HAVING neighbours is all fun and games until they do something to ruin your day.
This was the case for one homeowner who was left fuming after their next door neighbour chopped down their shared hedge by a staggering 5ft.
Taking to Reddit they showed off a photo of the sliced hedge, which had been 11ft tall.
Explaining more of the backstory, they wrote: “Neighbour cut shared hedge by 5ft
“We have a 10-11ft tall boundary hedge that is shared with multiple neighbours, the hedge has been in place at this height for over 50 years.
“We have previously looked into the deeds with a solicitor and they believe that all of the rear hedges on the estate are ‘party hedges’ or boundary hedges and are shared ownership.
“On multiple occasions we’ve talked to the neighbour and discussed it being a shared hedge and agreed a height for the sections of hedge between our gardens.”
However, they were left irate after their neighbour went ahead anyway and “cut it significantly lower” than they had agreed.
They continued: “We had spoken in person the same day and agreed that we would trim the top ourselves by 1-2 ft and to a level 3-4ft higher than the photo.
“They also stated that the height wasn’t a nuisance and they just wanted to neaten it on their side.”
Appealing to Reddit users for help, the upset homeowner asked: “Is this a form of criminal damage?
“How long do you think it will take for this hedge to recover 4ft of growth?”
Some people were quick to chime in and say that the neighbour had stepped over the line.
One claimed: “Yes its likely criminal damage. If it straddles the border he is likely within his right to trim the half in his property (as long as it doesn’t kill the hedge) but the other half is owned by you.
“He has encroached onto your land and committed criminal damage.”
A second added: “I would submit the report online, that way they have to get a case number etc. though that said criminal damage has to cause substantial harm which is very difficult to argue here.”
However, some people advised that they shouldn’t be as upset as they are.
One said: “Really? You are outraged because your neighbour has cut 5ft off an 11ft hedge? The hedge is now a sensible 6ft and easier to maintain as well as allowing more direct sunlight into the garden.
“You sound like the nightmare neighbour from hell. I’m a keen gardener and I can assure you I would not be happy with an 11ft hedge along a boundary blocking out light.”
Another said: “I think you should have a sleep before you start trying to go all legal.
“You have to live with these people. If there’s a dispute, you’ll have to declare it when it’s time to sell.”
The Reddit user concluded: “Thank you for your advice. I am not going to pursue any kind of prosecution. But I might try and have this recorded just in case there are other disputes in the future.”
You are allowed to trim back any branches or roots that cross into your property from a neighbour’s property or a public road.
But you can only trim up to what’s yours.
If you go beyond your property boundary you might get in trouble with whoever owns the further space, and in the worst case scenario, you could be taken to court for damage caused.
NEIGHBOUR DISPUTES
According to the Gov website, if you have a neighbour dispute, you should try to resolve the issue informally by talking directly to them first, as they may be unaware they are causing a problem.
If a conversation doesn’t work, consider using a mediation service, which provides a neutral third party to help you both find a resolution.
If your neighbour rents their property, you can contact their landlord or housing association to address the dispute through their tenancy agreement.
The council’s Environmental Health team is legally obliged to investigate and may issue a formal Abatement Notice if a nuisance is confirmed.
The Top Five Reasons Neighbours Squabble
One study by Compare the Market revealed the top reason British neighbour’s argue
- Broken fences – top of the board was broken fences and whose responsibility it was to fix it
- Parking: one of the leading drivers of neighbour disputes, with 54.1 per cent of people having issues with people parking in front of their house, parking bay or driveway
- Trees – complaints about a neighbour’s tree cracking your garden path was also common with nearly half of participants finding it frustrating
- Bin wars – outdoor bin etiquette continues to ignite the most furious debates between neighbours
- Nosy Neighbours – some people have their eyes and ears at the ready to have a peek causing problems for others
