how can i find out who is responsible for replacing a fence between my house and my neighbours?

Question

I am in "discussion" with my neighbour over who owns a fence between our back garden. As neither of us can find our land deeds, how can we find out who owns the fence.

Answer 1

If the fence is on the lot line, you are both responsible for replacing it. Having the property surveyed to determine whos property the fence is on would cost more than just pitching in and getting it fixed.

Answer 2

Copies of your deeds are recorded and can be accessed by calling your county court house recorder where the property is located in.
However unless you are a surveyor you won't know what the metes and bounds description mean.
I recommend that you both hire a surveyor and order what is called an ILR (Improvement Location Report) and have him/her stake the corners so you can run a string on the boundary. Who knows if the fence is on one side or the other. A boundary line is thinner than a fence. lol
You both split the cost of the ILR which ranges between 300 to 700 depending on your area.
Buena Suerte

Answer 3

Normally the "neat" side of the fence faces the owner. That only helps if the fence has a "neat" side.

Your lawyer (from time of purchase) or the land registry should have the deeds. If you moved in during the last few years, I'm sure registering it at the land registry is compulsory. Both lawyer and registry should help you out at minimal cost. Lawyer is aware that deeds are your property anyway and can't exactly charge you to look at them.

Answer 4

You should be able to find out from the land registry.
As a general rule the fence posts are on the side of the person responsible for its up keep.

Answer 5

You can obtain a copy off the Land Registry phone your local council they will give you the address & telephone number.Fences are a night mare the neighbours either side of us reckoned both fences belonged to us.They both got a shock has I hung in one neighbour eventually fixed his side before I could do the other my neighbour got it done.So I have ended up with no fence & boy im glad.Good Luck
If your deeds are in the bank you can phone & arrange to see them.Same applies to your neighbour.

Answer 6

If you can't prove where your land ends and your neighbor's begins you have a real problem. How do you know your house isn't on his land and he might claim it?

Deeds are imporant documents which should be safe-guarded. It will be on record and it may cost you some money to prove where your lot ends. Generally, unless there's been a lot of remodelling, the fence will be close or right on the boundry line.

Answer 7

In the uk. I put a fence up in my back garden. I was responsible for the right hand side of my property. Meaning as you stand outside your house looking at your house,the right side is your responsbility to maintain. Unless it is a council house,it will be very hard to make anyone fix the fence

Answer 8

If it is a council house there should be a wire fence or at least fence post but if it is private it should be on your deeds either way the council should be able to tell you

Answer 9

some interesting answers. In my last house I was responsible for the right hand fence, but in my current one the left hand boundary is my responsibility.

Easiest thing is to and some other neighbours.

Answer 10

When I move into a new property I give the fence a good kicking, and if the neighbours come out and shout " hey that's my fence your kicking" I immediately know which is mine.