Yes, that's true, and l have checked the original post. The neighbour said it was blocking his light and the local authority agreed. After 2 years he suddenly turns up on the doorstep waving a leaflet. What a lot easier it would be if he came round and explained calmly and politely what he was concerned about. I know, l know, how naive , but oh, wouldn't it be luvverly.
When the neighbour initially came round, he claimed the law was clear - the hedge made us nuisance neighbours and it was blocking the light to his kitchen. He also said the Local Authority agreed with him and that we needed to reduce it to 6ft.
I was shocked to think we might be 'nuisance neighbours' and said I would look into it. It was quickly obvious, however, that the hedge did not constitute a nuisance hedge, under any law or guidance. I also discovered that his kitchen was on the other side of his house and realised Leylandi in his garden were twice the height of our hedge and blocking more light. In a polite way, I pointed out that none of the things he had said were accurate. He insisted, however, that the hedge affected his light. Wishing to be a good neighbour, I agreed to reduce the height of the hedge, as a gesture of good will.
A couple of days later, I told the tree surgeon, who had come round to deal with other trees in the garden. He pointed out that it wouldn't make any difference to the light next door, if we reduced the hedge, because of shade from the trees. So we went together to tell the neighbour. But he insisted he still wanted the hedge reduced, that it would make a difference to his light.
We knew the neighbour was just being difficult, but I asked the tree surgeon to take a little bit off the hedge - as a gesture of good will. The neighbour had other ideas, however, and when the tree surgeon returned, he pressurised him into drastic cuts.
It is easy with hindsight to see where I went wrong and where the tree surgeon went wrong. But I was trying to be a good neighbour and he was trying to be helpful.
I’d be very surprised if the hedge was literally “a shared hedge”.
On title deed plans, the responsibility for a boundary is often marked with a T on the map. If no T is drawn on the plan, the responsibility for the boundary is usually understood to be the left hand side of the plot as seen from the front of the house.
Your neighbour might even be the true “owner” of the hedge.
I don't think he is the owner, because he would have ripped out the hedge if he thought he could.
We were told by the builder, from whom we bought the house, that it was a shared boundary, but that the hedge is clearly in our garden. So for 14 years, we have looked after it and maintained it. The previous neighbour looked after her side only.
Our house was actually here before the hedge or the other house, which was built in what was part of the garden. The previous owner of our house planted the hedge.
Because the houses are not side by side, it is hard to say which is on the right or the left. The neighbour's house is to the right hand side of our house, as you look at our house from outside. But it is at a right angle to our house. He would say that our house is behind his house.
What confuses me, if l understand this right, is that he says it is affecting his "right to light", and yet he has no windows on that side of his house ? If it was casting his living room or whatever into darkness, l might have some sympathy (but l certainly don't condone his attitude). I understand that you wouldn't want to get into a situation with him, but it does seem that he may well be someone who will take advantage of any sign of weakness.lt is a horrible situation to be in, and you have my sympathy.
If the hedge is on your land it is your hedge and thus your resonsibility to maintain. You can check on your deeds for the boundary line.
It's a sorry tale with a mix of his aggression met with your naievety. Do take steps to inform yourself of your rights and his and do, also, get the hedge sorted to a lower, more acceptable height. 2m/6' is a good size and won't harm the hedge's health or its usability by widlife.
Make a written note of his first visit and his behaviour with the tree surgeon and make sure you have photos with the relevant creation dates as backup in case your neighbour decides to try and create more problems.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
We were told by the builder, from whom we bought the house, that it was a shared boundary, but that the hedge is clearly in our garden.
It might be worth putting in some kind of physical marker (eg a simple post-and-wire fence) on the boundary line at the far side of the hedge, so that it's absolutely clear to the neighbour in case they decide to do their own cutting next time (they are legally allowed to cut back as far as the boundary line, but no further). Of course that might inflame the situation, but it sounds like it's pretty bad already.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I don't blame the neighbour for a little inspection and cajoling when the tree surgeon was there. These things are shared even if they are not 'shared'. He's obviously got some kind of bee in his bonnet though and sounds like a bit of a prat. It's weird what people get unduly focused on. Strange is neighbour strain. As said I tried to accommodate my neighbour's request of letting more light in, only to be met with moaning about the then perceived lack of privacy. And yet they have absolutely no planting on their side of the boundary. I feel slightly aggrieved that 3ft of my garden is there to satisfy someone else's privacy concerns, when my garden is very narrow! I'd love my neighbour to have a nice hawthorn hedge, and if there was space, the bigger the better. Having said that, on the opposite side of the garden there is a very tall hedge - that is in urgent need of rejuvenation, but whenever it's cut back, the sides are hit, and not the height. It's now just a leggy mess up until about chest height. I've watered and mulched our side trying to take care of it some what. About as bold as I've been with my suggesting is to say that it could be cut back quite hard if needed. It's sometimes hard not to sound like an interfering old sod. But it does seem to be the case that a lot of people have fallouts over not much. So little said to each other, that then if you do have some issue it's perceived as something worse that it is, or it gets personal when it shouldn't. Last time I complained that my flowers got strimmed accidentally in the front garden by the neighbour, it was met with ire!
Apologies if this has already been answered, but - did the neighbour offer proof of the council agreeing about the hedge? He sounds a bit of a chancer. Putting a basic fence in at the boundary is a great idea, but could be tricky to carry out. He may see that as a sign of aggression and accuse you of trespass etc, if you came on to his land in order to get it erected. The whole thing is a bit of a 'stramash', as we say up here, and it would be easy for it to escalate into something very unpleasant. I think having the hedge kept tidy, and to a 2 metre height, is the best way to go, but be ready if he starts anything else. I wish you luck in getting a good resolution.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
When the neighbour initially came round, he claimed the law was clear - the hedge made us nuisance neighbours and it was blocking the light to his kitchen. He also said the Local Authority agreed with him and that we needed to reduce it to 6ft.
I was shocked to think we might be 'nuisance neighbours' and said I would look into it. It was quickly obvious, however, that the hedge did not constitute a nuisance hedge, under any law or guidance. I also discovered that his kitchen was on the other side of his house and realised Leylandi in his garden were twice the height of our hedge and blocking more light. In a polite way, I pointed out that none of the things he had said were accurate. He insisted, however, that the hedge affected his light. Wishing to be a good neighbour, I agreed to reduce the height of the hedge, as a gesture of good will.
A couple of days later, I told the tree surgeon, who had come round to deal with other trees in the garden. He pointed out that it wouldn't make any difference to the light next door, if we reduced the hedge, because of shade from the trees. So we went together to tell the neighbour. But he insisted he still wanted the hedge reduced, that it would make a difference to his light.
We knew the neighbour was just being difficult, but I asked the tree surgeon to take a little bit off the hedge - as a gesture of good will. The neighbour had other ideas, however, and when the tree surgeon returned, he pressurised him into drastic cuts.
It is easy with hindsight to see where I went wrong and where the tree surgeon went wrong. But I was trying to be a good neighbour and he was trying to be helpful.
I don't think he is the owner, because he would have ripped out the hedge if he thought he could.
We were told by the builder, from whom we bought the house, that it was a shared boundary, but that the hedge is clearly in our garden. So for 14 years, we have looked after it and maintained it. The previous neighbour looked after her side only.
Our house was actually here before the hedge or the other house, which was built in what was part of the garden. The previous owner of our house planted the hedge.
Because the houses are not side by side, it is hard to say which is on the right or the left. The neighbour's house is to the right hand side of our house, as you look at our house from outside. But it is at a right angle to our house. He would say that our house is behind his house.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You're very kind.
It's a sorry tale with a mix of his aggression met with your naievety. Do take steps to inform yourself of your rights and his and do, also, get the hedge sorted to a lower, more acceptable height. 2m/6' is a good size and won't harm the hedge's health or its usability by widlife.
Make a written note of his first visit and his behaviour with the tree surgeon and make sure you have photos with the relevant creation dates as backup in case your neighbour decides to try and create more problems.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It might be worth putting in some kind of physical marker (eg a simple post-and-wire fence) on the boundary line at the far side of the hedge, so that it's absolutely clear to the neighbour in case they decide to do their own cutting next time (they are legally allowed to cut back as far as the boundary line, but no further). Of course that might inflame the situation, but it sounds like it's pretty bad already.
Putting a basic fence in at the boundary is a great idea, but could be tricky to carry out. He may see that as a sign of aggression and accuse you of trespass etc, if you came on to his land in order to get it erected.
The whole thing is a bit of a 'stramash', as we say up here, and it would be easy for it to escalate into something very unpleasant. I think having the hedge kept tidy, and to a 2 metre height, is the best way to go, but be ready if he starts anything else.
I wish you luck in getting a good resolution.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...