A high number of fences were brought down during the period of the Red Weather warning for high winds due to Storm Eowyn in January 2025, with council officers attending to making fences safe to prevent further risks or damage.
To ensure all boundary fences are repaired, a programme of work is to be progressed for each area and details of where and when repairs are carried out will be notified to tenants as soon as the programme is confirmed.
The council will only maintain boundary fencing, which is normally to the immediate front or back of your home or where the fence divides your home with a public area, such as footpath or a separate block.
Tenants are responsible for maintaining the fence that divides their home from their neighbours. For example, if you reside in a four in a block style property you would be responsible for any fencing between you and the neighbours within your block.
If council tenants share a dividing fence, they are encouraged to reach an agreement for a shared cost with their neighbour.
If a council tenant shares a dividing fence with a home owner, the council won't carry out any repairs. If the home owner wishes to undertake repairs and maintenance to the dividing fence they should contact the council to request a shared cost repair.
To do this, the owner should contact HIO@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window) for more details.
For more details, please check your tenant's handbook or visit Tenant's Handbook.
If you are in any doubt, please speak to your local housing officer for advice.
If any council tenant has a fence that they think is potentially dangerous, and it has not been reported, please report it via Request a Repair or call 01506 280000.
Council officers will attend and make it safe by removing any safety risk until a permanent fix can be arranged.
