fence panels

[tonigary]

Hello
I had my mother in law's neighbour on the phone to my other half today saying the fence panels are breaking and not good. These panels are on the left hand side. Can anyone tell me how we would find out who owns them. My MIL is 84 and we have asked her, but she does not know

Thanks
Toni

[400ixl]

You need to look at the deeds for the house to be sure.

[tonigary]

Thank you, my other half has my MIL deeds here, because he has power of attorney, thanks I will take a look

[mick]

The historic convention was how they are identified on the plans at the Land Registry. If the fence has a T symbol with the tail attached to the fence then normally the fence belongs to the property containing the T.

Where there is no T symbol I believe that the ownership and responsibility is shared between the properties.

Mick

[tonigary]

Thanks Mick, thats really helpful.

Toni

[ClaireNJ]

I always thought that fence panels to the right hand side are yours 🤔

[tonigary]

ClaireNJ is like a mind field

[mickey house]

Originally Posted by tonigary

Thanks Mick, thats really helpful.

Toni

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Mick is always helpful, and has a wealth of knowledge about most things (he is my best mate on the dibb).

With regards fence panels, there is no legal requirement to repair or replace a broken fence panel (although I always would), and contrary to popular belief there is no requirement to have the so called good side of a fence panel in either garden.

[mick]

Originally Posted by tonigary

Thanks Mick, thats really helpful.

Toni

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It's about 50 years since I passed my Contract & Common Law exams for the RICS so I'm hoping legal precedent and test cases haven't changed in the interim? It's not the sort of stuff that hits "News at Ten" and my days of CPD are long gone.

Even with no T or a T on both sides doesn't necessarily mean the neighbour has an obligation to share the cost but depending on the state of the fence it might be worth having a conversation with them as it will improve their amenity as well.

Mick

[Procrastinator]

Certainly check the deeds. But I think many older and some not so older deeds don't have the information. Our house was built 1990 ish and it is not in the deeds. There might be a boundary line, but that is not the same as saying there must be a properly maintained boundary of X height. At the time of our purchase fence ownership was asked when transferring property and the previous owners just said they don't know. Moved in and neighbours said the fence on side A was one they installed and the other side that neighbour agreed it was the original house builder that put up side B.

Side B was a bit worn down, but ok. Neighbour knocked said he wanted it replaced, offered to do all the work himself and asked if I would pay half. I agreed, that was a decent offer. But i could have said no. I could have actually told him to leave it as is as that fence belonged to our property.

I guess your question is does anything have to be done about the panels? If no ownership on land registry then you could just say you are happy with them, but he can replace them if he wants at his cost. You could offer to pay half. Up to you to decide how important neighbourly relations are!