The ownership of the fence at the bottom of your garden is usually determined by examining your property’s title deeds or the title plans from the Land Registry, which indicate responsibility with a “T” mark—if the “T” is on your side, you own and are responsible for maintaining the fence[1][2][3][4][5][7].
If both sides have “T” marks forming an “H,” the fence is jointly owned and responsibility for maintenance is shared[1][3][5][7]. There is no legal rule that automatically makes one side or the other responsible based on its position in the garden; it is a common myth that the left or right fence is always yours, but actual ownership can only be confirmed through deeds or Land Registry documents[4][6].
If the title plan does not explicitly indicate ownership, it can become unclear. In such cases, you may need to consult adjacent property deeds, the Land Registry, or even historical maintenance records, as long-term maintenance by one party can occasionally shift responsibility[1][2][7]. If you do not have a copy of your deeds, you can obtain them from the Land Registry, usually for a small fee[5].
References
- [1] A Guide to Fence Ownership and Responsibilities (Checkatrade)
- [2] Laws on fencing between neighbours (Net Lawman)
- [3] Which Fence Is Mine – 2025 Guide (Online Land Registry)
- [4] What Are The Rules For Garden Fences In The UK? (Country Living)
- [5] Is your garden legal? A guide to garden laws (Higgs LLP)
- [6] Garden Fence Laws in the UK (Beatsons)
- [7] Which Fence Am I Responsible For? Garden Fence Law (Petty Son & Prestwich)
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