There are plenty of garden laws that Brits need to be aware of, such as not messing with trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and preventing the spread of invasive species like Japanese Knotweed.
Yet have you ever wondered if there are any legal issues regarding which side of your garden fence should face you?
While there are limits to how high they can be without planning permission, you might be unsure about the rules around the positioning of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sides of a fence that surrounds your outdoor areas.
Well, to put you at ease, and in case you’re about to move house or install a new fence between you and a neighbour, we have spoken to the experts for the latest advice.
Can your neighbour legally cut your tree?
Which side of the fence should face me in the UK? See who has the ‘good’ side
Emily Green, garden and home maintenance expert at building supplier Howarth Timber commented: “In the UK the usual approach is that the ‘good side’ of the fence faces your neighbour, with the posts and rails on your side.
“This is generally seen as the neighbourly way to do it because the other side gets the nicer view while you keep access to the structure for maintenance.
“That said, it is really more of a convention than a rule.”
Meanwhile, Helen Godsiff, brand manager at home improvement specialists Eurocell agreed.
Helen explained: “In the UK, no law dictates which way a fence must face, but standard convention suggests the ‘good’ side - the side with the smooth, finished face - should face your neighbour.
“Historically, this is largely a gesture of neighbourly goodwill and a practical indicator of ownership.
“Usually, the person who pays for the fence places the structural posts on their own land.”
When it comes to the legality of garden fence maintenance and installation, Emily shares that if the fence is on your boundary and belongs to you, you can decide which way it faces unless your property deeds or a covenant state something different.
She added: “One thing to keep in mind is planning limits on height.
“In England a fence next to a road or footpath usually cannot be higher than 1 metre without planning permission, the typical limit in other spots is 2 metres.
“You may also want to think about how you treat or finish the fence.
“If you plan to stain, paint, or use wood preservatives, apply them from your side so nothing drips or sprays onto your neighbour’s garden.”
Who owns the fence between two houses in the UK?
Helen continued: "If you're still unsure who is responsible for which fence, check your Land Registry plans for 'T' marks.
“A T pointing into your property means the boundary is your responsibility.
“An 'H' mark (two T's joined together) indicates a party fence, with shared ownership and responsibility for upkeep or replacement.
“If you don't have your plans to hand, you can download a copy directly from the official HM Land Registry website.
“If you still can't uncover who is responsible for which fence, it's presumed to be shared.
“The best approach here is a mutual compromise, splitting the cost of repairs with your neighbour and keeping the peace."
Have you had any issues with your neighbour regarding the responsibility of a garden fence recently? Let us know in the comments below.
Share