Can my Neighbour cut my hedge without my permission?

Laws and Legalities

When the hedges are solely in your yard, you can do anything you like with them – they're yours. However, if they are planted on the boundary line, the neighbor on the other side of the hedge has a right to input on their fate, reveals USLegal, Inc.

Can my Neighbour cut my hedge UK?

If you own the tree or hedge

Your neighbour can cut any branches that are overhanging into their garden as long as they only remove the bits on their side of the boundary. If they want you to cut your tree or hedge just because they don't like the way it looks, it's up to you whether you do the work.

Whose responsibility is it to cut a hedge?

The responsibility for boundary hedge cutting is shared. Both you and your neighbour should be trimming each other's respective side of the hedge. You are free to cut back roots or branches that are within your property's boundaries. However, you're only allowed to trim the growth on your property.

Do I have to cut my Neighbours side of my hedge UK?

There is no law that compels your neighbour to cut their side of the hedge should they not want or be able to. If the boundary is in the middle of the hedge, this will technically be their property so they will not have to trim it if they do not want to.

Can my Neighbour trimmed my hedge?

You are allowed, by law, to prune the roots or branches of a hedge if it's a nuisance and protruding into your garden. And therefore your neighbour can do the same if it's your hedge. If the height is the problem do not attempt to trim it without advice from a property solicitor.

Neighbor Trespassed On My Private Property

What is the legal height of a hedge between Neighbours UK?

Require homeowners to get permission to grow a hedge above 2m (6½ft) When a hedge grows over 2m (6½ft), the local authority does not automatically take action, unless a justifiable complaint is made.

How high should a Neighbour's hedge be?

Making a complaint

Please note that there is not a blanket rule that all hedges must be no more than two metres in height. The complaint form explains why you consider the hedge is adversely affecting the reasonable enjoyment of your residential property.

Is there a law about cutting hedges?

Regardless of ownership, no-one can trim or cut a hedge if the action damages active birds' nests, and hence violates the Wildlife and Countryside Act. If tall hedges or trees put your garden in the shade, you can cut off branches which overhang your boundary.

When can you not cut hedges?

You should not cut or trim hedges or trees between the dates of March 1st and September 1st without a derogation. You may only apply for a derogation if you plan to cut hedges before any new grass ley or oil seed rape is sown in the Autumn.

Is it criminal damage to cutting Neighbours hedge?

Yes, it is criminal damage.

Can you put a fence against a hedge?

Yes the hedge will continue to grow and eventually push your fence over. Depending on size of roots an auger will break your arm. Best to dig holes and cut roots as you find them. Simbo, WillyEckerslike and Truckcab79 like this.

Who is responsible for cutting overhanging hedges?

If a neighbour's tree or hedge is growing over into your garden, you cannot make them cut it back. However, you do have the right to remove overgrowing branches yourself, but only back to the common boundary. Any cuttings must be offered back to the tree or hedge owner.

How do I report illegal hedge cutting?

If you see what you suspect to be a hedge-cutting offence you can report it to your local NPWS office (see www.npws.ie/contact-us) or your local Garda station.

Are garden hedges protected?

Some hedges are protected by old Inclosure Acts. These may require that hedges are retained and managed forever more. People wishing to remove hedgerows should therefore seek professional legal advice before doing so to determine whether the hedgerow might be protected by an Inclosure Act.

Is it illegal to cut hedges when birds are nesting?

Some birds continue breeding into August. All wild birds, their young, their eggs and active nests are protected under law. It is an offence to damage a nest intentionally while it is in use or being built – hedge cutting is highly likely to damage nests or cause them to be deserted.

What is the law on boundary hedges?

You are allowed to trim or maintain your side of the hedge to the boundary in this instance as long as that doesn't kill the hedge, but it is considered to be shared property, so you'll need to come to an agreement with your neighbour in order to remove it legally.

Is there a legal height limit for trees in gardens?

In general, there is no specific limit to the height that a tree is allowed to grow, but if the trees form a vegetative screen that is limiting a neighbours usage/enjoyment then it could be a High Hedge issue which Planning Enforcement would potentially get involved with.

What trees can be cut down without permission UK?

The only time tree work can proceed in a Conservation Area without council permission is when it involves cutting down, lopping, topping or uprooting a tree that has a diameter less than 75mm, or cutting down or uprooting a tree with a diameter less than 100mm so as to improve the growth of another tree.

How tall can I let my hedge grow?

Before taking any action, take note of the following areas not included in the legislation covering high hedges: hedges are not required to be limited to a height of two metres. permission is not required to grow a hedge over two metres high.

How tall can you have a hedge?

High hedges are described as an evergreen or semi evergreen line of two or more trees, at least 2m in height and are capable of blocking out light. There is a common misconception that growing a hedge above 2m in height is illegal. This is in fact incorrect - there is no legal maximum height for a hedge.

Can my Neighbour cut my tree without asking?

Entering someone's property, without permission, to cut a tree would undoubtedly be illegal. You may need to take matters to court. It depends which came first - the tree or your garden.

Can you complain to the council about a Neighbour's garden?

Weeds, Rubbish and Pests

If weeds or brambles and the like in a neighbour's garden are causing problems on your side of the property boundary, it can amount to a nuisance which you can report to the Environmental Health Department of your local council who can pursue legal action.

Can Neighbour lean things on my fence?

It's simple: you can only do this if your neighbour says you can. If you lean something against or hang something on your neighbour's fence without permission and the extra burden on the panels causes damage to the fencing (which is very likely to happen sooner or later), you will have to pay for the repairs.

What is the maximum height for a conifer hedge?

Natural leylandii trees may grow up to a whopping max height of 100 feet (sometimes even more) out in the woods. In some neighborhoods, the maximum legal height of leylandii hedges is 6.6 feet (2 meters) though, so they rarely see such tall heights as their forest counterparts.

Can I cut my garden hedge?

Annual side trimming – little and often is allowed in Option 1. The second option is to cut hedges on a three year cycle where it is recommended to cut one third of hedges each year to benefit the environment as much as possible. So where all hedges were cut in 2019, cut one-third in each of 2020, 2021 and 2022.