High Hedges
Contacting the Council should be a last resort if you cannot come to an agreement with your neighbour. The Council can refuse to intervene if they think you haven't done everything you reasonably could to settle the dispute.
What will the Council expect you to have done to resolve the problem?
This will depend on how you get on with your neighbour. Before you contact the Council you should have tried the following:
- Have a quiet word with your neighbour about your concerns.
- Try to discuss the issues and invite your neighbour into your property to show them how the hedge is affecting you.
- If your neighbour won't talk to you, send a polite letter, and keep a record of what you have done and copies of any letters.
- If your neighbour refuses to talk to you then you can seek help from
an independent mediator. For this process to work, both you and your neighbour must be willing to co-operate.
If you have been through all the steps set out above and can answer all the points listed below, the Council should be able to look at your complaint.
About the hedge
- Is it growing on land owned by someone else?
- Is the hedge or the portion that is causing problems made up of a line of 2 or more trees or shrubs?
- Is it mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen?
- Is it more than 2 metres tall?
- Even though there might be gaps in the foliage or between the trees or shrubs, is the hedge still capable of obstructing light or views?
How do I make a complaint?
The Council will send you a form to fill in. This is your main chance to set out your case so it is important that you provide full information on the form. The completed form can be sent by post or e-mail to the Council. You should send a copy to your neighbour so they know what you have done.
What will it cost?
If the complaint is upheld then there will be a charge for the Council's intervention, the complaint form should tell you how much. You will not be able to get your money back from the Council.
What will happen to the hedge?
- If the case is upheld then the Council can't order the hedge to be removed completely, nor can they require the hedge to be cut down below 2 metres. As a general rule, the Council can only order the hedge to be reduced to a height that will remedy the problems.
- The Council will be realistic about timescales on how long your neighbour will be given to cut the hedge.
- As well as asking your neighbour to cut the hedge, the Council can order your neighbour to take action to prevent the problems happening again.
- If the neighbour does not cut the hedge, then it is an offence and your neighbour could be prosecuted and, if found guilty in the Magistrates' court, could be fined up to £1000.
- The Council could cut your neighbour's hedge but are not obliged to.
- iI you disagree with the Council's decision, you can appeal to the Independent Planning Inspectorate
If you wish to make a report please contact us
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