Neighbour fence over the boundary line: who helps?

Summary

If a neighbour’s fence sits over what you believe is the boundary line, who helps first is usually a calm written request with your title plan, then a mediation service, then Citizens Advice for next steps. A chartered surveyor helps if plans and ground do not match. Advisers will not move the fence or start court action for you.

Key information

• Download your title plan from HM Land Registry. The red line is often a general boundary, not a precise surveyed line.
• Photograph the posts from both sides with a measuring tape and dated notes.
• Party Wall Act duties apply to some works on shared walls, not every garden fence.
• Escalating with threats usually hardens the dispute. Keep copies of every letter.
• Citizens Advice: Advisers explain neighbour dispute options and letter structure using neighbour disputes guidance. They will not survey the land, force the fence down, or act as your solicitor in court.
• a surveyor: A boundary surveyor can compare title plans, historic deeds, and physical features, then give a professional opinion. They will not mediate the relationship, or guarantee the neighbour accepts their plan without further process.
• HM Land Registry: Title plan and register copies. They will not: Not a precise fence ruling by itself. Reach: GOV.UK Land Registry.
• Mediation service: Helps neighbours agree without court. They will not: Will not impose a new boundary. Reach: Local council or CA referrals.
• Citizens Advice: Explain options; letter help. They will not: Will not move the fence. Reach: Neighbour disputes.
• Chartered surveyor: Boundary opinion from plans and site. They will not: Not free casework. Reach: RICS find a surveyor.
• Solicitor: Formal claim if other doors fail. They will not: Not the first free door. Reach: Seek paid advice when mediation fails.
• Can the council force them to move it? Councils rarely police private boundary lines. Planning enforcement is a different issue if they needed permission for height or location.
• What if they claim adverse possession? That is a specialised Land Registry process. Get advice before you concede anything in writing.

Practical guidance

• Get the title plan and any deed plans that mention fences or hedges.
• Speak once if safe, then write a short letter with photos and a proposed line.
• Try a community mediation service before solicitors.
• Ask Citizens Advice if letters escalate or you face court threats.
• Instruct a surveyor if the paperwork and ground still conflict.
• Ask the Shaman.

Related topics

More in this area

• What are the three types of easements?
• If you disagree with your neighbour about a wall or fence
• Right of Way & Access To Back Garden: What You Need To Know
• Shared Driveways: Common Problems & Your Rights
• What does easement by prescription mean?