我家和邻居家之间的fence有破损，我问邻居倾向于维修还是更换，邻居说他们不想在fence上花很多钱，所以只愿意负担维修费用的一半儿，如果我想更换新fence，他们不能分担费用。我说好吧，可以理解。 邻居让我找公司给个报价看看。我找了，把报价转达给他们，他们嫌贵，让我找便宜的小公司或者handyman，然后给了我一个handyman的电话号码。我因为白天上班，所以问他们是否可以直接打给那个handyman约一下来报价。邻居说，这是你的fence，还是你打电话吧，handyman应该跟owner对接。 我懵了，因为我一直以为两家院子之间的fence是两家共同所有。我问了ChatGPT，答案如下。我还是很困惑，因为这地上也看不出具体的财产界限啊，fence左边是他们家，右边是我们家，怎么知道fence修在谁家财产上？ Here is how this usually works: Determine where the legal boundary lies If the fence sits squarely on your side of the property line, then yes—it is solely your fence to maintain and repair. If it sits on the property line (a “boundary fence”) then, under most local ordinances and common‐law practice, it is jointly owned and both you and your neighbor share responsibility for upkeep and repair. Check your deed or survey Pull out your deed or boundary survey to see exactly where your lot line is drawn. If you don’t have one handy, your town’s land‐records office can often provide a copy. Review any municipal fence regulations Some towns regulate boundary fences (height, style, who pays). Brookline’s zoning or public works department can tell you whether a boundary fence is considered a shared responsibility. Talk it through with your neighbor Even if the fence slightly favors your side, a 50/50 split on cost is the friendliest way to keep good relations. If they insist it’s all on you, you can politely ask them to show you the survey or deed provision that places it fully on your lot. Next steps If it truly is entirely on your property, go ahead and arrange the repair. If it is on the boundary, propose splitting materials and labor 50/50 (or whatever you both agree). If you can’t agree, you may need a professional surveyor or a brief mediation through your town’s homeowner–neighbor mediation service.
In short: your neighbor’s claim only “makes sense” if that fence clearly sits inside your property line. Otherwise, boundary fences are normally a shared responsibility.
Here is how this usually works:
Determine where the legal boundary lies If the fence sits squarely on your side of the property line, then yes—it is solely your fence to maintain and repair. If it sits on the property line (a “boundary fence”) then, under most local ordinances and common‐law practice, it is jointly owned and both you and your neighbor share responsibility for upkeep and repair.
Check your deed or survey Pull out your deed or boundary survey to see exactly where your lot line is drawn. If you don’t have one handy, your town’s land‐records office can often provide a copy. Review any municipal fence regulations Some towns regulate boundary fences (height, style, who pays). Brookline’s zoning or public works department can tell you whether a boundary fence is considered a shared responsibility. Talk it through with your neighbor Even if the fence slightly favors your side, a 50/50 split on cost is the friendliest way to keep good relations. If they insist it’s all on you, you can politely ask them to show you the survey or deed provision that places it fully on your lot. Next steps If it truly is entirely on your property, go ahead and arrange the repair. If it is on the boundary, propose splitting materials and labor 50/50 (or whatever you both agree). If you can’t agree, you may need a professional surveyor or a brief mediation through your town’s homeowner–neighbor mediation service.
In short: your neighbor’s claim only “makes sense” if that fence clearly sits inside your property line. Otherwise, boundary fences are normally a shared responsibility.
感谢回复！邻居已经住了四五十年，我刚搬来不久。木头fence有光面，光面朝向我家这边。我没在地上看到boundary标志。
如果fence是两家共有，理论上两家负责，你可以提议花费一人一半，但实操上只能看你邻居是不是nice和愿意负责到什么程度，你基本没有办法强迫对方。你邻居说可以分摊维修的花费，其实还算可以。因为是你家提出要修，他们不想折腾，你只好自己联系handyman了。
顺便说一句，fence属于DIY难度很小的工程，特别是维修不是重建，如果handy可以自己做。
篱笆光面朝你家，篱笆应该是邻居家的呀。
还有一个方法是去city building dept问。安fence要permit，owner回去申请permit的。不管几十年前安的，都会有记录的。
碰上不讲理的邻居没用。我出租房子三面光面都在我这边，难道我都不用出钱？也不知道当时builder怎么搞的。篱笆坏了，我说share cost,其中一面邻居说我享受了好看的那一面要我全出，关键我出钱还得每次进去她家院子修（还得配合她schduel她说她要在家才肯让修理人员进她院子）。 篱笆有什么享受不享受的 最重要的功能不就是隔开院子有privacy嘛，就那光面我这边我就得出100%？ 总之她就不肯出。然后我后来换fence把那面全换了，换成post在我这边，光面在她那边。反正她不管怎样就是不肯出钱的，我给她好看的那一面总行了吧，省的我以后每次维修出钱就算了还要经过她同意。总之我懒得和她扯。这种邻居就是看谁撑不住就会去修，她篱笆倒了可以半个月不吱声的，我这边不行。没钱的邻居比较计较这个，我自己住的小区大家都比较体面，要么share cost 要么比我有钱人家不要我share.
给你说个例子你参考一下。 我家后面fence三面，两面跟左右邻居share。有一家要卖房想换一面shared fence，我表示不愿意分担，需要进后院他们随意。然后邻居也没有废话，自己出钱换了。 我觉得你家邻居已经跟你明说了，他们不能分担费用，你就不要再纠缠了，自己愿意出钱就换，不愿意就不换。无论你再怎么纠缠，对方不想出钱的话，还是不会出，而且也不用出，反倒是你不占理了。
这种你就认了吧。你确实比邻居有钱，邻居也清楚你有钱。而且你这是可是出租房，你不介意租客还介意呢。各种软肋你占全了。
是呀所以我也不跟她扯。fence这个东西就算讲道理应该share cost,人家就不跟你讲道理就是不出，谁受不住谁就只能出钱了。
我家三面fence，除了后院的邻居也是中国人，二话不说大家平分费用，左右的老美都是一口咬定fence都是我家的