Garden Fence Laws in the UK
Moving into a new home brings excitement, stress, worry, relief, and usually all of the above! When you’re checking out your new garden and imagining all the changes you want to make, you’re probably not thinking about garden fence laws (let’s face it, they’re hardly the most exciting thing about a new home), but it’s worth taking some time to get clued on up on garden fence laws in the UK. The last thing you want to do is annoy the neighbours before you can say hello!
Table of contents:
Garden fence law in the UK
Before we start, no law specifically requires you to have a garden fence unless you fit into the following categories: you live near a railway, quarry or mine, or you live near enough fields to risk livestock entering your garden.
How high can my fence be in the UK?
Here in the UK, fences can be a maximum of two metres (approximately 6.5ft) in the back gardens and one metre (3.2ft) in the front garden.
If you wish to install a fence in your back garden that is taller than this, you’ll need to seek planning permission from the local authority. This includes any trellis added to an existing fence that would take the height above two metres. Regarding the front garden, you can have a taller fence unless you live near a highway. In this case, you’ll need planning permission.
Though not required, it’s nice to consult the neighbours if your new fence will impact their garden.
Which side of the fence is mine?
It’s a common belief that the fence to the right is the one you are responsible for. However, this is merely a myth. Fence ownership differs for each individual home, and the best way to determine which side of the fence is yours is to check your house deeds, land registry or seller’s property information. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Law on fencing between neighbours
If you plan to change a shared fence, giving your neighbours a heads-up is courteous. Most people will have no issue with small changes, but asking will help keep a good neighbourly relationship. Similarly, it’s good to be open to any changes the neighbours wish to make. The more accepting you are, the more likely they’ll be open to any improvements you put forward.
Can my neighbour put up a fence without my permission?
If the fence is inside your neighbour’s boundary, they can erect it without your permission. However, if the fence is on the shared boundary, they should speak with you first, and the fence cost should be shared.
Do I need permission to paint my side of the fence?
If the fence is on the shared boundary, you need your neighbour’s permission to paint it. You’ll find that most neighbours have no issue with this, but as with most issues raised in this blog, it’s always best to check!
My neighbour’s fence is leaning into my garden. What can I do?
Unfortunately, if the fence isn’t yours, you cannot repair it without your neighbour’s permission. Or, you could ask them to fix it, but there’s no legal obligation for them to do so. This can be frustrating, but taking a pragmatic approach is important.
Don’t go round with all guns blazing. For a start, they might not have even realised their fence is leaning, or perhaps they’ve been meaning to get around to it, and a polite reminder from you will get the ball rolling. Secondly, your neighbour might not be in a position to fix the fence, whether this is physically, financially or otherwise. Another reason to take a friendly approach.
As frustrating as this may be, keeping the peace with your neighbour is wise. If the leaning fence is bothering you that much, you could offer to go halves with them to fix the issue or offer to fix the fence yourself with their permission. If you go down this path, a gentle reminder that the fence is not your responsibility and any future repairs should be on them is wise.
If your neighbour refuses to fix the issue, you could look into some plants to prop up the fence or at least help disguise the leaning portion.
Now you’re clear on some common garden fence laws in the UK, look at our extensive garden supplies range. Including our great selection of fencing and fencing hardware to make your garden your own.
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