A lean is a symptom, not a fault in itself. In almost every case we attend, the panels are innocent and the problem is either the post base, the ground behind the fence, or a load the fence was never designed to carry.
Diagnostic timeline
Work through these steps in order before booking a repair.
- 1
Push each post firmly at shoulder height — note which ones move at the base.
- 2
Probe the post at soil level with a screwdriver; if it sinks in, it's rot, not just a loose base.
- 3
Look at the ground on both sides: has anything been banked, paved or raised against the fence?
- 4
Check whether the lean is uniform along the run or isolated to one or two bays.
Likely causes
Post base too shallow
The commonest cause. Once a post can rock in its hole, every gust widens the gap and the lean accelerates.
Rot at ground level
The post is intact top and bottom but soft in the 100mm band either side of soil level, so it hinges.
Soil or a raised bed pushing from behind
A fence is not a retaining wall. Banked soil, new patio build-up or a neighbour's raised bed will push a boundary over.
Climbers and shrub weight
A mature ivy or wisteria adds significant weight and wind sail; we regularly cut fences free of plants that pulled them over.
Fix options, full-width
Reset the affected posts
Post timber is sound but the base has failedPost is dug out, hole enlarged, and reset in fresh concrete with a drainage layer beneath. Panels are refitted the same day.
Concrete spur bolted to the sound post
Rot is confined to the bottom of an otherwise good postA properly based spur bolts to the healthy timber above ground and carries the load — economical and long-lasting.
Retaining sleepers plus a rebuilt fence line
The ground level genuinely differs across the boundaryThe fence stops carrying the soil. Sleepers hold the level, the fence sits above it, and the lean does not come back.
Replace the run
More than about a third of the posts move at the baseRepeated resets on a failing run cost more within two years than a proper replacement on concrete posts.
Get this fixed properly
Free site visit across London and Hertfordshire, a written specification and a fixed price before anything starts.
Prevention
- Keep soil, compost and mulch away from the base of posts and boards
- Cut back heavy climbers before they mature into a wind sail
- Use gravel boards so timber never touches the ground
- Deepen bases on exposed and gate-bearing posts
Frequently asked
Can a leaning fence be pushed back and re-concreted?
Sometimes, if the timber is sound. If the post is rotten at ground level, pushing it upright just relocates the hinge.
Is a leaning fence dangerous?
It can be, particularly if it borders a pavement, a play area or a shared path. Those we attend as a priority.
Whose responsibility is it?
Whoever owns the boundary — check your title plan. See our guide on boundary ownership.
Can you repair just two posts?
Yes. Small repair jobs are welcome and we'll tell you honestly if the rest of the run is close behind.