High hedges

What counts as a 'high hedge'?

To be covered by the law, the hedge must be:

• a line of two or more trees or shrubs.
• evergreen or semi-evergreen (they stay green all year or most of the year).
• over 2 metres tall.on someone else’s land (like your neighbour’s).
• blocking light or access to your home or garden.

What you must do before complaining to the council

Before contacting us, you must try to sort it out yourself by:

• writing to your neighbour to explain the problem.
• if they don’t respond, send a second letter.
• try some kind of mediation (this could be informal, like a chat with a neutral third person).
• let your neighbour know in writing that you plan to complain to the council.

What the council does

The Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 gives local authorities powers to deal with complaints about high hedges.

• the council doesn’t mediate or take sides.
• we decide if the hedge is unreasonably affecting your enjoyment of your home or garden.
• we will consider both sides and the wider community/environment.

If we agree with your complaint:

• we will serve a formal notice on the hedge owner telling them how to remedy the problem, and by when
• failure to comply with the notice is an offence that, on prosecution, could lead to a fine of up to £1,000
• the council also has the powers to carry out works in default and charge the owner all reasonable costs incurred.

Cost

It costs £212 to make a complaint to the council.

If you want us to investigate a high hedge case report it to us