“Only way” to know “for certain” which fence belongs to you to avoid neighbour disputes (Image: Getty)
regulations can be baffling, potentially sparking a whole host of homeowner headaches.
Fence disputes are not uncommon, with heated arguments arising about ownership, maintenance duties, and even the need for planning permission for specific alterations.
To settle the common squabbles over fence boundaries, experts have spilled the beans on the correct approach.
Busting a widespread myth, they firmly stated that there isn’t a pre-assigned fence side for each property owner.
The specialists said: “The only way to know for certain who owns what side and to avoid any neighbour disputes, is to refer to the title plan or Land Registry.”
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Fence disputes are not uncommon, with heated arguments arising about ownership (Image: Getty)
They highlighted that the “T” mark is used to indicate who the boundary belongs to and therefore who is responsible for its upkeep.
For those without documents, the experts argued that often, the structural clues of a fence can shed light on its rightful caretaker.
They said: “Typically, the rails on a fence are installed facing into the property giving the neighbour the ‘good’ side of the fence.
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The only way to know who owns what side of the fence is to check the title plan or Land Registry (Image: Getty)
“By doing this, it adds a layer of security as there are no rails on the outside of the property for someone to use to climb the fence.
“This is usually repeated with the neighbour on the other side to ensure that each home has a ‘good’ and a ‘bad’ side of the fence.”
The specialists at suggested that a glance at your fence could “give you a clue” about who owns it.
They explained that walls and fences are typically built on the land of the boundary owner, with the furthest edge of the wall indicating the actual boundary.
However, this isn’t always the case, so it’s wise to consult legal documents before making any alterations.
Currently, there’s no requirement for boundary ownership to be explicitly stated in title deeds across England, and regulations vary throughout the UK. As a result, not all boundaries may be specified in the legal paperwork.
In such instances, homeowners will need to delve deeper into the “Registry of Deeds” or negotiate to “reach a boundary agreement” with their neighbours.