Homeowners can make changes to their house, and spending more time in the garden this summer might have made you think about some possible renovations.
However, you should make sure you follow the rules when it comes to erecting new garden fences and even making existing ones higher.
That’s because you could incur a fine of £26,000 if you disobey the rules that are in place, Yell warns.
Who is responsible for maintaining a garden fence?
Residents are being reminded of the rules surrounding garden fences to avoid potential legal issues.
Planning regulations dictate that fences must be erected or modified within legal height limits.
Responsibility for fence maintenance depends on property deeds or agreements with neighbours.
However, neglecting these responsibilities doesn't usually lead to fines but it is advised to resolve any fence-related disputes amicably to prevent the situation from escalating to legal action.
Homeowners are also reminded that their fences are their responsibility, and neighbours cannot use them without permission.
This includes attaching trailing plants to the fence.
If a fence is jointly owned, both parties can use it, such as for supporting plants, provided it doesn't compromise safety.
Homeowners are under no obligation to repair their fences unless specified in their property deeds.
However, they could be held liable if their fence causes injury or property damage.
Therefore, it is in their best interest to keep their fences in good condition to avoid potential legal issues.
How much can I be fined for my garden fence?
If you were to incur the maximum fines for all of the below, the total could reach an alarming £26,000, according to Yell. Here's the breakdown:
- Hedge height regulations: £1,000
- Tree Preservation Orders: £20,000
- Bonfires and smoke nuisance: £5,000 (domestic properties)
How tall can a garden fence be without causing legal problems and getting fines?
If you’re wondering how high a garden fence can be without planning permission, fences around the sides and across the rear of your garden should be no higher than two metres for most residential properties, MyBuilder's website explains.
Can your neighbour legally cut your tree?
While fences next to roads and pavements or fences in front gardens usually need to be no higher than one metre.
If you’d like your garden fence to be higher than the above, you’ll need to work out how much higher you’d like it to be and submit an application for planning permission.
Submitting an application does not mean it will be accepted.
How to avoid disputes with neighbours
One in 10 (10%) UK homeowners or renters have disagreements with their neighbours at least once a month, according to new research from Confused.com home insurance.
In a breakdown of the topics that cause these disputes, garden renovations were said to cause more than half of them (57%) in the summer months.
Matthew Harwood, home insurance expert at Confused.com, offers tips on how to approach disputes with neighbours.
He said: "With neighbours living in such close proximity, it’s hard to avoid a bit of tension or dispute here and there.
"But approaching it in the right way is key to ensuring you’re not damaging relationships even further, and keeping your neighbourhood a nice place to live.
"If an issue arises, try approaching your neighbour directly to talk it out.
"Doing this over the fence or on your doorstep means you remain in your own space, with distance between you — and you can walk away if things escalate.
"But a friendly word should stop it getting too far."
He added: "And if your neighbours' actions cause any damage to your property, then they may be liable for any costs to fix or replace things.
"Again, a friendly word to explain the issue and ask for support in rectifying things could be more beneficial than a more aggressive approach, such as posting on social media or calling the police.
"If the cost of the damage is substantial, they might be able to claim on their home insurance, but you would need to provide evidence that they are at fault.
"Equally, you can claim on your own insurance for any damages, and explain that your neighbour is at fault.
"Your insurer might then be able to help you recover the costs from them, depending on the cause of the issue."
Have you done any garden renovations this summer? Tell us in the comments below.
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