In the UK, who owns which part of the boundaries between properties should be defined by legal deeds. By law you have to get permission from a neighbour to do anything with their property.
That includes painting your side of their fence, or even repairing a hole in it. If it isn't your fence, you can't touch it. Walls however can be (and often are) divided down the middle. Previous comments have noted the legal difference between party wall and boundary walls. Party walls are owned by both neighbours.
Most neighbours don't really mind, however, as long as people are reasonable. But if either neighbour is remotely new and doesn't have a friendly relationship with the other half, I don't think it's unreasonable of them to err on the side of caution.
HonkersTim on July 17th, 2017 at 11:26 UTC »
Some neighbours would lose their shit if you cleaned their side of a shared wall. "Are you saying I'm lazy?!! Let's fight!"
just--looking on July 17th, 2017 at 12:25 UTC »
If they cleaned your side of the fence it would just clash with your filthy yard. They're keeping it consistent for you
adeward on July 17th, 2017 at 13:43 UTC »
In the UK, who owns which part of the boundaries between properties should be defined by legal deeds. By law you have to get permission from a neighbour to do anything with their property.
That includes painting your side of their fence, or even repairing a hole in it. If it isn't your fence, you can't touch it. Walls however can be (and often are) divided down the middle. Previous comments have noted the legal difference between party wall and boundary walls. Party walls are owned by both neighbours.
Most neighbours don't really mind, however, as long as people are reasonable. But if either neighbour is remotely new and doesn't have a friendly relationship with the other half, I don't think it's unreasonable of them to err on the side of caution.