New build estate - painting garden fence?!

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Recently moved into a housing estate where the houses are about 12yrs old. Currently trying to tackle the garden. Am I right to think it's ok to paint our side of the fences within our garden? There's a mixture of fences round the perimeter of our garden, 4 different neighbours. 2 sections have a stone wall to waist height and fence above it. None of the fences seem to have been put in place by the owners, would of been built at the time the houses were I'd imagine. I'm worried I might cause friction by painting them (light green) or I might seem a bit daft for chapping doors to ask neighbours?! My head hurts from overthinking this. 🙈

Of course you can paint your side. Being a new build is irrelevant.

You need to check if the fence is yours...should be marked on your deeds. You shouldn't paint a fence if it is not yours...could cause long term irritation with your neighbours.

I think I should check the deeds. The fences were all built at the same time as the houses but all look slightly different and precious owner only painted a few sections which confuses me. Thanks guys!

You have the right to paint the side of the fence in your garden.

It depends how carefully you do it. My neighbour painted OUR fence (put in 2 years previously) a horrible dark brown. Sloshed it on the top of panels and it seeped through the panels. She had to come over and scrub it off our side.

Seeped through the gaps in the panels I meant!

You need to check whose fence it is.

If it belongs to your neighbour you'll need their permission before you paint it - you can't unilaterally paint someone else's property just because you can see it!

Can't you just talk to them??? Whatever your deeds say, it affects both of you so talking about it would be my first step.

The fence on one side of your garden will be yours and the one on the other side your neighbours. You can paint the one that's yours but not the one that's your neighbours without their permission, they own it and so it would be the equivalent of you suddenly painting their car or the front of their house/front door etc…They pay to maintain it and if it’s been specially treated they may also not want it painted or may have requirements about the type of paint used and so on…

Thanks for the help guys! Matter dealt with. Fence painted. 😁