Rules & permissions
The Storm Has Taken the Fence Down. Now What?
First make it safe, then photograph everything, then work out ownership before spending. Insurance for fences is far less generous than most people expect.
A fence down after a storm is urgent for practical reasons rather than legal ones: the garden is open, the dog can get out, and loose panels are still moving in the wind. Deal with safety first and paperwork second.
Then the two questions that follow, whose fence it was and whether anyone will pay for it, in the order that saves the most trouble.
First, make it safe
Loose boarding and half fallen panels are the immediate risk, along with an open boundary if there are pets or children. Do what is safe to do and leave what is not, particularly where a fence has come down onto a neighbour's property or near power supplies.
- Move loose panels and boards somewhere they cannot blow further
- Pull out or flag nails and screws left standing in broken timber
- Close the gap temporarily if pets or children use the garden
- Do not attempt anything near a power supply or a leaning structure
Photograph before you tidy
Take photographs from several angles, including the base of the failed posts, before clearing anything. If there is any prospect of an insurance claim or a conversation with a neighbour about cost, those pictures are the only evidence that will exist afterwards.
- Wide shots showing the whole run and the direction it fell
- Close shots of the post bases, which show whether rot contributed
- Anything the fence damaged when it came down
- The date, since storm events matter for insurance
Whose fence was it
Check the title deeds and title plan for T-marks or a maintenance covenant before assuming. If it was your neighbour's fence, they decide what happens to it and when, which is frustrating but the honest position. If the deeds are silent, neither household is automatically responsible.
Insurance, realistically
Fences, gates and hedges are commonly excluded or limited under buildings insurance, even where storm damage is otherwise covered. It is always worth checking your policy wording and asking your insurer directly, but do not plan on a payout. Where a fence failed because posts had already rotted, an insurer may also treat that as wear rather than storm damage.
If the fence damaged something of the neighbour's
Talk to them early and keep it factual. Liability in these situations depends on the circumstances, including whether the fence was in poor condition beforehand, so photographs of the post bases matter here too. Most of these conversations end sensibly when both sides have the same facts.
Getting it back up
We are used to storm work and we will tell you honestly whether it is a repair, a section, or a boundary that was already at the end of its life and has just been shown up. Ring 07885907880 and we will get out to look at it.
Need the boundary made safe?
Tell us if security is the immediate concern when you ring, because making a boundary safe is usually far quicker than the full repair.
Frequently asked
Does home insurance cover storm damaged fences?
Often not, because fences and gates are commonly excluded or limited. Check your policy wording and ask your insurer rather than assuming cover exists.
What should I do first when a fence blows down?
Make it safe. Secure loose panels, deal with exposed nails, and close the gap if pets or children use the garden, then photograph everything.
Who pays if my neighbour's fence falls into my garden?
It depends on the circumstances and the condition of the fence beforehand. Photographs of the post bases and a calm conversation resolve most cases.
Can I put my neighbour's fallen fence back up myself?
Speak to them first, since it is their structure and their decision. Acting without asking tends to cause more difficulty than it solves.
Why did my fence blow down in a fairly ordinary wind?
Usually because the posts had already rotted at ground level, so the wind finished a job that decay had almost completed.
How quickly can a fence be made safe?
Making a boundary safe is usually much quicker than the full repair, so tell us if security is the immediate concern when you ring.