Can My Neighbour Make Me Pay For A Fence?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask is: “Can my neighbour make me pay for a fence?” The answer is usually no. Your neighbour cannot simply decide that you should pay for a new fence or contribute towards the cost of replacing an existing one. However, fencing responsibilities are not always straightforward. Who is responsible for a boundary fence can depend on several factors, including property deeds, previous agreements and who originally installed the fence. Who is responsible for a fence? A common misconception is that every homeowner is responsible for the fence on one particular side of their garden. You may have heard people refer to the “left-hand fence rule” or “right-hand fence rule”, but this is not actually a legal requirement. There is no general law that says you must maintain a fence on a specific side of your property. Responsibility can depend on: Your property deeds Any agreements made with previous owners Who installed the fence origina...
