Avoid neighbour disputes and council issues. Get your boundary confirmed, not assumed.
Before You Argue About the Fence, Check the Boundary.
Fence disagreements are common across NSW. In our experience, many begin for one simple reason, no one has confirmed where the legal property boundary actually sits.
The Dividing Fences Act 1991 provides a framework for resolving questions around fencing work, standards and how costs should be shared between neighbours.
But before discussing who should pay, or what the new fence should look like? There is a more fundamental question to answer…
Is the existing fence actually on the legal boundary?
It’s easy to assume that an old fence marks the correct boundary, particularly if it has been standing for decades. But age doesn’t make a fence legally accurate. It may have been positioned for convenience, built using outdated information or gradually replaced without the boundary ever being properly identified.
That’s where a boundary identification survey can help.
A registered surveyor can:
Establish the legal property boundary
Show how the existing fence relates to that boundary
Identify any potential encroachments
Give both property owners reliable, independent information
Help ensure a new fence isn’t built in the wrong position
Getting a survey doesn’t have to be an aggressive step. In fact, it can take some of the emotion out of the situation. Instead of two neighbours relying on assumptions, old plans or what they’ve previously been told, everyone can work from the same clear evidence.
If you’re planning to replace a fence or a conversation with your neighbour is becoming difficult, our advice is to establish the boundary before things escalate.
It’s far easier to have a constructive conversation when everyone knows exactly where they stand. Quite literally.
ARP Surveyors provides boundary identification surveys throughout Greater Sydney, including the Sutherland Shire, Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore and surrounding regions.
If you have concerns about a boundary or aren’t sure whether you need a survey, our team is always happy to have a no obligation chat.