Fencing

We’ll always try to repair your fence first but if we can’t, the type of replacement will depend on where the fence is:

• Back garden between gardens: one 6ft wooden privacy panel closest to the house, the rest of 4ft chain link with concrete or metal posts
• Back garden border with a public right of way, public footpath or road: 6ft wooden fencing with concrete posts and gravel boards
• Back garden border with rear garden access footpath or alleyway: 4ft chain link fencing
• Back garden border with farm land or fields: 4ft chain link fencing
• Front garden: no new fencing in front gardens, either between gardens or at the front or side. We’ll remove existing walls or fences if dangerous but we’ll only replace retaining walls; where there’s a difference in the ground levels and the wall is stopping the earth and garden collapsing.

We’ll only put 4ft chain link fencing between rear gardens. If you want a 6ft wooden fence you can get our permission to install one yourself. If you install wooden fencing and it later needs replacing, we’ll still only replace it with chain link fencing, but you will be able to ask for permission again to install a wooden one. 

We won’t put fencing in front gardens. You may install a wooden front garden fence yourself by getting our permission and complying with your local council’s planning regulations. If you put in a fence that’s too high or against local planning regulations, your local council can ask you to take it down.

We’ll always try to repair your fence first, but if we can’t and just one of your existing wooden panels needs replacing, we’ll put in a 4ft chain link. You'll be able to ask for permission to replace it yourself with wooden fencing.

First we'll try to fix it - including fittings such as the lock. We’ll replace rear garden gates we can’t repair or that are missing. We’ll remove but not replace front garden gates that we can’t repair. If we remove the fence in your front garden we will also remove your gate.

We’ll arrange to inspect it and if it is found to be dangerous, we’ll remove it. We’ll only replace retaining walls; where there’s a difference in the ground levels and the wall is stopping the earth and garden collapsing.

Yes. If it’s a small repair please do go ahead. If you put up your own fence you must get our permission and comply with your local council’s planning regulations. If you put in a fence that’s too high or is against local planning regulations, your local council can ask you to take it down. You must keep the fence within our boundary and not remove any posts running along the boundary line. It’s sensible to let your neighbour know you’re going to put your own fence up beforehand.

Just tell us what you wish to do and check out the conditions you will have to accept if we give permission.

We can’t recommend individual companies for work you’re paying for yourself but you can find reliable tradespeople through the Checkatrade Scheme run jointly between Kent County Council Trading Standards and Checkatrade.com.  You still need to get our permission and comply with your local council’s planning regulations.

If you live in a home built within the last five years, there may be some planning issues that restrict what type of fencing you can have. Please contact us to discuss if you wish to repair or replace a fence in a new property.

We appreciate the safety of your children and pets is important. As your landlord we have no responsibility to secure or mark your property boundary. We’ll do so only if we think it’s necessary, and with the type of fencing we think is appropriate. The safety of your children and pets is your responsibility so if you’re concerned the quickest solution would be to repair or install the fence yourself if you can. If you're concerned about a neighbour’s pet or child getting into your garden, you should have a talk to your neighbour about it.

We take issues of potential violence or abuse very seriously. We believe that 4ft chain link fencing provides adequate safety and security in most cases. If you believe you need extra security please talk to us. You should give clear evidence that chain link fencing wouldn’t provide adequate security. We may not change the type of fencing we put in, but we may be able to put extra security measures in place for you.

Our properties with shared and communal gardens all have very different layouts, some require fencing and some don’t. Communal or shared garden fencing will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Our standard fencing will be put in all our properties. That is 4ft chain link in back gardens and none in front gardens. If you wish as a private owner to have extra fencing between your neighbour’s home and your own, you should install it yourself within your own boundary.

We need full access to carry out any repairs or replacement to the fencing. We’ll tell you if you need to carry out any work, including general tidying of your garden or removing some plants.