How would you ask a neighbour to share cost of new shared fence?

[whereisthejoy]

Just that really! We have been in our current house for a few months and are looking to change the garden. One side of this includes the fence that is shared between us and next door. Would you just replace it as part of your own garden works or would you request they help cover the cost of the shared fence? And if so, how would you go about it if you haven't really had a chance to get to know the neighbours (lockdown and weather)?

Do you know who the fence belongs to? I think that should be your starting point.

You could put a note through the door but personally I'd wait until the weather warms up and you have have a friendly chat with them over said fence.

Yep, check who is responsible legally for the fence first. Then come back to us

Definitely find out who owns it first

No, that's not how it works. Only one of you owns the fence. You can't touch it if it's their boundary, but you could put your own next to it.

Have a look in your documents from when you purchased the house - in England (if that's where you are) it is standard for you to legally own/be responsible for one side of the garden/drive in terms of the boundary and maintaining any dividers/fences etc. Neighbours are responsible for the other side. Have a look at your paperwork but also still talk to the neighbours even if it's your side as it's polite to discuss plans with them especially as it could impact on any plants in their garden planted nearby etc

Yeah if they own it they may either refuse point blank or (as I would) expect you to find it if you want it changed and it’s a perfectly fine fence. If you own it, then you are free to do what you like but I’d let them know and not take the mick.

Depends why you want to change it as well, if just aesthetically as opposed to knackered then no I'd not pay half

This is interesting, we have recently moved and our fence is fairly knackered too. Our solicitor told us specifically that unless the fence is double sided then both neighbours are equally responsible for it and no one owns it outright.

We're in NI so I'm not sure if the law is maybe different over here.

@OutingMyself not necessarily, we bought a new build and the fences are shared, we are both legally responsible. Apparently this is becoming more standard with housing going forward.

We had a similiar scenario. We needed the fence from halfway up the garden reinforcing as it was just low metal wire against new baby hedge plants.

We offered two options, if they wanted to contribute we would continue the existing expensive wooden fencing all the way up. Or we would replace with a higher stronger wire mesh fence.

They didn't want to contribute, we went with wire mesh.

If they'd said they didn't want it touching we'd have put something on our side. As it is the new fence is further on our side so as to not kill the roots on their baby hedge plants.

You need to find out who has responsibility for it ? It's usually the back and right side I think but in our old house we had to pay for all of it so our neighbours got a lovely new fence at our cost!!🙄 that's just the way it goes ! If your are liable you are , if not you can ask them to pay for their broken fence .

Thanks everyone, apparently it's shared ownership (sorry should have specified that!) and it's completely knackered and covered in ivy.

"Hey, we're thinking the fence needs some TLC, and considering getting quotes to fix. Would you be interested in fixing the full thing if we were to get a quote for that?"

If not then just deal with your side. We ripped out our garden when we moved in and build a new fence just inside the perimeter of the original because our neighbours wanted to retain their hedge. All fine, both sides got what they wanted and the original wrought iron is still there marking the boundary.

We recently replaced a shared ownership fence, having moved in not so long ago. Our neighbour approached us, he'd wanted to replace it for ages but the previous owners weren't interested. He just came and knocked on the door and we had a chat, he went away and we discussed between ourselves, then went back to him a few days later. No pressure from him at all. You'll just have to speak to your neighbours and take it from there. If you buy a property with shared borders, you should expect that your neighbours will want to do work from time to time, so it won't be a surprise to them. You never know, they may be wanting to replace it too. You'll certainly have to ask them before doing anything though.

If it is shared ownership, you will need to get your neighbour’s agreement for any change, even if you pay for it all. They may hate the new style fence you are proposing and prefer to replace like-for-like.

So I would

1. Tell your neighbour you are planning to landscape your garden.
2. Ask them if they mind you changing the fence and if not, are they happy with your choice.
3. if they are happy with your new fence AND the current one needs replacing, broach if they are able to contribute - they may not want to spend their money to align with your time-table.
4. if they are not happy with the new fence a) change your plans to leave the old fence as is b) ask them what style of fence they would prefer and change your plans.

Do not assume that you can do what you like, when you like. Agree what needs to be done and only then hope they offer to contribute.

Your house documentation should state clearly who is responsible for the boundaries on each side of your house. If it's your responsibility then it would be pretty cheeky to expect them to stump up tbh....

We paid for the neighbours fence in the end as it was us who wanted it done - they were perfectly happy with the nightmarish state of affairs.

Thanks everyone very interesting and good advice all round. Really appreciate it.

Yes we definitely want to talk to them about it (we know they have a house extension planned but they don't know we are doing our garden. We are hoping to have it done in early April so will need to have a chat soon!

Thanks for the tips

I'm looking for my docs but cant find, ours is one side, the usual one, but I cannot remember is it right or left (when facing the house)!