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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Paint my neighbours fence?

81 replies

sierra2020 · 27/06/2020 19:23

Both my neighbours have the wooden fence up which separates our gardens, we are getting our garden done, and my builder is saying I don't need to put a fence up, seen as my neighbours already have the fences up. As one is only needed to separate the gardens. He said I could paint my side of the fence.
Can I actually do this? I know it's my side, but isn't that the property of my neighbour?

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 27/06/2020 19:24

Not without asking the neighbour

onalongsabbatical · 27/06/2020 19:25

You should ask them. And honestly one or the other side is probably yours, not your neighbour's.

heartsonacake · 27/06/2020 19:27

No, you can’t paint their fence without asking their permission.

If they say no, you either live with it as an unpainted fence or put up your own fence and paint that.

Stonerosie67 · 27/06/2020 19:31

Only on mumsnet have I seen this palava! I couldn't give a fuck what my neighbours do with their side of the fence, as long as it doesn't interfere with mine....I'm not going to see it.
And yes. your builder is right, of course you don't need to put another fence up if one is there already, it would look ridiculous.

OnTheFencePaint · 27/06/2020 19:37

I’m imagining a standard terrace garden where the neighbour can’t see your side of the fence - if so, we have this and it wouldn’t have occurred to me to ask the neighbour before painting my side!

Coulddowithanap · 27/06/2020 19:39

I can't see why you can't paint it if it is the side you see.

I would make sure I got matching paint to them (if they paint it) or get some paint that doesnt bleed through to their side.

heartsonacake · 27/06/2020 19:40

I can't see why you can't paint it if it is the side you see.

Because the fence doesn’t belong to them.

Original poster
sierra2020 · 27/06/2020 19:40

@Stonerosie67 lol! Yes I agree it would look ridiculous to put another fence against another fence! I guess I'll have to ask and see

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 27/06/2020 19:41

I’ve always just painted my side without asking, and agree fully the whole ask your neighbours I’ve only ever seen on mumsnet. In real life no one gives a shit.

If your neighbours are very difficult people then ask them. If they are fairly normal just paint it.

Kaheki · 27/06/2020 19:42

I wouldn’t mind the neighbour painting their side of our fence, surely it means it’s going to last longer if it’s painted on both sides as it’s more protected from the elements.

Original poster
sierra2020 · 27/06/2020 19:44

My side of the fence, they can't see it. So painting it wouldn't affect them. But technically it is their property.

OP posts:
cabbageking · 27/06/2020 19:44

Just ask them. It will help to preserve the fence and saves them the job.

Soubriquet · 27/06/2020 19:44

Well, ideally, you should ask your neighbour for good relations.

Ok reality though, no one would really give it a second thought and who would care about what colour someone’s fence is on their side of garden

SilentAlarm · 27/06/2020 19:45

Technically I think you are supposed to ask permission if it’s not your fence, but I can’t see any neighbours minding.

Our neighbours did it without asking us and it didn’t bother us. Although it was a little annoying, that was only because they did a rubbish job and we had no end of yellow drips coming through our side! Grin

GameSetMatch · 27/06/2020 20:00

My neighbour has painted my fence it’s all drippy on my side and looks a mess, he’s also painted the top so my side looks awful. Ask before you paint!

Bluntness100 · 27/06/2020 20:04

I’m not sure it’s about the asking, more about doing it properly and not making a mess.

OneForMeToo · 27/06/2020 20:05

Unless you own the fence you have to ask otherwise it’s criminal damage. I’ve seen before where someone actually called the police and the non owner had to restore the fence to the prior condition ie new.

My neighbours painted my fence it’s dripped though I could throttle them it’s a Horrible Red dribbling though and infect splattered on to my stuff. I’ve taken it down and repainted it all my colour and well frankly fuck her I paid for the fence and the paint for it I did not want fire engine red poking though.

MrsMcCarthysFamousScones · 27/06/2020 20:06

I’d ask, especially if your neighbours turn out to be petty like this poster on another fence painting thread!

We were in the same position op. Our fence. We painted our side grey. Ndn painted her side brown. We had a solicitor instruct her not to touch our property.. She legally had to allow us onto her property to maintain the fence. I went round and painted it grey

Lubeylube · 27/06/2020 20:08

I believe that you are not allowed to touch the fence, put anything on it if it isn't yours. Something which I have always completely ignored, as have my neighbours.

BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup · 27/06/2020 20:22

I told my neighbour off for painting my fence because she didn't ask and more importantly didn't do it properly. She did a shit job using the wrong paint and I'm going to end up replacing the fence early because if it. (With one that cannot be painted)

I know from previous properties that if you ask and show them you are using fence paint/vanish most people will say crack on as they don't need to paint it themselves.

dementedpixie · 27/06/2020 20:24

all the fence angst! We paint our side and the 2 neighbours paint their side

Soubriquet · 27/06/2020 20:24

@MrsMcCarthysFamousScones

I’d ask, especially if your neighbours turn out to be petty like this poster on another fence painting thread!

We were in the same position op. Our fence. We painted our side grey. Ndn painted her side brown. We had a solicitor instruct her not to touch our property.. She legally had to allow us onto her property to maintain the fence. I went round and painted it grey

Talk about petty ey
Stonerosie67 · 28/06/2020 00:51

We were in the same position op. Our fence. We painted our side grey. Ndn painted her side brown. We had a solicitor instruct her not to touch our property.. She legally had to allow us onto her property to maintain the fence. I went round and painted it grey

Imagine living next door to somebody like that??

Euclid · 28/06/2020 01:03

There are very strict rules about party walls and fences.

LudaMusser · 28/06/2020 01:23

Ask if you can paint it, if they say no paint it anyway

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