Terraced house - who owns the fence in between?

thermionic

I was talking with my neighbour and she said she was thinking of repairing the fence that's between her back yard and mine. Neither of us knew whose responsibility this is. Anybody know how I could and try and find out who owns the fence?

Both of us were willing to pay half, for the sake of neighbourly harmony - maybe that's the easiest way.

Roland

Land Registry records will show it https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

Phil_aka_Pip

typically the side with the posts is yours, the smooth side is their.s. unless your deeds say otherwise

ROOG

Check your deeds, that should clearly show whose responsibility each fence is.

octatonic

We own the fence between the higher numbered property.

The fence between the lower numbered property is owned by that freeholder.

Grunfeld

I own the fence to my right; my neighbour owns the fence the left.
But here's the thing:

A couple of years ago "my" fence blew down -- my neighbour to the right is kind of handy with wood and a hammer and he fixed it.  I was super grateful so I gave him beaucoup de beers and a bottle of wine for his missus.

A couple of months ago the other fence blew down.  They are not handy with wood, or indeed anything in the real world, but they are okay in their own way so I said to them how's about my mate Pete fixes your fence?  They even paid Pete, but if they hadn't then I'd have sorted him out.  Because it's easier just to fix things.

So long as neighbours are not complete nobs (number 121 I'm looking at you) then give a bit, take a bit. 

Bogwhoppit

I remember for a while, convention said the fence to the rear and to the right. Except if you live in a flat. Then its Gods job to repair the fence.

guitarcookie1

You're responsible for the fence if the posts are on your side as far as I'm aware. 

ROOG

guitarcookie1 said:

You're responsible for the fence if the posts are on your side as far as I'm aware. 

Unless your neighbour/builder  put it up wrong

fretmeister

The posts, the left, the right the colour the material is all bollocks and pub lawyer myth.

It's whatever is says on the deeds.

thermionic

The deeds are in a safe with the Halifax Building Society as far as I'm aware.

TBH, I need to spend some money on the house and a new fence would be the least of my worries so I'd be quite happy to do it.

holnrew

I do.

Iamnobody

Every house I have lived in has been different. So checking deeds is probably the only way to know for sure.

axisus

Iamnobody said:

Every house I have lived in has been different. 

Yeah, most people don't take the fence with them when they move

digitalscream

Had exactly the same issue recently - however, we're in a council house. Duly called the council - since, strictly speaking, they own all the houses - and their response was "As you walk out the front or back door, your fence is the one to your left".

Sambostar

I did a fence for a fairly new build, maybe around 17 years old, on behalf of the landlord.  It was a tiny detached house.  It had seven boundaries with neighbouring properties.  Eight of you included a public passageway.  Seven.  Seriously.

Sassafras

I can't say for sure, I'm sitting on the fence.

Bogwhoppit

Those who carried out the Hatton Garden raid are looking for a fence.

Gassage

Ask J-Con. He knows a lot about fences.

Cacofonix

Deeds are the primary point of reference. You don't need the originals as you can get copies from the Land Registry at £3 fo the main document and £3 for other documents referenced. 

The deeds may not help.  You'd then need to check the deeds to other properties in the street.

Otherwise it's down to custom and presumption from the situation at the property.

FYI it's not hogwash about whose side the fence posts are on, but it creates a presumption only, which can be rebutted by contrary evidence.

If there is doubt, you may want to speak to a specialist property lawyer.  That doesn't necessarily mean a commercial one, but someone who specialises in conveyancing is a minimum recommendation.  Any old lawyer won't do.

Bogwhoppit

My previous property, an old Victorian farm house had its boundaries donated by hawthorn bushes. They were in the deeds, but not in the fricking earth.