Garden fence mistakes which risk fines of up to £20,000
Now the sun is shining, you may want to head out into the garden and spruce it up a bit before the summer, maybe put up a new garden fence?
However, Brits thinking of doing this have been warned that they could end up in hot water if they don't follow the UK's strict rules on them. If you fall foul, you could find yourself handed a hefty fine or even end up in court.
New rules came into force in May 2025 under "The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015". The updates simplify the rules around replacing a boundary, a hedge, or installing a new fence. They also clearly outline what homeowners can build without needing full planning permission from their local council.
Gurpreet Chhokar, Which? Legal Expert, said: "If you're thinking of putting up a new garden fence this summer, there are a few important things to bear in mind to make sure you don't break any laws and find yourself landed with a fine."
If you are thinking of taking a look at your existing fencing - or are considering putting one up - you will need to be aware of the new laws. Here's what you need to know.
Back garden fence
For a simple back garden fence, you're allowed a fence up to two metres high, which is around six feet and six inches high, without planning permission. This is intended to provide a balance between privacy and access to light. Any higher - this includes any decorative trellis - then you will need to get approval. This is now the standard maximum height for households.
In simple terms, planning permission is asking your local council if you can do a certain piece of building work. It will either be granted - possibly subject to certain conditions - or refused. Gurpreet Chhokar from Which? said: "If you don't have planning permission then your fence can't be any higher than two metres from the ground."
If you erect a fence above this level, then you could be forced to tear it down. You could also face enforcement action.
Disputes with neighbours are one of the most common property complaints in the UK. Often the complaint stems from boundary issues - more specifically, on where the boundary of your property actually is. According to Wade Building Supplies, between six and eleven million disputes have been recorded in the UK to date.
Before building anything in your garden, you should measure up carefully, discuss things with your neighbour, and come to an agreement. To make it more secure, you should get this agreement in writing. It is always better to take pictures too
Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics
Front garden fence
The rules for fences in a front garden are stricter. If you live next to a footpath, road, bridleway, waterway, or public space, fences cannot be above one meter - just over three feet tall. The new law is intended to provide better visibility for pavement and road users. Again, breaking this rule can lead to enforcement action or a fine.
Gurpreet added: "There will also be some cases where planning permission will be needed if the fence is more than a meter high - such as if it borders a highway or the footpath of a highway if you're not sure, then it's worth getting in touch with your local planning authority (which is usually your local council) to check."
Fines implemented by councils do vary. However, if your fencing causes a " statutory nuisance" such as flooding or blocked drains, you could face penalties of up to £5,000. Businesses can face fines up to £20,000 under environmental regulations. These cases can go to court if you do not comply.
Replacing a fence
Under UK rules, the fence to the left hand side of your garden - as seen from the street - is your responsibility. This means wif it needs replacing, then it is down to you and not your neighbour.
If you are unsure, Wade Building Supplies explained: "Another clue can be seen in the method of construction of the fences that bound your property. If the rougher side, or rail side-in the case of featheredge panels, is facing into your garden, that's your boundary to maintain."
However, to be absolutely certain, you will need to refer to the title documents or deeds. If you see a boundary line with the letter "T" next to it, that's your fence line to fix. If you see "H" it is a little more complicated as this means the boundary is a "party wall". This means the responsibility of both neighbours.
If you are still unsure, experts advise you to talk to your neighbour and draw up an official boundary agreement between both parties. You can then have this agreement formally recorded through HM Land Registry for £40. The boundary agreement must include all parties' names, addresses, and a clear description of the agreed boundary. A map can also be included.
When doing any DIY work with fencing, it's always important to give your neighbours plenty of notice. There may be plants trained along the fence, or decorative features they may want to remove or keep.
You can find more information on privacy fence boundaries on the Gov.uk webpage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
August bank holiday hours 2025 for UK supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Tesco
The last Sunday in May is a bank holiday so shoppers may find that some supermarket opening hours have changed - here's all you need to know about the openings for some major UK chains The August bank holiday is nearly here and, as expected, supermarket chains will be altering their opening hours. Bank holidays often result in three-day weekends for a majority of Brits, with many keen to do something nice to mark the end of the summer holidays. For those who have planned out their long weekend, it's useful to note any changes to store opening times just in case. Here's a breakdown of the opening and closing times of supermarkets you know and love this bank holiday Monday. Tesco On August 25, the majority of larger Tesco stores in England and Wales will open from 8am until 6pm. Tesco Express usually remain open from 6am to 11pm, or midnight, however, the majority of bigger Tesco Express stores in England and Wales will open from 8am until 6pm on the bank holiday. Sainsbury's Whilst larger Sainsbury's stores open between 7am and 8am, and close around 10pm and 11pm, from Monday to Saturday, their Sundays remain shorter with hours of 10am to 4pm in England and Wales. Note that Scotland stores have longer Sunday hours due to different trading laws. On the bank holiday Monday, Sainsbury's larger stores plan to open between 7am and 8am, and close at 8pm, with Scottish stores remaining as normal. Morrisons The majority of larger Morrisons stores open at either 6 or 7am, and shut at 10pm, from Monday to Saturday - with stores opening from 10am to 4pm on Sunday in England and Wales. But on August 25, the most larger Morrisons stores will shut two hours earlier at 8pm. The stores will remain as normal in Scotland on the day. Asda This bank holiday, most larger Asda stores in England and Wales will open from 8am until 10pm, with some stores closing a little earlier on the Saturday night. Asda Express usually run around-the-clock each day - even on Sundays and bank holidays. Aldi The supermarket has revealed its stores will be open as normal before the bank holiday - meaning that the majority of its stores will run from 8am to 10pm on Saturday, August 23, and from 8am until 4pm on Sunday, May 24. However, on August 25, Aldi has confirmed its closing time as an earlier 8pm. Scotland stores stay open later on Sundays, with their store closing times remaining the same on the Monday. Lidl Lidl. branches' times vary between stores, with some opening slightly later at 8am. The budget-friendly stores appear to be closing at the same time of 10pm. The Mirror advises shoppers to search up their store on Lidl's store locator before Monday, as hours may differ between locations. Waitrose Waitrose 's opening hours carry a huge difference from shop to shop, with some branches opening as early as 7am, while others waiting until 9am. As usual, shops will be open this weekend. The only change this bank holiday being the shorter hours on Monday 25, where most stores will adopt hours of 10am to 4pm. Note that the convenience store, Little Waitrose, may offer a slightly later closing time on the holiday. Check the Waitrose store finder before you leave for the shops, reports the Express. M&S M&S is known to adjust its opening hours for the bank holidays. With most of its chain stores opening at 8:30am and closing at 6pm. You can search up your local store for its times on the M&S store finder.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh-based businesswoman stars in major Coca-Cola campaign revealing the untold stories of Britain's corner shop bosses
Sophie features in a six-part photography and mini docu-series that follows the stories of local corner shop bosses from across Great Britain Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An Edinburgh retailer has been chosen as one of the stars of a major new campaign by Coca-Cola, spotlighting the invaluable role that corner shops – and the real people behind the counter - play in their local communities. Sophie Williams, who runs Premier Broadway in Edinburgh alongside her parents, is one of six business owners from across the country that will feature in the campaign, including a new portrait and docu-series shot by multi-award-winning director Ross Bolidai and photographer Serena Brown. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The short film reveals Sophie's multigenerational story of family, community, and resilience. Sophie's parents - Dennis and Linda - built their shop through decades of change, serving their neighbours with trust and consistency for 41 years. Launching the series to celebrate 125 years in Great Britain, Coca-Cola is also giving back to local communities - with each boss from the series nominating a local cause to receive a five-figure donation Now, Sophie – a former theatre professional – is stepping into the spotlight, bringing new energy, social media flair, and fresh ideas to a business that raised her. As well as being the subject of her own micro-documentary, Sophie's face will be proudly on display on Out of Home advertisement spots across Edinburgh, signifying the importance of corner shops and their owners to their local communities, as Coca-Cola celebrates 125 years of its products being sold in Great Britain, hand-in-hand with local retailers. It comes as corner shops play an increasingly important role in daily life despite the struggles of the high street, with over a third (34%) of people across Great Britain saying their corner shop is an essential resource in their everyday life, according to research by Coca-Cola. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Almost a quarter (23%) of Brits said they depend on corner shops more than any other retailer, and despite only recently being recognised as 'key workers', corner shop owners have been embedded at the heart of British communities for over a century. Sophie features in a six-part photography and mini docu-series that follows the stories of local corner shop bosses from across Great Britain Made in Edinburgh: Sophie's Story Founded by Dennis and his parents in 1983, the Williams' corner shop has been at the heart of their Edinburgh community. Having originally met at the cash and carry Dennis and Linda built something far more meaningful than just a business, testament to the relentless dedication to the people of Edinburgh. Now their daughter Sophie, an experienced theatrical performer, is bringing fresh energy to the store – from viral TikTok videos to online delivery apps for a new generation of customers. Although the Williams' business has grown immensely over its 41 years - what hasn't changed is their passion, customer service, and unrelenting work ethic. With Sophie at the helm, she is driven to continue the family legacy – and to show how heritage and innovation can thrive side by side. Sophie Williams, who runs Premier Broadway in Edinburgh alongside her parents, is one of six business owners from across the country that will feature in the campaign Sophie's role as a Coca-Cola Boss and the content series Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sophie and her family have been immortalised by talented Gen Z photographer Serena Brown, known for her work on bringing the stories of real people to the front of her camera lens. Brown produced a gallery of photos celebrating the commitment, heritage, know-how and personalities behind Britain's corner shop counters. Meanwhile, director Ross Bolidai produced the moving mini-documentaries pulling the curtain back on the people we see every day, but perhaps don't know much about. Sophie Williams, running Premier Broadway, Edinburgh alongside her parents, said: 'For 41 years, Premier Broadway has been more than a store; it's been a cornerstone of our family and community. Our passion goes beyond transaction, embodying a belief that the shop does not just belong to us – but to everyone it serves. Edinburgh-based business owner, Sophie - who runs Premier Broadway alongside her parents - tells her story of success in the local community 'As we join Coca-Cola's latest campaign, we are reminded of the dedication my parents have shown since 1983, and the legacy we continue to build in Edinburgh. Their expertise, combined with my fresh perspective, social media presence, and innovative ideas, ensures our commitment to keeping the store vibrant for future generations to enjoy.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dusan Stojankic, Vice President and General Manager of Great Britain & Ireland at Coca-Cola said: 'We're proud to be celebrating 125 years since Coca-Cola was first served in Great Britain, and with 97% of our products sold here manufactured and bottled here, we're invested in local communities. 'The Bosses' series is an ode to that, celebrating the businessmen and women ushering in a new era for the vastly underestimated corner shop. "We'll continue to champion and mentor community retailers far into the future, and hope they continue to find a sense of camaraderie through our network.' With a legacy spanning 125 years in Great Britain, The Coca-Cola Company is committed to supporting local communities – with each boss from the series nominating a local cause to receive a five-figure donation.
Spectator
11 hours ago
- Spectator
When national flags are a warning sign
I don't quite see the point of flying Union flags in Tower Hamlets, or complaining about it when the council takes them down. This squalid little fiefdom run by the deeply corrupt Lutfur Rahman is not part of the UK: it is a suburb of Sylhet, with all that such a location might entail. This would include the mayor himself, who once rigged the votes and used imams to intimidate voters. Of course it is true that London is headed the same way as Tower Hamlets and will get there depressingly soon, an upheaval aided by the self-flagellating liberals who still choose to live in the capital and whose yearning for self-annihilation is close to absolute. The temptation is to write off our first city, and maybe others, too, come to that. Tower Hamlets is certainly by no conceivable stretch of the imagination particularly 'British'. It is, rather, a fly-blown satrapy where many of the locals at best are ignorant of our culture and at worst despise and loathe it. A significant minority of the population can barely speak English (6 per cent) and half of the population are foreign born. Now, if you believe in multiculturalism you will have no problem with that, I suppose – and would probably advance the argument that people from the same ethnic groups tend to band together, although that understanding of human nature would not, of course, extend to white British people. When they express a preference for living among their 'own kind', they are told that they are racist scumbags and had better get with the project, sharpish. I wonder if it has occurred to any members of our government to ask why this whole Operation Raise the Colours business has taken off and why quite so many people seem to be taking part in it. My suspicion is that while Sir Keir Starmer feigns an affection for the flag of our country and will even wave one about when the England team are playing football, especially if it is the chicks, he almost certainly thinks that people with too fond an affection for the Union Jack and the cross of St George are right-wing racists and entirely deplorable. Filed away in the back of his mind is the notion that it's probably just those football hoolies again, the ones who rioted last summer. What he is missing, then, is the importance of the current protests – the weight of numbers behind them, the fact that it is not just yer usual suspects, the depth of anger it conceals and the problems which thus lie in store in the future. The UK is quite quickly tipping towards serious civil disorder: in many parts of the country, whitey has had more than enough. A clever government would work out why this might be and do something about it. Unfortunately, we do not have one. Brits have never hitherto been disposed towards waving the flag about. It has always been my contention that any country where there are too many national flags on view is feeling very insecure about itself and is headed for trouble. This is broadly the position of the UK right now, perhaps for the first time. And it is not terribly difficult to see how we have been brought to this point. Yes, much of it is down to the sheer weight of numbers of immigrants coming into the country. But it is not just the weight of numbers. It is also partly the manner in which many of these incomers have behaved which grates a little. The way in which towns and cities have been overwhelmed, changing entirely the nature of once familiar neighbourhoods. The stoic refusal of many to embrace the culture of the country in which they have made their homes and in many cases the espousal of aggressive and hostile views rooted in an implacable creed which always takes precedence. But even this is not the main reason the tension has been simmering both last year and this. More than anything it is a blind fury at the way in which our elected representatives have allowed this to happen – and even welcomed it. And more even than this, the way in which the British seem at every turn to be having their noses rubbed in it. The Australian sociologist Karen Stenner, in her book The Authoritarian Dynamic, analysed what it was that made people cease displaying a peaceable nature when faced with large-scale immigration and become inflamed and angry (authoritarian, in her words). She found it was precisely this – when they have their noses rubbed in it. When they perceive that everything is tilted against them. When the entire established order insists that 'diversity' is bloody marvellous and we can't have enough of it and that Britain's history is steeped in wickedness. That nothing whatsoever beneficial came of colonialism. That black people and other minorities should be hugely over-represented in our films, dramas and adverts on the television and that the rest of us should suck it up without question. That white people are inherently, unavoidably racist and that we should be at the back of the queue for any job we might fancy. That if we start to question a possible connection between the religion of Islam and a certain predilection towards deranged homicidal violence we will be guilty of Islamophobia and prosecuted. That if we tweet our anger we will be prosecuted. You can get away with this stuff for just so long – and then even the mildest-mannered will start waving a flag saying, in effect: we're still here, just.
