When fencing on a property line is damaged, the responsibility often falls to the homeowner who installed the fence to fix it. But that isn’t always the case—sometimes it’s the landowner’s, Homeowners Association’s, the fencing company’s, or both neighbors' responsibilities to fix the fence.

Fencing repairs can be a bit of a gray area, especially when the fencing in question divides your and your neighbor’s property. If it gets damaged, whose responsibility is it to pay for the repairs? Although the responsibility most often falls to the homeowner installing the fence, it really changes depending on your situation.

Here to help guide you through this gray area is

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Responsibility of the person who installed the fence

If you built the fence along your and your neighbor’s property line and your neighbor did not build an adjoining fence connecting to the one on the boundary, it is your responsibility to pay for any repairs.

Let’s say that when you moved in, there was no fencing on your or your next-door neighbor’s yards. And, to get a little more privacy, you installed fencing on all three sides of your yard, but your neighbor did not put up any fencing. Because your neighbor did not build off of the fencing you put in, they are not responsible for sharing any repair costs to what’s considered your fence—even though it technically runs between you and your neighbor’s property line.

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Can homeowners insurance cover a fence?

Now, you may be wondering: but what about my homeowners insurance policy? After all, the reason you have it is to help lighten the financial burden in moments just like these. Your homeowners insurance may help cover the expenses of replacing or repairing your fence only if the fence was damaged by a

named peril

So, if a wildfire tears through your yard or if your metal fencing gets hit by lightning, you should contact your insurance provider to begin the claims process.

Responsibility of the landowner

If the fence is installed on the landowner’s property, and not on the shared property line, the responsibility falls to the landowner to pay for repairs.

Imagine that your prized vegetable garden is being invaded by chipmunks, and you enclose it with fencing to help keep those pesky critters at bay. If your garden is solely on your property and not along the boundary between you and your neighbor’s yards (like if it’s in the center of your yard), it’s your responsibility to fix it.

If you and your neighbor aren't 100% clear on where your property lines begin and end, contact your local municipality to get some clarity about who actually owns which parts of the land.

MORE:

Home insurance terms you need to know

Responsibility of the fencing company

It sometimes may be the fencing company’s responsibility to come in and fix your fence. This would only really be the case if the fencing was not installed properly and someone from the fencing company came to install it for you initially.

That said, some fencing may come with a warranty policyeven if you installed it yourself. It’s much more likely that the fencing company will only pay if they were the ones to install it but double-check and see if your fencing materials are backed by a warranty.

Responsibility of the HOA

If your fence gets damaged and your neighborhood has a homeowner’s association, give it a glance before running off to Lowe’s to fix it yourself. Your homeowner’s association agreement will likely have a clause about fence repair, and they could be the ones responsible for not only repairing your damaged fencing but replacing it.

Keep in mind that your HOA will not pitch in if your fence is just worn down, improperly installed, or if you broke it yourself—but it’s still always worth checking in with them first.

Responsibility of both neighbors

Lastly, the question that any homeowner with a neighbor has asked themself: when do we both have to pay for fence repairs? No matter who installed the fencing, if both neighbors use it, both neighbors must pay for it.

It’s important to understand what we mean here by “use.” Let’s go back to our original example, and imagine that there was no fencing when both you and your neighbor moved in. If you built a fence that enclosed your property, and your neighbor built off of the fence you built along the property line to enclose their property as well, you both would be responsible for the cost of repairs.

In this case, you’d have to split the repair costs right down the middle. If you’ve got a neighbor who is refusing to do so, it may be time to contact an attorney.

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FAQ

Who is responsible for fence repairs between neighbors?

It depends on the situation. If you built the fence along the property line and your neighbor did not build off of it, you would be responsible for the repair expenses. But, if you built the fence and your neighbor built off of it to enclose their yard, or if you built off of your neighbor’s fence to enclose your yard, you would have to split the repair costs.

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