Paint my neighbours fence?

[sierra2020]

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?

You could paint it and not tell them.

It wouldn’t enter my head to ask neighbours if I can paint my side of the fence! Madness.

See if that grey person had done that to me I would have put my own fence up as high as I could and painted it neon orange. It would have really brought out my inner pettiness.

I do agree that I have lived in many places and everyone has always just painted their side of the fence without asking as otherwise you could have three different colour paints going on. But since I have read here I would probably ask and if they didn't want me to, put up my own, which I could also attach things to or grow things up.

only if you can guarantee it doesn’t leak through. our neighbour painted their side of the fence with a spray, it went through all over our garden, they had to replace our garden furniture, kids bikes, parasol, external blinds. VERY expensive

Everybody where we live just paints the fence in their garden. Never has anybody asked the owner because nobody else can see it so why would they care?

I got lucky. My neighbour put up new fence and asked me if they could come into our garden to paint the back of it. Yes dear neighbour you have saved me a job.

We've always painted fences, couldn't be bothered if neighbours did the same to 'our' fence.

@myself2020 same here, but it only went on the swing, he came round and cleaned it off as I spotted it before it dried properly and before he ruined more stuff.
When they advertise those fence sprayers on tv they don't show the pissed off neighbour on the other side of the fence do they?!

Only on mumsnet do people ask if they can paint their side of the fence. In real life people just do it. Never ever heard of anyone bothering to ask. If it’s your side just go for it.

Just be aware that when you paint it it doesn’t dip through to their side

You're doing them a favour by painting your side. The paint protects the fence and it will last longer.

One of the fences is likely to be yours. Usually the left one, as you look with your back to the house, but not always. Check your deeds.

I've never heard of asking permission. Altho if you are painting it something other than the original colour you should consider wether the paint will bleed through to their side, might be worth a chat.

I think you know if you have neighbours who will need to be asked. I have a set of them neighbours. I have always used the same colour as the neighbours as it’s just easier to avoid the drips. My side are the ones that just slot in, I usually paint both sides (they have the same colour) before I place them in.

You've got really lucky that neither fence seems to be yours to maintain or pay for! I thought the rule is that everyone is responsible for the fence on the left?

There is no such rule

Lol @dementedpixie whoops. My neighbour to my left got me good and proper then. Made me pay for a new fence between us. I just paid without checking.

I don’t understand why MN doesn’t get that you can’t paint a fence owned by someone else. It’s criminal damage. It’s not petty to be upset if your neighbour ruins the fence that you paid hundreds of £ for. If your neighbour cut down the hedge or a tree between that you owned, would that bother you?

How is it ruined if they paint the side that you cannot see at all? It doesn't make any difference to you, except the positive one of strengthening the fence.

Some fences are party maintained; we are in a fairly new build and wanted to paint ours so I got a solicitor friend to check the deeds and the fences are joint so we didn't have to ask the neighbours. I was super careful doing it though!

how is painting a fence ruining it? Its protecting it

and its in no way comparable to cutting down a hedge

A fence is ruined if the neighbour does a bad paint job and their colour runs into your colour or gets sprayed all over the patio, toys and furniture as PP.

@Bluntness100 it really is not only on Mumsnet. Mumsnet is actually real people with real lives!

Fence issues are the most common neighbour dispute and can cost thousands if neighbours disagree. My ex neighbour certainly wasnt on Mumsnet and threatened me with legal action because I had a basket on what was actually my fence but he claimed was his. It became so ridiculous and stressful that we paid for a fence to be erected in front of 'his' fence!

Neither me or my neighbours own the fence, we are HA so we paint our own sides.

There are a lot of laws you have probably never heard of! Look on Gov.uk fences page. It is all there.