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Original poster

Would you pay half for fence?

72 replies

horseyhorsey17 · 08/01/2024 11:37

I've pretty much decided I am going to do this, but interested in views of others nonetheless!

The fence on the right of my property blew down in the wind last week - it was rotten and clearly the whole side needs replacing. That fence is actually my neighbour's (mine is the other side) and she was very quick to say she was prepared to 'go halves' on replacing it. I would obviously rather she fixed it as it's her fence, but there was a massive hole in it when I moved in that I fixed (because I have dogs and didn't want them escaping) and apparently it had been there for years because both she and the former occupant of this house refused to pay to have it fixed, and he wouldn't go halves. I've had to chickenwire the missing fence to stop my dogs roaming freely round her garden but obviously this is a temporary solution. Do I just suck it up and pay halves for the fence (I know a guy who'll do it for me for a good price) or try and push her to pay it as it's actually her problem? I just don't think she cares enough to actually get it done.

OP posts:
steppemum · 08/01/2024 14:33

so technically it is her fence and she should pay.
But she doesn't have to have a fence. She doesn't have to mark the border in any particular way. She could choose to plant daffocils to mark the border if she likes.
So she has no desire for a new fence.

On the other hand, you do have a responsibility to keep your dogs contained within your garden.
So you want a (good) fence.

If she refused to put up a fence, then you would have to put one up on your side of the boundary in your garden for your dogs.

So I would take her offer of paying half, get a quote and her signed agreement and see it as a win.

Lellochip · 08/01/2024 14:43

Itslegitimatesalvage · 08/01/2024 14:23

It’s usually in someone’s deeds that they are responsible for maintaining the boundary so yes, they need to maintain the boundary. Just mark it out in some way; doesn’t need to be a fence or wall or permanent structure.

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No responsibilty marked on either deed, though there's a few bricks coming off the bottom boundary wall which indicate where it would be. Nothing marking down the full length of the garden though

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 08/01/2024 14:43

Itslegitimatesalvage · 08/01/2024 14:09

Put your own fence up just inside your boundary. You lose a bit of garden but then you have the fence you want.

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We’re planning on moving soon but this would have been a good plan otherwise.

FishTheRiver · 08/01/2024 14:46

@Lellochip
Do you have to legally mark it? There's nothing on the boundary between me and my neighbour. I do have a fence but (for ease of installing it I presume) the previous owner put it a few feet inside the boundary

You need to be careful that you don't loose the 'few feet' between your fence and the boundary. It best is fences are placed on or as close as possible to the actual boundary.

Lellochip · 08/01/2024 14:52

FishTheRiver · 08/01/2024 14:46

@Lellochip
Do you have to legally mark it? There's nothing on the boundary between me and my neighbour. I do have a fence but (for ease of installing it I presume) the previous owner put it a few feet inside the boundary

You need to be careful that you don't loose the 'few feet' between your fence and the boundary. It best is fences are placed on or as close as possible to the actual boundary.

I have access to a shed door on the 'neighbours' side of the fence currently so they couldn't ever claim it's not mine, but it does annoy me (somewhat irrationally - I'd gain next to no usuable space) but I am looking for the most painless excuse to move it over without pissing anyone off! Been hoping for the wind to help me out but no such luck yet 😆

blitzen · 08/01/2024 18:58

Popquizzer · 08/01/2024 12:07

That's an odd suggestion. There's no reason a new neighbour would take down a fence that gives them privacy and protection from a neighbour's dogs.

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Not really. I know a neighbour that this happened to. Brand new fence, then new owner wanted a wall.

Original poster
horseyhorsey17 · 09/01/2024 11:57

Thanks for all responses.

Just to say - even if the dogs weren't an issue (and I've secured the garden so actually they're not really) I would want a fence there for privacy/aesthetic reasons.

OP posts:
Original poster
horseyhorsey17 · 09/01/2024 12:01

Itslegitimatesalvage · 08/01/2024 14:25

Right… but if you own the dogs it is your legal responsibility to keep them enclosed. You can’t let them run in your neighbours property. The neighbour doesn’t need to put up a fence. No one needs a fence between their properties (unless specifically included in the deeds). But if you own animals, it is your responsibility to keep them in your property. It isn’t the neighbours job to do that.

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She said she doesn't mind them going into her garden!

I mind though - also her garden isn't secure so they can get out onto the main road. Anyway, it's a moot point as I have put in temporary fencing that stops them getting out, but it's not pretty and I want a proper boundary there.

Looks like going halves it is then!

OP posts:
blackfluffycat · 09/01/2024 12:04

My neighbour owns my right side. It was down 6 months with the wind. Nightmare with kids and dogs. I didn't want to offer as what happens when my side (the left) blows down?

PillowRest · 09/01/2024 12:05

I'd be grateful she's offered half as it doesn't sound like she needs it or cares to have it.

BloodyAdultDC · 09/01/2024 12:06

TheFlis · 08/01/2024 11:50

She most likely has no obligation to even have a fence but you have an obligation to contain your dogs and going halves on the fence seems to be the easiest way to do that, so I would (though I would be a bit hacked off about having to do so).

This. There is (usually) no obligation to have a fence, just to 'maintain a boundary' - she could choose not to have a fence at all. On the other hand, you have a responsibility to secure your garden, so should be prepared to either cough up for your own fence (within the boundary) or contribute to theirs.

Original poster
horseyhorsey17 · 09/01/2024 12:08

BloodyAdultDC · 09/01/2024 12:06

This. There is (usually) no obligation to have a fence, just to 'maintain a boundary' - she could choose not to have a fence at all. On the other hand, you have a responsibility to secure your garden, so should be prepared to either cough up for your own fence (within the boundary) or contribute to theirs.

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I feel like if I erected my own fence I'd risk losing some of my own land? Not that there's really enough space where the fence goes to do that anyway. But easier just to go halves!

OP posts:
Original poster
horseyhorsey17 · 09/01/2024 12:09

PillowRest · 09/01/2024 12:05

I'd be grateful she's offered half as it doesn't sound like she needs it or cares to have it.

She doesn't care about her garden whereas I am very garden-proud. So I should prob be happy she's up for paying half and not just leaving it with a half-fallen down fence!

She's a nice person and I like her.

OP posts:
BlueMongoose · 09/01/2024 18:06

I'd choose a fence I liked, at whatever height liked, and install my fence at my cost ( this would have to be inside the boundary on my side of course). Making sure, of course, that the 'backside' or ugly side was on the other side.
I have shared the cost of a fence when it was the neighbour's responsibility, but that was with an elderly neighbour who offered to pay for all of it if we could help her sort the job out. We installed it, she made us a lovely cake. Everyone was happy. We paid for all of it for the one the other side, which was ours, but our neighbour on that side helped us put it up, which was nice of him.
But for some cheeky whitsit who asked me to cough up for a fence that was theirs to fix, nope.

joyfulnessss · 09/01/2024 22:31

HappiestSleeping · 08/01/2024 14:13

I am in a similar position as the fence between me and my neighbour needs replacing. It is his fence, however he thinks it isn't as he hasn't bothered to look at the deeds. He was the one who broke it by climbing over it to retrieve balls his children kicked into my garden ironically. I'll be buggered if I'm paying for it, although eventually, it will piss me off enough to do something about it as I'm sure he will leave it.

So he thinks it's yours and he broke it. Well then you could tell him he broke your fence and you want compensation!!

HappiestSleeping · 10/01/2024 00:04

joyfulnessss · 09/01/2024 22:31

So he thinks it's yours and he broke it. Well then you could tell him he broke your fence and you want compensation!!

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Unfortunately, he only broke one last of it, however the whole fence is in need of replacement. I don't want to shoot myself in the foot.

Bunda · 10/01/2024 08:43

I wouldn't but I don't have pets.

Purplepepsi · 10/01/2024 09:25

We paid half for both fences! We are lucky we get on with our neighbours! Also meant we could have input into what they looked like - so they are nice and tall now both sides!

CasperGutman · 10/01/2024 19:14

Your neighbour likely has no obligation to provide a fence, just to mark the boundary. She could do this with a chain strung between posts, for example. She apparently doesn't care much what it looks like

You, on the other hand, have a duty to keep your animals in and a desire to have a more attractive fence.

If I were you, I'd accept the offer of sharing the cost.

AnotherDayAnotherDoller · 10/01/2024 19:24

I think it's perfectly reasonable to share the cost of a shared fence.
We have always done so...with the exception of the time our neighbour wished to put up a new taller fence but the existing fence was in perfect condition....on that occasion, we did pay half and just ended up with a fence each which was fine.

Winnading · 10/01/2024 20:14

LevelBy · 08/01/2024 14:23

I wouldn't

She'll soon get fed up of your dogs running in her garden

Excellent idea until your dogs escape through their open gate or another hole in a different fence. And you are responsible for your dogs.

OP
I've always just paid for the fences I want. Neighbours have offered to go halves. But they always want the cheapest possible and I don't want to be doing this again in 5 years. So i put up strong fencing with concrete posts. Cost plenty on the two sides I've done so far. But worth it to keep my dogs in.

BobnLen · 10/01/2024 21:03

People with dogs usually end up paying for the fence of the neighbours that haven't got dogs as they have to make sure it's secure. If we had a dog we would have to put a proper fence where the neighbours have just put quite a basic low net fence which has gaps, it's quite private as there are trees and shrubs there but it wouldn't keep a determined dog in.

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