You can read Opendoor Homes’ full repairs policy here or the repairs policy quick guide.

Opendoor Homes has no statutory responsibility to provide front, rear, or dividing fencing. Opendoor Homes may, at its discretion, consider replacing or repairing fencing only where it is needed to:

  • provide boundary fencing and gates that separate your property from public land;
  • provide protection from vehicles or;
  • provide a separation of a garden from hazards such as streams or severe changes in ground level at the edge of a home.

Making the boundary or separation fence secure, for example with a temporary fix, will be treated as a higher priority P2 (working hours emergency) or P3 (routine but causing a hindrance) repair if there is a safety risk. The final fix will be considered a P4 repair.

Tenants are responsible for repairing fences that separate their garden from the neighbour’s garden. Opendoor Homes does not hold records of which fences belong to which property. If your neighbour is a leaseholder or a freeholder, you can ask them to show you their Deeds which will outline if the fence bordering their property belongs to them. If it does not, you can assume it belongs to you. If the fence is between your property and another council tenant, you can discuss this with your neighbour and decide who will repair the fence. You are not legally obligated to put up a fence. For more detailed information on fences and boundaries, visit www.boundary-problems.co.uk/boundary-problems/fences.html (note: this is an external website that is not managed by Opendoor Homes). Opendoor Homes will not repair or replace fencing between two tenants’ properties.

Any other repairs to dividing fencing or where there are no protection issues are the responsibility of the tenant. Opendoor Homes will remove fencing on a tenant’s behalf if required but will not replace it.

If a tenant is identified as having a vulnerability that would be adversely impacted by a lack of protection or privacy that fencing provides, these requests will be assessed in line with the tenant’s specific needs to ensure they are not unfairly disadvantaged. The vulnerabilities this may apply to are:

  • people experiencing domestic abuse;
  • people experiencing anti-social behaviour concerns e.g. hate crime;
  • people with children under the age of 5;
  • people with children with sensory disabilities;
  • people aged 75 or over who are frail/ live alone.