Letters To Serve Your Neighbours
Mutual agreement
The best way to erect a fence between adjoining properties is by mutual agreement between
the owners. Even if this is possible you should still give notice in writing as described below. If
you have given notice and agreement has been reached do not begin to erect the fence until
you have reached agreement concerning payment.
Where there is no agreement
If there is no common approach or agreement, the following steps should be taken. It
appears that Step 1 and Step 2 apply whether or not the adjoining land is vacant or has
been built upon.
Step 1 Notice
Give Notice in writing to the owner of the adjoining land. If the land is vacant you can find out
the owner's name at the Land Titles Office. Your Local Government may also, for a fee, be
able to assist you.
Notice must include:
• where you want to have the fence built (draw a diagram) (If you are replacing an existing
fence, ensure there is no dispute about the alignment);
• when you want the fence and who in your view should build it;
• the type of fence you want.
If agreement is reached you can proceed, but whether agreement is reached or not, you
should keep a copy of all correspondence and receipts.
Sample Letter:
Dear Neighbour, I propose to erect a dividing fence on the boundary line
between our properties. I propose to erect a 1.8 metre fence in treated pine
paling fencing. I have obtained a quote from All Day Fencing for $400.00.
Your share will be $200.00. Please let me know within 21 days whether you
agree with this proposal.
Your Neighbour
Step 2 Court Action
If the other owner does not agree within 21 days, you may apply to the nearest Court of
Petty Sessions to decide the matter.
That Court can decide:
(a) whether the fence is necessary;
(b) what type of fence should be built;
(c) how long it should take to build it;
(d) the rate of contribution if the fence is wholly on piece of land.
Notice of this decision, if it is given to the other owner before the construction of the proposed
fence, can the other owner to pay for half the value of the fence. The other owner has three
months within which to with the agreement made (Step 1) or order which h made by the Court
of Petty Sessions (Step 2) unless different period is agreed or ordered by the Court.
If after three months you have not received the other owner's contribution towards the cost of
the fence, you may erect the fence, and recover half of its costs by applying to the Local
Court and issuing a Summons for Debt.
There is no appeal from a Court of Petty Sessions' decision.
What to do if you cannot find the owner of the adjoining land
If you are unable to give the necessary Notice because you cannot find the owner of the
adjoining land you may apply to the nearest Court of Petty Sessions and ask to proceed.
If you can satisfy the Court of Petty Sessions that you have made reasonable enquires
(eg you have done a search at the Department of Land Administration) but have been
unable to find the owner, the Court may make an Order authorising you to construct the
fence.
You MUST give a copy of this Order to the Chief Executive Officer of your Local Government
within 21 days. If you do not do this, you will not be able to recover any part of the
costs from the other owner at a later date.
If later you find the other owner (Whether or not that person was the other owner when the
fence was constructed) you should give them a copy of the Court Order. (You, as the owner,
may be presented with a copy of the Court Order when you purchase a property.)
If the owner considers the Order is unjust they must apply to the Court of Petty Sessions
within a month. If that other owner makes no application then after one month they will be
liable to pay you half the cost of the fence, that is half the cost of the fences value at the time
you gave him or her a copy of the Order.
What happens if you erect a fence without giving notice or
reaching agreement with the other owner?
In that case you cannot recover any of the costs from the other owner unless or until the other
owner:
(a) has constructed or constructs a substantial building or structure on the land; or
(b) has occupied or occupies a building or structure already on the land;
(c) had permitted or permits some other person lawfully to occupy a building or
structure already on the land.
If any of the above conditions are satisfied, you may give the other owner a notice claiming
half the estimated value of the fence at date of claim. The claim for contribution from the other
owner exists whether or not they were the owners when the fence was constructed. Only the
current owner who actually built the fence can claim a contribution from the other owner.
Sample Letter:
Dear Neighbour, I am writing to you about the dividing fence between our
properties. I had the fence built six months ago. The cost was $400.00.
Enclosed is a copy of the invoice we received from All Day Fencing. I would
like to discuss arrangements for payment of your share of the fence, which is
$200.00.If you do not agree with this please advises me in writing within one
month.
Your Neighbour.
If the other owner gives you a notice of objection they may make a complaint to the Court of
Petty Sessions nearest to where the fence is. Complaint Forms are available from the court.
The Court will make a decision in the dispute. The Court's decision is final with no right of
appeals.
If within one month of receiving your Notice of Claim the other owner does not pay the
amount of the claim or give notice that they dispute your claim, then they will be liable to pay.
You may then recover the sum by applying to the Local Court.
Repair of Dividing Fences
The ordinary rule is that when a dividing fence is in need of repair the owners of the land on
either side are each liable to pay half the cost of those repairs.
The Act defines the word "repair" as including "re-erect and realign" so the provisions which
deal with repairing a dividing fence apply in the same way to fences which need realignment
or re-erection.
If you wish to have a dividing fence repaired, you must give the other owner a notice
describing the repairs to be made, saying where and stating that you are prepared:
(a) to repair the fence and pay half the cost if the other owner will also pay half the
cost;
(b) that you permit the other owner to repair the fence and you will pay half the cost;
or
(c) that you agree to pay half the cost of having the fence repaired by a third party.
Sample Letter:
Dear Neighbour
The fence dividing our properties is in need of repair because a number of
pickets are missing (or, three of the timber posts have broken, etc.). I propose
that we have All Day Fencing, Fencing Contractors do the work and that we
share the cost equally. I have obtained a quote for the work for $120.00. A
copy of the quote is enclosed. Please let me know within 14 days whether
you agree with this proposal.
Your Neighbour.
The other owner then has 14 days within which to object. They must notify you in writing of
the objection. If the other owner objects you may apply to the nearest Court of Petty Sessions
for an Order. If the other owner does not object within 14 days, you may repair the fence and
you will be able to recover half the cost of repairs from the other owner. Both owners must
allow access to enable the fence to be repaired and must also allow for the clearing of the
fence line. If the other owner does not agree to pay you must take action in the Local Court to
enforce payment.
Landlord and Tenant
As a tenant you do not have to pay for the cost of construction or repair of a dividing fence
unless the term of the lease is for a period of five years or more.
Strata Titles
Where adjoining land is owned under a strata title, a claim against the owners for their
contribution may be made.
Who owns the land may vary. The owners may be:
• the strata company, or
• another person, depending on the nature of the strata scheme, the by-laws of the
strata company and whether a person has lodged a notice for recording on the
strata/survey plan with the Registrar of Titles in accordance with section 123A (3) of
the Strata Titles Act 1985.
To find out who to claim a contribution from:
• the name of the Strata Company can be obtained from Department of Land
Administration, Land Titles
Division and will be "the owners of (name of the building)" and the number of the
strata plan.
• information about the type of strata scheme, the by-laws of the strata company and
whether a notice has been recorded on the strata/survey-strata plan can be obtained
from the Department of Land Administration, Land Titles Division.
Once you have this information you should seek legal advice before making any claim for
contribution.
Notices
Notices must be:
(1) in writing;
(2) each notice must be served by either;
(a) delivering it in person, or
(b) sending it by registered mail addressed to the person's usual or last
known place of residence.
If the notice is to be given to a company it may be served by –
(a) delivering it to the head office of the company in the State in which the company is
incorporated; or
(b) sending it by registered mail to the company's principal office.
Legal Advice
Before taking any steps, which involve significant cost, and before commencing legal
proceedings, you should get legal advice from the relevant service in your state.
