A West Australian man has requested his neighbour pay half the cost of a boundary fence that was built 17 years ago, long before the neighbour moved in.

When the fence was built between two blocks in Yanchep, north of Perth, there was no dwelling on one of the blocks.

Under Western Australian law, the owner who constructed the fence can give the owner of the adjoining land a notice claiming the payment of half of the construction cost.

Partner of Taurus Legal Management, Alex Martin, says the neighbour’s request is “ridiculous”.

“Things are a bit different in WA than they are in Victoria, but if the fence was that old I would expect it came with the property and I wouldn’t pay for it,” he told Dee Dee.

Press PLAY below to hear Mr Martin’s legal view on fence disputes