Folks

We have a friend who is a single parent, very low income and has normally been on income support. I do not know all the financial details as I would never "pry".

She lives in a WPH rented house. "They" ie Wirral Partnership Homes" have just refitted the kitchen as part of property renovation/ upgrading, and it looks good too.

The issue is garden fencing. The fences on 2 sides have rotted away and fallen down. After all the work our friend and her neighbour have done clearing the garden and making it look nice it is disheartening for her to have the fences in such a mess, and she worries about letting her little lad play in the garden while it is in this state.

The friend says she asked WHP and was told "fences are not their responsibility". Our friend obtained a quote for a repair by a fencing company - over £1000, which is totally out of the question. The WPH statement sounds sounds weird to me. I have never rented property and have no idea who has the responsibility for repair and maintenance of such things. Obviously WPH take responsibility for the house - so why not also for the garden?

I will be grateful for any advice from Wiki colleagues about

o What are the landlord responsibilities - especially for WPH
o How our friend should approach the landlord or others to get the repair done (fair means or foul)

Thanks, Snod

I will see what I can find out

That doesn't sound right to me. I thought they looked after all the fabric, whether it be indoors or out - they are the landlord aren't they?

I know someone who lives in council house and called them out to unblock the loo the other day - that's also one of their jobs - and someone came and did it.

WPH will only take responsibility for "boundary fencing" i.e fences that separate the property from public land/ streets. They refuse to have anything to do with "dividing fences" i.e between houses.
I'm in a WPH house and they recently redid all the boundary fences in the area but refused to fix any dividing fences. They're up to the householder to sort

Same thing happened on my house which is WPH they have never been resposible for dividing fences.

Scoops

What you say seems to be the same message our friend has received - but did not properly understand because she is not a natural English speaker and misses the detail.

All the fences to her garden are "dividing fences".

Suppose she could plant Leylandi (and stand back while they take over). Seriously, she can't afford to have the fences repaired so what is she supposed to do?

Snod

She could try for a grant off social fund.But she'll have to get her neighbours on board as well as they should also be responsible for part of the costs too.

If the worst comes to the worst tell her to go and get a load of pallets, normally there are places who are glad to get rid of them. Knock a few posts in the ground and fix the pallets to them. finish the top off with a piece of 6x1 and coat it all with old engine oil mixed with a bit of paraffin as a preservative.

Good thinking Bert

I am a DIY freaky so this is a practical solution, although in respect of acquiring pallets I am not sure about the "there are places who are glad to get rid of them". Still, if push comes to shove I could try.

Mrs and I will be visiting the friend soon and I will sus out the state of the existing fence and what/ how much is needed to get something presentable in place.. . but I still think the landlord should have a responsibility (moral and practical).

Snod

She wouldn't be responsible for all sides would she? When you own a property (and I'm guessing the responsibility is the same for rented) you are only responsible for the fences which have the posts on your property. At that rate she should only have to do 2 sides at the most (including the bottom). If WPH aren't liable then can she get them to put pressure on the other residents to do their bit?

SS

I think the answer "depends" ie depends on the agreement detail. I know that for my own (owned) house the deeds state very clearly that ALL dividing walls and fences are party and that no individual has total responsibility. That may be the same for these houses where our friend lives because I believe all the houses in the road are owned / rented out by WPH

Snod

http://www.foundations.uk.com/default.aspx?id=503

Check out the above site.

Thank you for that link. Surprised that "our" area comes under Cheshire rather than Merseyside - but who cares. I will discuss with our friend and since the office is in Wallasey I can make a first contact if appropriate

Snod

I'll come do it half the price !

the side of the fence that looks best is the responsibility of the tenant who has it and most fences are handed and face the same way. im with sanchez. could do it at weekends so as not to lose money