but please could they use the same stuff we used as otherwise the reverse will happen and our side of our fence will look shit.

I'm worried though that it could come across as either interfering, presumptuous, cheeky fuckerish or a combination of all three. It's altogether possible they may think they can paint that side of the fence without our permission anyway (which would be wrong, but I could understand why they might think that). We don't know them all that well, but they've always been nice when we've spoken and have always let the kids in to get the occasional ball that has gone over.

If you were them, what would you think?

I'd think you were a bit cheeky tbh (whether or not you are legally correct). For the sake of neighbourly relations I would offer some extra of the product you used on your side to them for free (tell them you have some left over, even if that's not true).

Having said that, I know FA about neighbour/fence issues - we got the gardener to stain both sides of our fence which is apparently completely wrong, although our neighbours don't seem to mind..

I think if you’re popping round the right thing to do would be to explain why you didn’t paint it initially and now offer to paint it.

You can’t dictate to them what colour to paint it if they pay and put in the effort.

When we planned to paint our fence in our old house, we went and chatted with both neighbours and all 3 of us picked a colour and painted (the style of fence meant it would go down the slats not matter how careful we were so would again the other side).

I really don't understand the posters saying they'd just paint whatever colour they want. How antisocial are these people?

You're neighbours, be friendly, have a chat and if they dislike the colour then pick a colour together and paint away!

I've always painted all of my fences whatever colour i like even though only 1 side of garden are my responsibility...are you only supposed to paint the ones you are responsible for? Is that actually a thing??

@Lazypuppy

There seems to be something about only being legally responsibly for certain fences, or fences you've paid to put up or only if they are completely on your side of the boundary. But I've never loved next to anyone who cares that much about a fence! Always just each looked after our side and agreed on colour between all those affected if it would seep through. I don't understand how people can refuse to cooperate with each other and just be neighbourly!

The other alternative of course is to do nothing at all. They might not be bothered about it or not want the hassle, or, if they do, they might hopefully talk to us first (at which point, yes, offering to buy them the same stuff would probably be a good idea).

Of course legally we could say it's either this colour or you can't touch it, but just because that's the legal view, it doesn't make it the right one (or the decent thing to do).

@FrancisCrawford

No. But for us, only 2 sides had neighbouring properties. So I went doing to neighbour 1 and neighbour 2 and we all sat down and picked a colour together. The fence on the other side of one garden was a different styles (put up by other neighbours) and the other neighbour was the end of the row. So it only affected 3 of us.

I can see it being a problem when it comes to house after house after house, but surely then you'd put up fences that wouldn't have annoying slats. I just didn't want to replace the fence with a more sensible one that could be different colours!

@FrancisCrawford
That's fine with fences that allow painting without the colour driving through. This particular fence allows the paint to drip (mine was horizontal slats and the paint would drip not matter what you did) so if you paint one colour and the neighbour paints the other, the colour drips through and you end up in a repainting competition. In that situation, you really need to cooperate.

We have no neighbours on one side of our garden, so that side doesn't matter. On the other side we share responsibility so jointly paid to get it replaced (a few years after the back fence) and have already agreed to treat it at the same time in a year or so and with a mutually acceptable colour.

Tbh, I've always thought it bizarre that we are solely responsible for the back fence but that's what's in the deeds.

so if you paint one colour and the neighbour paints the other, the colour drips through and you end up in a repainting competition. In that situation, you really need to cooperate.

This is exactly what could happen and what I really want to avoid.

@FrancisCrawford same here. Painted all of my fences and no drips.

When people paint walls in their houses do the have drips?

This whole thread baffles me

We painted both sides of our side fence - it was very obvious when, after finishing one side and going round to do the other side, that a fair bit had seeped\dripped through the slats or through knots\holes in the wood. It did look messy.

That said, we had not worried about being careful - maybe it is possible to do it without it happening if you take a lot more time (but it's a long fence and a very boring job!).

I don't see the point in saying/doing anything unless they come to you with ideas/requests about the side facing them.
They know it's your fence.

To just go over and say that - no matter how well mentioned - would make you look rather presumptuous and could possibly create tension.

Doesn't it depend on who owns the fence? We own the fence between us and next door so we can paint both sides. They need to give us access but we'd always ask permission to go on their land to do it. That said, we used treated Wood anyway so it doesn't need more than replacing a slat every so often.

I really don't see how you can call this a legal issue. Their side of the fence, they can paint whatever colour they want. I don't see how you can say "Paint it our colour or don't touch it". And I think it can absolutely be done without dripping so it's a non-issue.

I’ve never heard of neighbours enforcing a colour rule. So if you wanted bright purple you’re saying your neighbours must have bright purple too?

Thanks for all those replies.

For those saying they can paint it whatever colour they like, legally that's totally wrong - the fence is our property, not theirs, and is completely inside of our boundary. It would be like me painting the side of our neighbours house to the front of us because it faces us and is right on the edge of our drive (it's a fairly odd layout round here) - fairly sure no-one would thing that is OK!

As for painting it a specific colour, again I think that would legally be our choice as well. I believe they would need to let us onto their property in order to be able to 'maintain' ours (in other words, paint or treat it).

As I said above though, just because the law says so, doesn't make it the right thing to try and do or even particularly enforceable (as loads of property and parking threads on Mumsnet have illustrated). My reason for posting was to try and find the best way to approach this without coming across as an arse and so that both us and the neighbours are happy.

Looking at most of the responses, I think the general consensus is that saying anything could well be interpreted badly and so probably @HeebieJeebies456 is the best approach - hope that they appreciate that they really ought to talk to us if they want to do anything (and aren't under the same wrong impression as some posters here) and we can sort something out then. I'd probably offer to pay for the same stuff as we used, if they wanted to do that, or just say they can pay for and paint whatever colour they like but they really need to be careful doing it so it doesn't come through to our side!