Complaints about my garden - am I required by law to keep it tidy?

loracan1

If it's neither encroaching on others' gardens nor a health hazard I can't see what business it is of his how you keep it! And given he's never spoken to you before in his life I'd be keeping it that way for a while yet. (but I'm a petty-minded grumpy git who would derive great pleasure from this)

Hector-The-Inspector_2

Debt_Free_Dreamer wrote: »

What about squatters if you house looks un-lived in, you might find youself with some moving in.

I believe there is no squatters rights in Scotland.

iamcornholio

Not sure about north of the wall, but a Covenant on the property may require the gardens to be kept in a tidy condition. These are typically placed on whole estates or roads, and intended to keep the street looking nice for the residents ..... as such any neighbour will benefit from such a covenant and so can enforce it via the civil court.

Alternatively (and again not sure about Scotland), if a garden is in such a mess and may harbour nasties, vermin or hidden danger, then anyone can complain to the local council (England and Wales) and allege Statutory Nuisance under the Envirnonmental Protection Act. Specifically the claim would have to be that the area is "prejudical to health", which means "injurious, or likely to cause injury, to health. The "or likely" bit is a very good catch-all

This would not cover just plain untidiness, but if the untidiness concealed hidden dangers, then the Act would apply and the council can force the owner to clear the area to remove the danger - or possibility of danger.

ailuro2

Most likely yes, you do. Most councils have a clause stating tenants must keep all of the property in reasonable condition. Our house is owned, but there is a clause in the deeds stating we must keep the garden tidy.

Pay a gardener to tidy it up once a month while you're away.

Or get the paving done now, save paying a gardener to do it.

Sorry, but your neighbour is right.;)

nearlyrich

There are ways of asking nicely your neighbour sounds like a grumpy git, I would let it grow even higher just to annoy him now!

macman

How long would it take to cut the grass? Twenty minutes/half an hour?
If you''re going to pave it then you're still going to have to remove the growth anyway.

Lokolo

nearlyrich wrote: »

There are ways of asking nicely your neighbour sounds like a grumpy git, I would let it grow even higher just to annoy him now!

Take it a step further.... cut all the grass, then accidentally drop all the grass cuttings over his front garden.

:cool:

victoriaplus4

we also live in a street that has a house right opposite whose garden is a mess weeds everywhere i see it every time i open my curtains in the morning or go out the front door,its horrible just lazy as they have three sons who could keep it tidy,i dont blame the angry neighbour tho his approach may have been wrong.

ormus

ailuro2 wrote: »

Most likely yes, you do. Most councils have a clause stating tenants must keep all of the property in reasonable condition. Our house is owned, but there is a clause in the deeds stating we must keep the garden tidy.

Pay a gardener to tidy it up once a month while you're away.

Or get the paving done now, save paying a gardener to do it.

Sorry, but your neighbour is right.;)

the only person who can enforce any covenants, is the freeholder.
the chances of a neighbour finding the actual freeholder, and then the freeholder taking any further action is about NIL.

iamcornholio

ormus wrote: »

the only person who can enforce any covenants, is the freeholder.

Anyone benefiting from the covenant can enforce it.

They don't have to live locally either, as long as they benefit in some way