Tenant Services

Policy and Procedure

For

Fencing
This is the Policy and Procedure for Fencing.
If you need a larger print copy, audiotape or other means of this publication
please contact the number below.
A translation of this document can be provided on request.

01189 743770

Wokingham Borough Council – Tenant Services 1

Policy for Fencing
Version 1 – July 2015
 Document Control Information

Title: Policy and Procedure for Fencing

Date: 10th July 2015

Version: 1

Classification: This is a working/live document and is subject to change.

Author: Sukhpreet Singh

Version DATE DESCRIPTION

Version 1 10.07.15 Policy and Procedure for Fencing
Version 2
Version 3

SIGNING OFF SECTION

This Policy has been subject to consultation with the following:

• Asset Management Team and the Repairs and Maintenance Group

Wokingham Borough Council – Tenant Services 2

Policy for Fencing
Version 1 – July 2015
Contents Page No

1. Policy Overview 4
2. Purpose 4
3. Scope 4
4. Legislation/Regulatory Requirements 4
5. Equality and Diversity 4
6. Review 5
7. Objectives of Policy 5
8. Description of Policy 5
9. Who is/are Responsible for Administering Policy 8

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Policy for Fencing
Version 1 – July 2015
1. Policy Overview

1. This document outlines Wokingham Borough Council’s Housing Service policy

for the repair, maintenance and replacement of boundary fencing. The
Housing Service’s responsibilities in regard to divisional fencing, that is part or
wholly owned by the landlord, will be dealt with on a case by case basis and is
not within the scope of this policy.

2. Purpose

2. This policy aims to deliver services to tenants that meet their needs and
aspirations and provide value for money and to provide homes in sustainable
neighbourhoods where tenants feel safe and secure.

3. Scope

3. The policy sets out:

• Responsibilities for boundary and division fencing around homes and

communal gardens and gates serving them.

• The standards of service that will be met by the Housing Service.

• Specifications for boundary fencing and gates.

• The tenant’s responsibilities regarding fencing and gates.

4. Legislation/Regulatory Requirements

4.1 This policy will take into account the Housing Health & Safety Rating System
(HHSRS) that forms part of the Housing Act [2004] and The Town & Country
Planning Act [1990].

4.2 If the guidelines in the HHSRS or The Town & Country Planning Act [1990]
change before the policy review date, the appropriate amendments will be
made promptly and efficiently.

5. Equality & Diversity Impacts

5. This policy will be applied fairly and consistently to all tenants of Wokingham
Borough Council regardless of gender, race, colour, marital status, national
or ethnic origin, nationality, disability, sexuality, age, religion.

Wokingham Borough Council – Tenant Services 4

Policy for Fencing
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6. Review

6. This policy will be reviewed three years from the date that it was signed off
by the relevant Tenant Group or earlier if there are changes in working
practices or legislation is introduced that relates to fencing and boundary
maintenance.

7. Objectives of Policy

7.1 The objectives of Wokingham Borough Council’s policy for sustainable

fencing and boundary maintenance on Housing land are to:

• Achieve savings in expenditure on fencing and boundary maintenance

which can be reinvested into maintaining the core fabric of homes and
meeting the Decent Homes Standard.

• Encourage investment in\ fencing and boundary maintenance which is

sustainable, environmentally friendly and supports crime reduction.

• Achieve clarity and consistency of approach and decision making to

the provision of fencing and boundary maintenance across the estates.

8. Description of Policy

General

8.1 All works are to be specified along the lines of 0.9m high chain link fencing to
the outside of rows of terraces with the party or inside boundaries being a
combination of 1.8m overlapping panels and 0.9m high chain link.

8.2 Courtesy gates to the external boundary, including any gates needed to
make the back gardens a secure area will be 1.8m high or to dimensions
which match the surrounding fencing.

Repair vs Replacement

8.3 Reactive repair or replacement fencing will be assessed on an individual

priority basis.

8.4 Cost effective minor repairs are defined as those which, with a small
responsive investment, will achieve a longer life of the existing fencing e.g.
repair/replacement of a post to support otherwise sound fencing. Fencing
will only be provided if the existing fence is beyond economical repair
assessed on individual priority basis.

Wokingham Borough Council – Tenant Services 5

Policy for Fencing
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8.5 Repairs to any damaged or missing fencing is to be restricted to reactive or
major works policy only (see above). Fencing will be removed if unsightly.

Priority of Fencing Repairs

8.6 Health and Safety repairs are defined as those repairs to fencing that faces
water, railway track or highway. The priority to which works are undertaken
will still depend on the exact nature of the defect and its effect on highway
users.

8.7 The service realises how important it is to provide an efficient fencing repairs
service and aim to carry out fencing repairs within a certain time. Different
response times will be applied depending on the type of work. Fencing
repairs will be assessed on the following individual priority basis:

Priority 1

8.8 Emergency (where there is an immediate and serious risk to people and
property) – The service aims to make safe within 3 hours and carry out the
full repair in one working day.

Priority 2

8.9 Emergency (where there is a serious risk to people or property is likely to

develop if action is not taken quickly). The service will carry out the repair
within 48 hours.

Priority 3

8.10 Urgent (where problems are likely to cause major discomfort to tenants, or
damage to the property is likely if the repair is delayed). The service will
carry out the repair within 15 working days.

Priority 4
8.11 Non-Urgent (where works that are not urgent or failed and that do not affect
the use of your home) .These may involve items to be pre-ordered or made
to measure and the service will carry out repairs within 40 working days.

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Policy for Fencing
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Front Fencing

8.12 The freeholder is responsible for ensuring boundaries are not hazardous to
other users on the highway. Wokingham Borough Council would still be
responsible for ensuring this. However, the boundary does not have to be a
fence.

8.13 For front fencing between gardens, the service to provide 3ft chain-link
fencing or to replace on a like for like basis where it is deemed to be an
economical repair.

8.14 For front fencing between highways and access alleyways, the service to
provide 3ft chain-link fencing (with an option to increase to 6ft chain-link
fencing when agreed by a TS officer) or to replace on a like for like basis
where it is deemed to be an economical repair.

Rear Fencing

8.15 The specification is to be standardised across the Borough, this is most

easily done on an estate-by-estate basis. This will prevent officers ordering
an inconsistent style and height of fencing across estates. This will improve
the appearance of the estates and reduce expenditure.

8.16 For rear fencing between gardens, the service to provide two 6ft wooden
overlapping privacy panels on wooden posts and 3ft chain-link fencing (with
an option to increase to 6ft chain-link fencing when agreed by a TS officer),
or to replace on a like for like basis where it is deemed to be an economical
repair.

8.17 For rear fencing between highways and access alleyways, the service to
provide 3ft chain-link fencing (with an option to increase to 6ft chain-link
fencing when agreed by a TS officer), or to replace on a like for like basis
where it is deemed to be an economical repair.

Metal Railings

8.18 Where railings are already painted, their decoration will be maintained (It is
proposed that new fencing is not painted.)

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Policy for Fencing
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Gates

8.19 Metal gates will be used rather than timber gates. They create a better
appearance and seem less like standard issue. They are more difficult to
vandalise than timber and so repair costs are likely to be lower.

• Gates between public highways and access alleyways to be replaced with

a gate of similar dimensions (with an option to increase the dimensions
when agreed by a TS officer).

• Gates between front and rear gardens to be the responsibility of the

tenant.

• Gates between front and rear gardens to be replaced with a gate of

similar dimensions (with an option to increase the dimensions when
agreed by a TS officer) were there is no gate in place between the public
highway (i.e. an open driveway).

Gardens

8.20 At the void stage, gardens in blocks of flats may be reverted to communal
use so that they can be included on the communal grass cutting schemes
and thus reduce lengths of fencing.

8.21 Some gardens are seen as being too large for current lifestyles. The shifting
pattern in garden use over recent years has resulted in these areas being
poorly maintained as tenants give gardening a lower priority than previous
years.

8.22 In the longer term, the service will investigate changing the use of oversized
gardens taking into account potential development opportunities.

9. Who is/are Responsible for Overseeing the Policy?

9.1 The Tenant Services Senior Repairs and Maintenance Surveyor has the
overall responsibility for ensuring this policy is adhered to.

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Policy for Fencing
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Ordering Works for fencing and boundary maintenance

9.2 It is important that the route for ordering fencing and boundary maintenance
works is clearly understood by tenants and officers.

9.3 Housing Officers must not order new fencing for a particular dwelling in
response to a burglary. Housing Officers must consider the alternative,
more appropriate security measures such as improving locks, bolts, door
chains or the installation of security lights.

9.4 New timber fencing, to front or back, will only be provided if there is an
exceptional need e.g. serious, persistent nuisance case awaiting court
resolution.

9.5 The three routes for ordering fencing:

1. Reactive works to individual properties – where, by exception, for Health and

Safety reasons – Tenant Services Estates Officer.

2. Major works – where, by exception, for Health and Safety reasons – Tenant
Services Estates officer.

3. Void Properties - Voids Surveyor.

Wokingham Borough Council – Tenant Services 9

Policy for Fencing
Version 1 – July 2015