Boundaries are the one part of a garden where getting it wrong involves someone else. Worth an hour of checking first.
Establish whose boundary it is, where the line actually runs, whether anything is protected, and what the neighbour thinks — before anything is fixed in the ground.
Changing what is on a boundary is easy. Changing where it runs is not, and the two get confused surprisingly often.
| Commonly believed | Reality |
|---|---|
| "The left-hand fence is always yours" | No such rule exists |
| "The posts face the owner's side" | A convention, not evidence |
| "You must fence your boundary" | Generally no obligation unless the deeds impose one |
| "The fence sits on the boundary line" | Sometimes; often just inside one side |
| "If I paid for it, it is mine" | Paying does not transfer boundary ownership |
Tell us what you need and we will arrange a free quotation.
Worth thinking about before removing something, particularly on a mature plot. A long-established hedge gives height beyond what a fence is permitted, screening from upstairs windows, wildlife habitat, sound absorption and softness. A fence gives ground, permanence and no maintenance. Neither is simply better — and the middle option, a fence with planting in front, recovers most of the ground while getting some of the softness back over a few years.
See what our garden fencing service covers in Fishponds, or read more about the service across the areas we work in.
Check your title plan from HM Land Registry for T-marks — the stem of the T sits on the side responsible — and check the transfer for a maintenance covenant.
No. There is no such rule in law, and very often the deeds say nothing at all — in which case neither party owns it and neither is obliged to fence.
Then generally neither party owns the boundary and neither must build one. The practical answer is agreeing with your neighbour, ideally sharing the cost.
Clear the boundary first, since overgrowth hides it. Title plans show general boundaries rather than precise measurements, so agree anything doubtful in writing.
Height limits, Tree Preservation Orders, conservation area status, listed building status and restrictive covenants. Bristol City Council covers the planning side for Fishponds.
Yes, before rather than during. Most fencing needs access to the far side, they may have items fixed to the old fence, and a change in height affects their garden.
Height beyond fence limits, screening from upstairs windows, wildlife habitat, sound absorption and softness. A fence with planting in front recovers some of it.
Early in any larger project, and always before turfing. Combine the stages so hedge waste, old fence and post spoil leave together.
Need tree surgery, hedge maintenance, fencing, garden clearance, turfing or power washing? Complete the form and tell us what work you require.
