Fencing

[CrazyMoma]

In my garden front & back our borders are deep and you can only see 3 panels, you can't see the other fence panels. Got new neighbours who have removed the established borders & some of the panels (they said they were rotted). Neighbour said they expect me to pay half of the cost of a new fence. The posts are old but serviceable to hold fence panels. I have said I will pay for the fence panels which I can see but, as for the panels which he has completely removed I expect him to pay for these. He said well the fence needs to be completely replaced because it has been neglected over the years and needs doing. I feel because he has exposed the fence he would like a new fence so it looks more aesthetically pleasing. I don't really want to fall out but AIBU to think that if he decides to remove the fence or want something which looks better he should pay?

1. who does the fence belong to, according to the Land Registry documents ("deeds")

2. Nobody can be compelled to build or maintain a fence if they don't want to.

Who's owns the boundary?
If you own it its your responsibility and if theybown it its theirs. They also have to pay to replace the fences not you.
Also, if this your boundary and they have removed the fence panels without your permission they need to replace them at their cost and you didn't authorise them to be removed or replaced.
It is possible however its a shared boundary in which case its 50:50 responsibility and cost. That said it also requires joint agreement for the fences to be replaced. If you felt there was nothing wrong with them but they wanted 'prettier' fences as they removed their border then they should pay to replace them.

Careful OP. This could turn out very tricky!
You need to establish whose boundary it is first.
You don't have to pay anything if it's not your responsibility.

They should have discussed their expectations with you prior.

If they did that to me I’d be forced to say I’m really sorry but I don’t have any money and much as I’d love to help and pay my share unfortunately I am not in the financial position to do so.

Thanks for your replies. My neighbour was quick to tell me it's 50:50 cos they had checked their deeds. I checked mine there's no mention of boundary but, in the seller's information pack, the only boundary it says i'm responsible for is the front, the rest is "not known" so i think when they mentions deeds they mean the seller's information pack. At the end of the day if they hadn't removed their border they wouldn't have seen the fence. But they have removed panels at the front & back of the house (they haven't asked or mentioned removing them, just mentioned they fell apart but they seemed to be ok until they started working on them)

" i think when they mentions deeds they mean the seller's information pack."

that has no legal standing.

You can download a copy of yours (and theirs) from the Land Registry. Only use the gov.uk site, others are scammers.

www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

don't use co.uk or .org who are crooks.

Unless you have old deeds often they no longer say anything.
He should have discussed and agreed any action before he did anything.

I would agree a budget before he goes over the top and have a say in what is put up. Ask him to return the panels he took out as they are half yours by his own deduction.
He has not acted in a civilised manner.