Question about sharing the cost of a fence replacement/repair...

The unit in the right is my rental property, it is a duplex with the driveway going down the left side to a car port in the back behind the units.

On the left, is a rental house. I got a V/M from the owner of the house and he has begun replacing the fence and is wanting me to share the cost. My problem is he already started it and then asks for sharing the cost. He hired some help but he is also doing some of the labor. I don't know how bad the condition is but I think some of it towards the back was in pretty bad shape.

I guess the right thing to do is to split it 50/50, but wish he would have contacted me before starting.. I have a contractor I have used for 15+ years and he does a great job and cheap!

Whatsayyou Ags, just take his word for it and hand over 50% of the cost?

They should have discussed with you first. I say let him do it and ask to see the invoice/cost after the fact. Contribute either half or if the bill is insane, contribute what you think is fair w/o being a cheap ass.

I'd pay for materials, plus the extra hand. But I'm not paying my neighbor for his labor to fix his fence.

I would definitely approach him and say that you wish he would have discussed first because you have a guy. If he says that he understands and just wants you to split material and maybe a bit more, do it. If he's an ass about stuff, then maybe you just pay for materials.

West Texas Lawyer said:

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I'd pay for materials, plus the extra hand. But I'm not paying my neighbor for his labor to fix his fence.

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Are you saying all of materials and the extra hand's labor or half of it? I'd do that or pay for all of the materials. It'll probably be close to half of what getting the work done professionally would be.

I agree that I wouldn't pay for what the neighbor assesses as his labor value.

The owner of the property said his tenants were concerned about their safety.

No, I don't think the owner is asking me to pay for his labor. I have no problem paying for 1/2 of the materials and the labor... but at this point I don't know if he is replacing the whole fence or just the really bad section. I think the majority of the fence was in decent shape. Time for a trip out there to see what is up.

LeftyAg89 said:

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I think the majority of the fence was in decent shape.

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From that picture you posted, I think the same thing.

I've seen far worse that are still 'serviceable'.

If you agree that sections of the common fence line between you do in fact need replacement, then participate as you see fit, for those sections.

I replaced my shared fence with my own labor.

One neighbor paid for half of the materials, one neighbor paid for all of the materials, one neighbor didn't pay for anything (but had offered to split the cost of materials).

Paying for half of the materials is a cheap way to get a new fence, probably 25% of what it would cost to have it installed by your preferred contractor.

You are under no obligation to pay him anything. If he wanted you to share the cost, he absolutely should have discussed the project with you before starting so you both could agree on labor cost, materials cost, type of materials, etc.

Having said that, you may want to consider a fair reimbursement to him. You are neighbors and it would help relations. And assuming you get a good product, you are getting a new fence.

I just replaced about half a mile of fence on grazing land. That part has three neighbors. I contacted each to make sure they had no animals in an adjoining pasture and to let them know I would be taking down and replacing fence. I didn't ask for help as it seems in today's world we've lost some 'neighborliness.' One adjoining land owner from El Paso offered to split the cost.

LeftyAg89 said:

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The owner of the property said his tenants were concerned about their safety.

No, I don't think the owner is asking me to pay for his labor. I have no problem paying for 1/2 of the materials and the labor... but at this point I don't know if he is replacing the whole fence or just the really bad section. I think the majority of the fence was in decent shape. Time for a trip out there to see what is up.

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Was it that he had to do it fast and didn't know how to get a hold of you before starting?

Ask him to put the "pretty" side on your side.

I don't feel like I should have to pay more than half if the guy already started the fence before asking, the ugly side is facing my direction, and the property is a rental. Tell him to face the nice part your direction and you'll cover half of the materials.

TMoney2007 said:

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West Texas Lawyer said:

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I'd pay for materials, plus the extra hand. But I'm not paying my neighbor for his labor to fix his fence.

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Are you saying all of materials and the extra hand's labor or half of it? I'd do that or pay for all of the materials. It'll probably be close to half of what getting the work done professionally would be.

I agree that I wouldn't pay for what the neighbor assesses as his labor value.

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Half the materials and the hired hand. I wouldn't pay the neighbor.

Is that really a shared fence or is that just a fence that borders your property? It looks like it just encloses the back yard on the neighboring house, not separating the back yards.

EMY92, actually that is my question too. I don't know that that is my fence either. And just to be clear, his property is a rental and so is mine.

That is his side fence and whoever installed it appears to have thought it belonged to the house on the left, since the ugly side faces me.


@ABATTBBQ11, not sure why he rushed into to it. And I don't know how he got my phone #... I'm assuming he knocked on one of my tenant's doors and she gave him my #. When he called I told him not to start until I have had a chance to come out and look at the fence and maybe provide my own labor, but he stated he had already started.

Don't pay anything until you can inspect the work and don't hesitate to set specifications such as a third rail, screws, not nails, etc..

Good points on checking quality of build.