My neighbours hedge is restricting my access to my back garden, what are my rights?

Ontheotherhand

I'll be faulted for this answer. I don't usually bother trying to use local zoning or law enforcement for something like this. You can't help but assume that since the neighbor isn't cutting just that part of the hedge that blocks your access, it's deliberate on their part. So, speaking to them isn't likely to help. I suggest that you simply get and use some type of plant killing chemical. Obviously, do it when you won't be seen, and dispose of the plant killer afterwords. The hedge will die, and you'll have your legal access back. This is probably illegal, but it eliminates arguments and bad feelings. Just be sure to do it unobserved. And NEVER speak of it.

speak to your neighbour. these things are better settled amicably.
if he does not offer to cut it, ask if you can.

Frank B

Roundup

Christabel

You are well within your rights to cut back anything growing across your side of the property boundary. You might want to just mention to your neighbour that you intend to do it and if he objects and threatens action he'll quickly find he hasn't got a legal leg to stand on.

Monkeypie

anything that overhangs your property you can cut down

Lady_SJ

If its the hedge restricting your access. You can ask your neighbour to cut it. If they won't then you can cut it yourself, but you must give them the trimmed branches back.

ALEX N

cut what is ofer your property , or bang some copper nails around the trunks. shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Tracy M

In order to keep things civil with your neighbour I would talk to him about the hedge hanging over your property and say you would like to trim it back because it is blocking your access. I believe you are entitled to do that anyway, but better to let the neighbour know before you go ahead and do it.

joan k

You have a legal right to cut anything that overhangs your property, but you must throw the branches etc. back. Try the friendly approach first.

chip2001

If any of the hedge is overhanging your side of the boundary, you are entitled to prune it back to the boundary line.
However, you have to offer him the cuttings, I know it's weird but it's true!!
It alldepends where the hedge is - if it's all on his property I don't think you can do much. You could offer to cut it back yourself, if you just feel he's being lazy about it.

pubby

you have the legal right to cut it back

GeeCee

Anything in your property you can cut but by law you must give him back the cuttings.

vantet

Ask your neighbour first, if they are not willing to cut the hedge back, tell them you will cut it and return the cuttings to them. Take photos before and after cutting the hedge, for proof if your neighbour kicks up about the amount cut back.

numnutts31

Dont talk to em it will just cause chit.
late at night chuck some poison on it.

lmn78744

You can trim, cut, or otherwise remove anything extending over your property line, right up to the neighbors property line. Simple as that.

saint sean

Talk to your neighbour and both come to a solution together.

Don't just chop it down, you could create a feud.

My neighbour came onto my property whilst I was on holiday and painted part of my fence! I asked why he had done it and he replied "it looked odd I could see it from my garden and it didn't match my fence colour". He didn't consider that it no longer matched my fence colour and that now my garden looked odd!

I don't know how I stopped myself from punching his lights out but I did, and now we don't speak and there is an atmosphere.

GAVIN E

Well once you have discovered that it it is your neighbours fence and not yours, then you ae well within your rights to trim the hedge back, right up to the point of the boundary line.

Any cuttings then can be given back to the neighbour as if it is his hedge , then it is his overall responsibility for the upkeep of the hedge.

Ollie Wally

i had the exact same problem and i spoke to some friends of ours that are knoweldgable on this, this is what they said.
you have every right to cut that hedge back (to the border of the fence or the garden!) it is not illegal to do so, but what is illegal and what they can prosecute you for is stealing the branches and leaves that you cut off!! which means that you are legally entitled to cut the hedge back and then throw them back into the area where the bush is!!!!!!! bizarre hey. i would suggest that you speak to them first though and if they refuse.....

watergump44

The user of a ROW also has a duty for the upkeep. You are therefore obliged to cut it yourselves.
Tel him you are going to trim the hedge and do it.

CHARITY G

Can you just cut it?

Just talk to your neighbor and tell them you have to trim it back so you can get through the gate. They shouldn't have any problems with that.

josephrob2003

you could politely mention this to the neighbour,failing this,you could go along to your local council offices to lodge a complaint,or engage a solicitor to write to him of his obligations.

You can, quite legally, trim the hedge back but you must give him the cuttings (they remain his property). His hedge cannot restrict your legal access.

Abhi

you shouldn't go thru your garden instead go thru your main gate....... still if u want to go thru your garden, then its better u remove the hedge completely when your neighbour is not there.

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