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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:
crumpet · 13/08/2022 22:17

I couldn’t get excited about someone painting the other side of the fence. It protects the wood so helps it last longer, and isn’t visible in any event.

I would be pissed off though if they were careless and drips came through the joins.

Original poster
tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 22:17

tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 22:04

just to be clear, because we live in a bought house and have paid for our own fence does not make us think we are any better than housing tenants.

My niece actually rents from the housing.

The fact is we have paid for the materials, labour etc of the fence which was actually broken twice by previous housing tenants who did not so much as offer to repair it, so we were the ones out of pocket actually.

@22fgjiyt see message above. Sorry trying to work this.

OP posts:
Original poster
tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 22:18

tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 21:43

No, its not slide panels.

@ItsSnowJokes see message above

OP posts:
moistmingemist · 13/08/2022 22:20

Can you suggest you provide the paint or treatment and they apply it so that the colour remains the same. If it's your fence you could also offer to go round and do it for them.

Original poster
tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 22:22

@Agreeeeed I’m not being difficult, I’ve already explained I’m happy for them to paint the fence and yes we’ve had our fair share of the not no nice neighbours who didn’t care.

clearly I dont want them to not like the colour but is it too unreasonable to ask that they paint it something similar in keeping so it doesnt seep through

OP posts:
thebear1 · 13/08/2022 22:24

I find these types of threads so odd, most people own a fence and then have the back of someone else's. Away from MN it's perfectly normal to paint your side whatever you want and not ask permission.

Original poster
tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 22:25

@moistmingemist yes I did think of offering to paint the fence but think the man of the house is quite proud and might not like that idea. I could offer to supply the paint, wouldn’t be an issue but not sure if they would feel offended 🤔

OP posts:
HarryPotterDucks · 13/08/2022 22:28

tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 22:22

@Agreeeeed I’m not being difficult, I’ve already explained I’m happy for them to paint the fence and yes we’ve had our fair share of the not no nice neighbours who didn’t care.

clearly I dont want them to not like the colour but is it too unreasonable to ask that they paint it something similar in keeping so it doesnt seep through

No. You just buy a small tub or keep left over paint to top up.

Original poster
tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 22:30

@crumpet exactly. I’d feel as if I would have to go round and redo all the parts. I know it sounds like making a mountain of a molehill but if you’ve just spent ages painting the fence and their choice of colour seeps through you would be a bit peeved.

OP posts:
drunktrifle · 14/08/2022 01:30

tigger1167 · 13/08/2022 21:57

If she paints it say a really dark grey for example it would seep through and then I’d have to redo all the painting I’ve just done like all the sides, tops etc which is hard work as it’s a particularly long fence. It’s not about being petty.

It might not drip through, we have 9 neighbours with various colours on their side our side isn't painted (the fence is pre treated) there's hardly any evidence of the neighbours colours. A few tiny drops here and there that would be easy to remove if I was inclined to do it. There all covered by plants now though.

FurierTransform · 14/08/2022 07:39

I'd just let them paint it whatever colour they want but remind them it's your fence which you have already painted, and if their painting causes any drip through on your side you'll be asking them to come round & go over it.

Anniefrenchfry · 14/08/2022 09:19

There is no reason for it to seep through unless it’s some cheap arse fence. I’ve no idea what all the hoo ha is trying to justify being horrible to your neighbours, if sone with a brush it won’t seep through.

op, unclench. Really, sit down, think about what you’re doing here and then stop

BlueMongoose · 14/08/2022 11:40

WeAreTheHeroes · 13/08/2022 10:34

Responsibility for fences is sometimes defined in the title register and shown on the title plan. If it isn't then responsibility is assumed to be shared, unless one neighbour owns the fence.

However, if you put in a fence on your own side, provided it's on your own land, whether it's the side you are 'responsible' for fencing or not, it's yours, and they can't touch it without your permission.
If someone wants a fence the colour they like, the only way they can be 100% sure they are 'in the right' is to pay to put a fence in and then paint it.
We allowed neighbours to paint their side of a fence we put in. But that was our choice.

MartinaKnows · 14/08/2022 11:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Frances0911 · 14/08/2022 12:04

If it says in the Title deeds that the fence is party, then you are each responsible for your own side. If it isn't party, then the fence should be just within your boundary, and I do not believe they are allowed to touch it.

ArcticSkewer · 14/08/2022 12:06

Is it the boundary line or on your land, and so they can put another fence in on their (landlords) land?

If you built it on the boundary then it's a bit much to then expect to have a say in how the neighbours treat their side.

My back fence has two fences - one on our side and one on the neighbours. Presumably they had a similar issue at some point or another.

The ones on either side are boundary fences and we each paint our side as we wish

BEAM123 · 14/08/2022 12:10

If they are renting would their landlord even agree to them painting the fences (even the ones belonging to that house)?

Stevie6 · 14/08/2022 12:25

I paid for our fence, I really don't care that my neighbours painted the side in their garden, I can't see it and it has no impact on me, and no, they didn't ask either 🤷🏻‍♀️

RedWingBoots · 14/08/2022 12:51

OP tell them verbally, put it in writing and write to their landlord telling them not to touch your fence in anyway including by painting it.

If they then do paint it, get a solicitor involved.

It may seem over the top to others but if your neighbours rent they are less likely to be in the property for decades.

My own neighbours on one side are unsociable, rent and painted my fence.
The longest rental has been 4 years.

The big problem I have is they used shit paint, which will decrease the lifespan of the fence. After 18 months their paint started peeling there as the paint their landlord and I used is still in good nick.They didn't paint the fence properly.

So when they then hung stuff on my fence after they painted it, I put a note through the door that if they had already caused criminal damage by painting my fence and if they added to it by hanging stuff on it I would take further action.

Anniefrenchfry · 14/08/2022 12:58

RedWingBoots · 14/08/2022 12:51

OP tell them verbally, put it in writing and write to their landlord telling them not to touch your fence in anyway including by painting it.

If they then do paint it, get a solicitor involved.

It may seem over the top to others but if your neighbours rent they are less likely to be in the property for decades.

My own neighbours on one side are unsociable, rent and painted my fence.
The longest rental has been 4 years.

The big problem I have is they used shit paint, which will decrease the lifespan of the fence. After 18 months their paint started peeling there as the paint their landlord and I used is still in good nick.They didn't paint the fence properly.

So when they then hung stuff on my fence after they painted it, I put a note through the door that if they had already caused criminal damage by painting my fence and if they added to it by hanging stuff on it I would take further action.

😱

jammiewhammie65 · 14/08/2022 13:02

Surely you can paint your side of the fence whatever you like otherwise we would all have odd fences ? Why do you care if it's on their side you won't even see it

jammiewhammie65 · 14/08/2022 13:06

RedWingBoots · 14/08/2022 12:51

OP tell them verbally, put it in writing and write to their landlord telling them not to touch your fence in anyway including by painting it.

If they then do paint it, get a solicitor involved.

It may seem over the top to others but if your neighbours rent they are less likely to be in the property for decades.

My own neighbours on one side are unsociable, rent and painted my fence.
The longest rental has been 4 years.

The big problem I have is they used shit paint, which will decrease the lifespan of the fence. After 18 months their paint started peeling there as the paint their landlord and I used is still in good nick.They didn't paint the fence properly.

So when they then hung stuff on my fence after they painted it, I put a note through the door that if they had already caused criminal damage by painting my fence and if they added to it by hanging stuff on it I would take further action.

Omg calm down it's a fence. Jesus how do you get through life getting so wound up about such a small thing it really doesn't matter you can't see the other side. They can paint the other side bright pink if they like how will it bother me ?

daffodilandtulip · 14/08/2022 13:10

This irritates the hell out of me but I don't have the time or inclination to fight it. I own my fence on both sides (as one side also has a wall). One neighbour always paints it dark brown, which always runs though onto my side, which is a pale colour. They also hang things all the way along with nails and trellis.
And the thing that pisses me off the most - they try to tell me that I have to change the colour of all of my fences, because they have to look at it and it's hideous!

MarmadukeSpillageEsquire · 14/08/2022 13:44

RedWingBoots · 14/08/2022 12:51

OP tell them verbally, put it in writing and write to their landlord telling them not to touch your fence in anyway including by painting it.

If they then do paint it, get a solicitor involved.

It may seem over the top to others but if your neighbours rent they are less likely to be in the property for decades.

My own neighbours on one side are unsociable, rent and painted my fence.
The longest rental has been 4 years.

The big problem I have is they used shit paint, which will decrease the lifespan of the fence. After 18 months their paint started peeling there as the paint their landlord and I used is still in good nick.They didn't paint the fence properly.

So when they then hung stuff on my fence after they painted it, I put a note through the door that if they had already caused criminal damage by painting my fence and if they added to it by hanging stuff on it I would take further action.

Jesus H Christ.

SirChenjins · 14/08/2022 14:28

Bloody hell @RedWingBoots / that’s an insane way of approaching things. Seriously.