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Original poster

To ask if you pay for a fence why your neighbour should get the "nice" side?

84 replies

DeRigueurMortis · 19/06/2020 22:48

Asking because I'm replacing some fencing...

To be frank I'm not really concerned about having the "nice" side given the position as it's largely hidden by the summerhouse and planting but I am interested if anyone knows why this is the etiquette?

It just seems odd that if it's your fence and your paying for it you should get the side that looks the best?

OP posts:
HoneysuckIejasmine · 19/06/2020 22:50

You need access to the posts in order to maintain it.

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/06/2020 22:52

My next door neighbours got the nice side, when the fences fell down. I wasnt really bothered, apart from me painting my side and taking forever lol.

Neither of us paid for it, as we are HA.

NewtonPulsifer · 19/06/2020 22:52

I think it is because the struts to repair it are on one side (on older style fences or the shiplap style), and if it is your fence you want to be able to access them to repair without going on to a neighbours land. The “good side” doesn’t have these so looks neater.

CallmeAngelina · 19/06/2020 22:53

I expect that you will get many people on here saying that it is indeed the "norm" because you need access to the fixings (or whatever they're called) from your side, but that rather depends on the style of the fence.
We paid a small fortune for our fence, which adjoins 5 different gardens. The landscaper said too damn right we were having the "nice" side (and that is the side we would need access to if upkeep required anyway).
If the neighbours don't like it, they can pay for screening their own side.

NewtonPulsifer · 19/06/2020 22:54

I got these as they are the same both sides. www.wickes.co.uk/Forest-Garden-Horizontal-Hit+Miss-Fence-Panel---6-x-6ft-Multi-Packs/p/9000197551

Original poster
DeRigueurMortis · 19/06/2020 23:01

Thanks but I suppose I'm still a bit confused.

If you need (occasional) access to maintain your property then a neighbour has an obligation to provide it so I don't see why the struts would be an issue.

For example we have a window in our garage that can only be accessed to paint via our neighbours land.

We can do so because:

"Often it is vital for one neighbour to go on to the land of another to carry out repairs to their own property. Accordingly, there is a legal right that allows this under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992".

Not that we've ever had a problem with the neighbours in doing so.

The landscaper said too damn right we were having the "nice" side (and that is the side we would need access to if upkeep required anyway).
If the neighbours don't like it, they can pay for screening their own side.

I'm also inclined to agree with this.

If you want to dictate the aesthetic of the boundary then pay for it or put in fencing/screening of your own....

OP posts:
Original poster
DeRigueurMortis · 19/06/2020 23:02

Love the name btw Newton Grin one of my favourite books!

OP posts:
Justajot · 19/06/2020 23:04

You need to install the fence posts on your land/up to the edge of their land. If you do that and then put the nice side facing you, you'd lose some of your garden to your neighbour.

dementedpixie · 19/06/2020 23:04

If you pay for it you can have whatever side you want. We have 2 'nice' sides as the previous owners put them up that way

LittleMrsMama · 19/06/2020 23:04

We recently replaced our fence and neither side was particularly nice and both are the same. Neighbour had the cheek to complain that they didn't have the 'nice side' even though we paid for it. It was funny watching their faces when we invited them to look at our side of the fence!

BrightlightsSmallvillage · 19/06/2020 23:05

I thought it was because the fence needs to sit exactly on the property line and the posts have to be on your property so you end up with the back side by default.

ToastyCrumpet · 19/06/2020 23:06

I think giving the neighbours the nice side is a matter of courtesy since they have to look at a fence they didn’t choose to erect. Alternatively you can be selfish and ill-mannered and keep it for yourself.

LochJessMonster · 19/06/2020 23:06

Honestly I don’t get it either. My fence, I’ll have the nice side. You are losing barely inches of the garden for the posts, so it makes no difference.

Original poster
DeRigueurMortis · 19/06/2020 23:08

You need to install the fence posts on your land/up to the edge of their land. If you do that and then put the nice side facing you, you'd lose some of your garden to your neighbour.

Ok that makes sense depending on the type of fence and I can see why historically it would set a precedent.

OP posts:
Original poster
DeRigueurMortis · 19/06/2020 23:09

We recently replaced our fence and neither side was particularly nice and both are the same. Neighbour had the cheek to complain that they didn't have the 'nice side' even though we paid for it. It was funny watching their faces when we invited them to look at our side of the fence!

GrinGrinGrin

OP posts:
DwayneBenzie · 19/06/2020 23:11

Which side is the nice side ?! Honestly ?! Is this even a thing?!

user1972548274 · 19/06/2020 23:11

I thought it was because the fence needs to sit exactly on the property line and the posts have to be on your property

How many centimetres of difference can that possibly make? Two? Two and a half? And why do we waste our lives obsessing about getting such incredibly pointless nonsense "right"?

FamilyOfAliens · 19/06/2020 23:11

My neighbour at the back refused to pay anything for our shared fence, which got pushed into my garden by his overgrown pyracantha, because he said he had “no money at all”, not even £10 to put towards a £1000 fence.

So obviously I got the good side.

Original poster
DeRigueurMortis · 19/06/2020 23:12

I think giving the neighbours the nice side is a matter of courtesy since they have to look at a fence they didn’t choose to erect. Alternatively you can be selfish and ill-mannered and keep it for yourself.

Who says they have to look at it?

It depends on the location of the fence and also as above they have a choice to erect their own screening if they want.

I'm not trying to be argumentative I just can't think of another situation where you are expected to pay for something and get the worse aspect.

OP posts:
mumwon · 19/06/2020 23:13

we have he cement slide in posts so we can have the nice side of panels & worst comes to worst we can slide them out to replace or paint

Leflic · 19/06/2020 23:14

Meh. If you have chosen a fence for “the look” gave the side that works for you.

If it’s a fence because you need a fence, get the side that means you can fix it easily.

Esspee · 19/06/2020 23:14

You pay your choice, very simple.

Greenkit · 19/06/2020 23:15

Surely the fence posts go in between the panels?

I'm paying, I'm having the nice side

Boom45 · 19/06/2020 23:16

What is the "nice side" of a fence? I feel as though I have entered a world of which I no nothing. Do fences look different on each side? How have I never noticed that??

Greenkit · 19/06/2020 23:16

Like this..

To ask if you pay for a fence why your neighbour should get the "nice" side?
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