Fences...

To be honest I think getting the deeds, tedious though it is, will probably in the long run save aggro. Boundary fences seem like a very minor issue, but can cause years of problems. We had issues with one neighbour on and off for about fifteen years until I went round with the paperwork. At that point he stopped moaning about fences and moved onto complaining about tree branches. If they dared to grow even one inch across the dividing line of his property he would cut them and then pile the debris on our doorstep. Sigh.

Have a look here www.gov.uk/your-property-boundaries

Deeds generally show boundary details however, things that have been in place for 12 years often change the boundary, law of adverse posession.........so if your fence hasbeen there for 12 years, the deeds may not be what dictates ownership now.

Have you got legal expenses insurance cover with your home insurance? You can get help like that free of charge.

Citizens advice will only refer you to your deeds or to a solicitor. Disputes can cost thousands so prepare to be amenable.

The fence that the neighbour seemed irritated by the fact we had attached things to probably wouldn't still be here if we hadn't; my ex used to do jobs that would withstand a nuclear holocaust, that's why the thought of taking it down is such a problem. He also built a fence at the front of the house that they're very happy with. Can't imagine what it's like to have a situation like this with neighbours you don't get on with. Still, it's made me realise I need to find my house deeds; I thought I'd got all my paperwork in good order but that needs sorting.

Our deeds show that, facing the house from the street, our responsibility is the fence on the right. (The fence is very dodgy on the left side. We think the neighbours think that one is up to us to maintain, not sure how to go about this without causing offence!)

We replaced all the fences recently, ours (right hand side) and the one on the left. Neighbours were quite happy for us to do that. TBH their fence was cobbled together and patched up and everytime we had a storm at least one panel blew out.

Now good solid fencing all round. Makes for good neighbours does good fencing!

The only way of knowing is in your deeds.

It's always marked on the map which forms part of the deeds of your house and usually it's the fence on the right as you face your house in the street.

We have a fussy neighbour who was vehement he didn't want anything attached to 'his' fence, so we got a builder to install a fence beside and inside his, it consists of fence posts with large trellis panels attached. Hence we can grow what we want up it. I resented the cost a bit but actually it works really well. Probably best to get what's legally agreed for your house before making any changes but once you know, you're in the clear.

We live in a property over 100 years old. We have the deeds and have scrutinised them, but nowhere is it indicated which boundary/ies are our responsibility. We have always understood the boundary on the right of the property (as you face it from the road) to be ours, but only because our neighbours on that side have said so. They once asked our permission to raise the height of the wall, which we withheld as it would have made our side path (lower than their pathway as the road is on a hill) very claustrophobic. I have no idea what evidence they have to support their view of boundary responsibility, and wasn't about to challenge it

Can anyone help me understand what is left and what is right? Do you mean to the left when approaching the front of the house? So if standing in the back garden, facing away from the house, left would still be as it is approaching the front of the house.
I hadn't realised until a few years ago that the etiquette is not to put plant supports on your side of the left fence . Our neighbours on that side are totally territorial so I soon found out.

On farms it used to be that if the posts are on your side it’s your fence....tidy bit on neighbours side.

We have just filled in a questionnaire from the solicitor asking all sorts of pertinent questions re: fences etc.. I wonder if the solicitor dealing with your house purchase would have a record of the boundaries.
I think it depends on which side the fence posts are. If the posts are on your side I believe that the fence is theirs.
However please check up on that.

We have just filled in a questionnaire from the solicitor asking all sorts of pertinent questions re: fences etc.. I wonder if the solicitor dealing with your house purchase would have a record of the boundaries.
I think it depends on which side the fence posts are. If the posts are on your side I believe that the fence is theirs.
However please check up on that.

Our neighbours put up a new fence on the right and now it has scorch marks on it from 2 Catherine wheels we lit on Guy Fawkes. I must repaint the fence before they see it!

I can't win with this. The farmer put up a fence to the left of the house and when I put trellis up he complained! But I think that, although we put up the fence to the right hand side of the house, it was actually my neighbours responsibility, which is why, when the dog ate some of it and I apologised, she said it was my fence anyway. I've cancelled the fence man, who was coming out tonight as the whole thing is getting too complicated. I have so many jobs that need doing on the house and garden and each one just seems to open up a can of worms!

It might be worth ringing your local planning authority felt to see if they can help

I really feel for you. When we moved house we had a major falling-out over our right-hand fence, with neighbour insisting we replace it - turns out they had put the fence up themselves (used to be just a wire); very sad, as we had got on well for years before that.

You can get a copy of the title register from HM Land Registry for around £7 this can be done online. I'm not sure if this will show who owns which fence though. You could ask CAB if they know the general rule in your area.

I feel your pain! We along with our next door neighbours are in dispute with a plant hire business about the erection of a fence on our shared vehicle access lane. It has dragged on all year, who actually owns which pieces of land is what is in question, and is now in the hands of our solicitor.