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Original poster

Neighbour wishes to paint our fence?

123 replies

tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 08:54

Thoughts please. We are in a bought house and we have a fence which we paid for and had put on.

Our new neighbours who are not bought are slowly doing up the garden. In conversation, she said the other day that she would like to paint the fence, to which I replied do you mean our fence which I have been painting. She said yes. I said I didn’t mind as long as she painted it the same colour.

I could tell she perhaps didn’t like our choice of colour but her oldest son yes we will pick something close.

I’m not sure that they realise that we have paid for this fence and that it isn’t a ‘housing’ fence and therefore she can’t just decide to paint it without us agreeing.

is it wrong of me to say I’d like the fence to be painted in the same colour or something similar that that will blend in?

OP posts:
Anniefrenchfry · 13/08/2022 11:17

I don’t really get the angst on fences on here. As long as no drips your side who gives a fuck what colour they paint their side.

Hummingbird33 · 13/08/2022 11:22

I really wouldn't care as long as it doesn't drip through to your side. You can't see the side in their garden.

The only other way for them to get a colour they like around their whole garden is to put their own fence right next to yours, and what is the point of that?

22fgjiyt · 13/08/2022 11:25

Would it make a difference to you if your neighbours had "bought"?

Anniefrenchfry · 13/08/2022 11:30

And it is better the fence is painted both sides to preserve it, they are doing uou a favour. Don’t be so utterly rude and petty as to then dictate the colour. Just as long as no drips your side then let them paint it any colour they wish.

mrsm43s · 13/08/2022 12:11

Whilst technically it's "your" fence and you can stop your neighbours from painting their side whatever colour they like, you'd have to be an utter arsehole to enforce that.

Harridan1981 · 13/08/2022 12:13

What is the relevance of 'bought' and 'not bought '? Tbh I don't think it is unreasonable of them to want to paint it, and as long as it doesn't leak through I'm not sure why you would care?

5zeds · 13/08/2022 12:33

What is the relevance of 'bought' and 'not bought '? Tbh I don't think it is unreasonable of them to want to paint it, and as long as it doesn't leak through I'm not sure why you would care?
Well one means it’s yours and you own it and one doesn’t?Confused

RainyDays22 · 13/08/2022 12:34

They can paint their side whatever colour they fancy. YABU.

redbigbananafeet · 13/08/2022 12:49

Do you mean that there is a fence running between your two gardens which you bought and have the nice side facing you? The other side faces them and you cannot see it?

ShandaLear · 13/08/2022 12:56

My next door neighbour came round and painted my side of his fence in the same colour as his side. It suited me very well.

HarryPotterDucks · 13/08/2022 13:02

I’ve never heard of anyone dictating what someone should do with their side of the fence.

you may have paid for that fence, the same as the neighbour would have paid for the other fence.

you are only responsible for the maintenance of the fence….. unless you don’t want a boundary wall?

don’t be a d*ck. Them painting their side of the fence is of no concern to you. Just make sure if anything drips through then you will receive a small can of touch up paint.

You should be thankful they are investing £££ and time into their rental. It means they are likely to rent long term and also take responsibility for taking in their bins, front garden etc.

gogohmm · 13/08/2022 13:02

It also depends on the deeds, if it states its your fence then that's ok for you to insist but if officially the fence is 50:50 then it's slightly trickier. If you paint in traditional brown then it is easier to enforce than something like grey which seems unfair

bigkoalacliphug · 13/08/2022 13:14

I moved in to my home 2 years ago and my neighbour moved in 9 months ago. (Both home owners/mortgages if that matters!?)

The fence was in a terrible state but I had enough to concentrate on indoors before thinking about starting in the garden. So when new neighbours moved in they suggested replacing the fence. Absolutely nothing on my title deeds regarding ownership. They sourced and bought all the materials, and neighbour's dad built it. I paid what they asked (£350). Neighbour wanted grey...this isn't to my taste and when I queried whether I could pick my own colour for my side her dad told me no. It would drop through therefore would have to be grey. So he painted both sides. I couldn't really be arsed questioning it or causing a disagreement so just let them get on with it. Looks hellish with one side grey and the other (now painted) brown. But hey ho, we all still get along nicely.

MondayMoan · 13/08/2022 13:16

I've had this happen to us.

First fence 16 years ago is mine. I asked the neighbour not to paint it. She did and the paint ran through the groves down into my side. She painted it green when the fence was a light golden type colour. Apart from being pissed off what could I do? She eventually sold.

Last year we had the fence replaced and the newer neighbour asked to paint her side. This was when the fence man was putting it in. He suggested which way round to put it so the paint didn't come through. It's all worked well and everyone is happy.

2pinkginsplease · 13/08/2022 13:21

God, posts like these make me thankful that I have decent neighbours !

ImAvingOops · 13/08/2022 13:22

I think the problem is that if the neighbours are sloppy painters, they can wreck how your own side looks, which is falling if it's a fence you paid £££ for!

Frazzlefrazle · 13/08/2022 13:29

Honestly why are people so arsey. You don't have to look at that side. Let them paint it.

Agreeeeed · 13/08/2022 13:31

I’ve never heard of someone preventing their neighbour painting a fence, unless it is done very badly and dripped onto their side.
we own a fence on one side of the garden. Our neighbour on the other side owns the fence on the other side of our garden.
we have painted both sides that are visible to our garden in the same colour. One we own one, we don’t own the other. All the same colour paint. As does everyone else in the street. As long is it doesn’t leak or drip onto your side what does it matter.
I wouldn’t dream of dictating that the neighbour who lives the other side of the fence we own that they couldn’t paint their side of our fence.
I don’t know anyone who goes on like this.
I just want to live harmoniously with my neighbours and for them to be able to enjoy their garden.

I don’t know why you pointed out they don’t own the house. You just sound like a snob because you own your house and you paid for your fence.

i hope your neighbours do it anyway and enjoy their garden.
realistically what are you going to do anyway? Report them to the fence police?

SirChenjins · 13/08/2022 13:34

This is like a parallel universe. We just paint the fences whatever colour we like. I’ve no idea who owns them, I imagine the neighbours don’t either - no-one has complained, we’re all just happy having neighbours who care enough about their properties to keep the place looking nice and treat their sides so the wood doesn’t rot and end up costing ££££a to repair. We all get on really well and it’s a lovely street to live in as a result.

shouldbesleepingnotscrolling · 13/08/2022 13:40

In theory its nice to say yes go ahead, until the paint that is a different colour seeps through most of the edges and knots and drips through at the bottom and leaves your side a mess.
Sometimes people dont realise that this happens a lot when you paint a fence and you end up in a awkward situation to fix it - paint your side again but then it seeps back through on their side, get them to repaint your side? For this reason it would be much easier to be the same colour ad OPs side.

Suzi888 · 13/08/2022 13:43

VioletToes · 13/08/2022 09:03

What? Surely no one can dictate what colour fence you have on your own side? You paint your side what you want and they paint their side the colour they want?

No, you pay your own fence and paint it whatever colour you want. You can’t paint someone else’s property.

Upwiththelark76 · 13/08/2022 13:46

Waterfallgirl · 13/08/2022 10:55

Meanwhile back in the real world people paint the fence on their own side and neighbours paint theirs. I have never in my years of home ownership - both owning and not owning fences - heard of someone insisting on the neighbours having the same colour on their side / let alone actually taking the panels and actually painting them or going round to next doors to do it.
I am sure my neighbours would think I was batshit if I either told them what colour to pain on their side or went around to paint it!
I get it that you don’t want colours to bleed through but its just about having a good conversation surely and making sure both parties are careful
Just seems odd to me what’s being suggested here.

Quite agree! Really who cares ?

SirChenjins · 13/08/2022 13:56

shouldbesleepingnotscrolling · 13/08/2022 13:40

In theory its nice to say yes go ahead, until the paint that is a different colour seeps through most of the edges and knots and drips through at the bottom and leaves your side a mess.
Sometimes people dont realise that this happens a lot when you paint a fence and you end up in a awkward situation to fix it - paint your side again but then it seeps back through on their side, get them to repaint your side? For this reason it would be much easier to be the same colour ad OPs side.

I have never had this to the extent it’s ruined my fence experience. If there are some drips then just tidy them up on your side and get on with your day.

Unless the preference is for your neighbours not to paint in and for the wood to rot more quickly as a result.

Anniefrenchfry · 13/08/2022 13:57

Suzi888 · 13/08/2022 13:43

No, you pay your own fence and paint it whatever colour you want. You can’t paint someone else’s property.

Show quote history

And back in the real world every one paints their side of the fence. It’s no big deal

AliMonkey · 13/08/2022 14:06

Lots of people saying not normal to stop neighbours painting any colour they want. Well I’ve never lived anywhere where the neighbour whose fence it wasn’t painted it. If they asked I’d nicely say no as too worried about it being done badly and coming through to my side. If they don’t like the fence they are free to put up a fence on their own land just inside my fence. That’s what I’d do (or plant a hedge) if I didn’t like the colour of the neighbour’s fence. And I get on very well with all three neighbours whose gardens are next to mine.