Which fence is mine?

[ImagineRainbows]

This is the diagram on my deeds, can’t work out from that which fence is mine and my responsibility. Anyone know?

You can't tell from that. Your conveyancing paperwork should clarify.

That’s the only paperwork we have with a diagram on.

Did you buy new from developer or from a vendor? It is normally one of the queries.

Check the deeds to see what it says in there. This looks like a fairly new plan/estate. So I would expect the developers to be fairly up on defining stuff like this.

So if it is not on the plan it is probably written in the deeds, which you can download for a few quid IIRC.

The diagram only shows the boundary. To ascertain if someone iOS responsible for a fence you’d need to look at the conveyancing paperwork.

Is it a newbuild? We've just bought one and it says somewhere in the written paperwork that we are jointly responsible for all boundaries with the neighbours in each respective direction. Did you get anything in writing that you might have missed? Maybe a long list of numbered bullets?

Unless it is written in the legal papers there is no requirement for owners to fence their boundaries so there is no automatic ownership or obligation over fences. It’s a matter of negotiation with the neighbours.

How long ago did you buy? Replies to enquiries we received were clear about believed ownership, however, we asked our solicitor to confirm that accorded with the deeds. One thing to note, it used to be the case that if a boundary isn't yours and you help maintain or pay towards repairs/replacement you accept responsibility for it!

Whilst you can't make someone do something with their boundary, it's good to know in case you want to put something up on your own.

Thanks everyone.

It’s a new build, bought new 5 years ago.

I checked the full deeds (skimming for diagram) and that was the only one but having read them in full it says we are jointly responsible for fences.

I guess that means our back fence is spilt between 3 houses for responsibility which seems like a nightmare to organise if anything needs doing.

Anyway was enquiring as one of the side fences is likely to need repair / replacement soon as it’s very wobbly and being made worse by next door’s large dog jumping up at it and was wondering if we need to start saving for it or if it wasn’t our responsibility.

Sometimes it may be written down is the deeds. It is not on the diagram, so if you are not in the process of buying or selling, I would ask your neighbours or neighbours but one if it is tricky with neighbours.

Our neighbours had a extra document that covered the street with dimensions of gardens and fence ownership.

This blog covers all the points nicely. https://www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/fencing-advice/who-owns-the-fence

Talk to your neighbours and point out the issue. If it's wobbly and not rotten it can probably be fixed. They may realise their dog is damaging it and bear the burden of fixing it. Or they may get the hump and deny, but speak to them about getting it fixed in the spring, before it gets any worse.

Download your title deed from the Land Registry (£3) and it will say in there if there is any obligation.

It's already been clarified upthread. Also in a lot of cases the land registry documents don't define the ownership or responsibility.

It's usually right and rear, but that isn't always the case (it isn't at my house). There will be additional paperwork that should tell you who's responsible for what

Very often there will be nothing. When this happens the documents are considered to be what is called "silent". In such cases the presumption is that responsibility is shared. However, often one side has paid for a fence, in which case they own it. If both sides have contributed then responsibility for boundary structure is shared.

For UK yes - but other countries - we in NL have shared ownership of left and right and it's a right old faff. Neighbours on right are fab - we jointly built and paid for fence. Neighbours on left are twats and we share a hideous hedge with. Annual hedge trimming war - bloody annoying,