Can a Neighbor Remove a Fence Between Our Properties?
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Boundary fences are one major reason among neighbors in the UK. People are generally confused about rights that they should focus on while removing the fence between their houses. People are more likely to see this situation as an emotional approach rather than a practical approach.
They feel like someone is breaking their castle without their concern. It is rightly said that A good neighbour is a right treasure. So, communication is the only key to solving any issue.
There are few important points that you should keep in mind while you are building/removing fences around your properties:
- You should keep in mind where the boundary is between your property and your neighbor’s property. Do not assume that the fence is the indicator of where the boundary is.
- You can take an up-to-date survey to know the boundary line. If not, you can take the help of the Ontario Land Surveyor to determine the legal boundary of your house.
You may want to ask them to contribute to the expense of having a survey if you and your neighbor have mutually agreed to install a fence on the property line.
- When a fence is placed on a property line, it is owned by both property owners. This condition is also applicable even if you pay the full cost of the fence.
- Under Fence-by-law, if you erect a 4-foot-high chain-link fence, you can force your neighbor to share the cost. Once the fence is built, your neighbor should contribute to the repair and maintenance of the fence under the City of London Fence by Law
- Now, if your neighbor does not want to share the cost of fencing, then you can put a fence a few inches on your side to claim 100% ownership offense.
- Your neighbor can access your property in exceptional cases. Like if they want to do any repairing or alterations in their property than they can give you notice before 48 hours as per The City of London Access to Adjoining Property By-law2
- There are few other important things that one should keep in mind while building a fence. Fences cannot be more than 7 feet high. They cannot be more than three feet high if they affect the view of the driveaway or corner.
- Fences with barbed wires and electric fences are not allowed.
Regulations by Law
- Prohibited: No person can have, construct, maintain any fence that does not comply under law
- Height: No person can have, construct, maintain, built a fence more than 7.1 feet height
- Materials of Construction: No person can have, construct, maintain, built, or erected, constructed, or maintained any fence comprised of sheet metal or corrugated panels used for residential purposes.
- Contravention of Order: No person can contravene a work order or an order to discontinue activity.
