Neighbour cutting our hedge ?
Discussion
We are currently looking for a house to purchase as we sold our property in early April and are now in rented accommodation.
Viewed a great bungalow but decided not to purchase as one side and the bottom boundaries had high (10+ feet) hedges that belonged to neighbours. These complete blocked the sun from the bungalow's patio. Didn't want the hassle of my first contact with new neighbours being complaints about their hedges.
My wife is very keen on having some sunlight in the rear garden in the late afternoon and early evening. High hedges prevent this at many of the properties we have viewed. Why do so many people want such high boundary divisions? A close inspection of some of the hedges shows a fence buried close to their centre, so presumably this is the actual boundary line and the hedge is impinging on the property not owned by the planter of the hedge.
Viewed a great bungalow but decided not to purchase as one side and the bottom boundaries had high (10+ feet) hedges that belonged to neighbours. These complete blocked the sun from the bungalow's patio. Didn't want the hassle of my first contact with new neighbours being complaints about their hedges.
My wife is very keen on having some sunlight in the rear garden in the late afternoon and early evening. High hedges prevent this at many of the properties we have viewed. Why do so many people want such high boundary divisions? A close inspection of some of the hedges shows a fence buried close to their centre, so presumably this is the actual boundary line and the hedge is impinging on the property not owned by the planter of the hedge.
Glosphil said:
A close inspection of some of the hedges shows a fence buried close to their centre, so presumably this is the actual boundary line and the hedge is impinging on the property not owned by the planter of the hedge.
Probably - you are allowed to cut it back to the boundary line.Ozzie Osmond said:
The plan with the property title will typically show a "T" to identify which property is responsible for the boundary.
For instance, in a street of houses the titles may show that each property is responsible for its right hand boundary.
Doesn't really help if the other side plant a hedge.For instance, in a street of houses the titles may show that each property is responsible for its right hand boundary.
I've had to erect new fences at all my previous homes because I bought tired homes in nice areas - which means old people.
They aren't bothered and can't do it themselves so if I want a nice fence, I've put one up.
I thought the guy's emails sounded very reasonable and had the tone of someone happy to discuss the issue.
I think a face to face chat would be most useful as he doesn't sound at all like some maniac determined to win a hedge war or something. I'm sure in person you could explain your position and he his, and maybe you could then suggest a solution that works for you but also goes a bit of way to helping him out. You don't have to of course and could just re-iterate your rights, but it would seem the human thing to do.
I think a face to face chat would be most useful as he doesn't sound at all like some maniac determined to win a hedge war or something. I'm sure in person you could explain your position and he his, and maybe you could then suggest a solution that works for you but also goes a bit of way to helping him out. You don't have to of course and could just re-iterate your rights, but it would seem the human thing to do.
J4CKO said:
Yes, the emails he completely disregarded, you know the bit where I said to please ask before doing anything with the hedge, which he agreed to ? the point is he just went ahead and did it and lopped 2 to 3 feet off it, he also reiterated his desire to get rid of it entirely.
I went to trim the hedge as it needed doing, then found it had been hacked down on the other side, so for now I am not touching it.
I am not contacting him in any way until I have the house deeds and legal position clarified, I tried informal and pleasant but he didn't take any notice, he lives on a different road, I don't really see him in passing, normally I would go round but I will just get my facts straight before.
You shouldn't need to speak to your solicitor for a Boundary Plan or Title Register Copy; it's all online here (albeit for a small fee):I went to trim the hedge as it needed doing, then found it had been hacked down on the other side, so for now I am not touching it.
I am not contacting him in any way until I have the house deeds and legal position clarified, I tried informal and pleasant but he didn't take any notice, he lives on a different road, I don't really see him in passing, normally I would go round but I will just get my facts straight before.
https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-property-...
J4CKO said:
Disastrous said:
I thought the guy's emails sounded very reasonable and had the tone of someone happy to discuss the issue.
I think a face to face chat would be most useful as he doesn't sound at all like some maniac determined to win a hedge war or something. I'm sure in person you could explain your position and he his, and maybe you could then suggest a solution that works for you but also goes a bit of way to helping him out. You don't have to of course and could just re-iterate your rights, but it would seem the human thing to do.
Yes, the emails he completely disregarded, you know the bit where I said to please ask before doing anything with the hedge, which he agreed to ? the point is he just went ahead and did it and lopped 2 to 3 feet off it, he also reiterated his desire to get rid of it entirely.I think a face to face chat would be most useful as he doesn't sound at all like some maniac determined to win a hedge war or something. I'm sure in person you could explain your position and he his, and maybe you could then suggest a solution that works for you but also goes a bit of way to helping him out. You don't have to of course and could just re-iterate your rights, but it would seem the human thing to do.
I went to trim the hedge as it needed doing, then found it had been hacked down on the other side, so for now I am not touching it.
I am not contacting him in any way until I have the house deeds and legal position clarified, I tried informal and pleasant but he didn't take any notice, he lives on a different road, I don't really see him in passing, normally I would go round but I will just get my facts straight before.
pheasant said:
Your plot looks long enough to support a nice Oak or Weeping Willow or 2 at the end there !!!
Yeah, couple of Silver Birches that we are told are getting towards the ends of their lives, matey boy suggested lopping them down.Would be cautious about planting anything deep rooted too near his property as don't want any agro regarding roots, got an ongoing issue at the front of our place which needs five grands worth of work to rectify.
We had a similar issue, neighbour at the back has his house behind next door, garden behind our garden.
He extended his house to the boundary less about 2 inches, then complained next doors leylandi were blocking light to his skylights on the extension.
Fine he was told, feel free to trim to the boundary line. He waited until we all went to work and with the help of a huge gang of workmen and diggers cut down all the neighbours trees, dug back 2 feet into his property and started erecting a new fence. Neighbour hears about it in the afternoon, rushes home, we have a meeting with him that night where arms hole neighbour says "tough s
t, you can't afford a boundary dispute..."
All the neighbours around him have had similar issues, extending his garden into public land, cutting down protected ancient hedge. He now thinks everyone is against him and doesn't understand why, he's a good neighbour...
He extended his house to the boundary less about 2 inches, then complained next doors leylandi were blocking light to his skylights on the extension.
Fine he was told, feel free to trim to the boundary line. He waited until we all went to work and with the help of a huge gang of workmen and diggers cut down all the neighbours trees, dug back 2 feet into his property and started erecting a new fence. Neighbour hears about it in the afternoon, rushes home, we have a meeting with him that night where arms hole neighbour says "tough s
t, you can't afford a boundary dispute..."All the neighbours around him have had similar issues, extending his garden into public land, cutting down protected ancient hedge. He now thinks everyone is against him and doesn't understand why, he's a good neighbour...
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