neighbours jungle.. i mean garden

FurryPaws

Hi,

My neighbour is housing exec tenant, doesn't have any tools or gardening equipment. Her front and back garden 'grass' is almost 4ft tall now. It is seeding and spreading the thick, coarse grass into my garden making impossible to cut. I don't have any garden mowers etc myself yet so I rely on good will from family to cut it.. (will be getting a mower in the next week though!)

Question is, can I ask housing exec to sort this out? It's attracting all the local cats and vermin. I wasn't sure to ask housing exec to sort out or environmental health?

Also, at the back there are really strong weeds growing from their gutters and working their way up the wall into my property and reaching the soffit. I paid to have my gutters cleaned of their mess last year and the weeds pulled off but I don't see why I should pay for this when the neighbour (or housing exec) should take responsibility for this before it causes damage.

Any ideas?

Thanks

diable

Diesel and a match.

ormus

generally speaking, all homeowners can do what they like in their own gardens. just cause you dont like living next door to the amazon jungle it is tough luck.
after saying that, some/most councils and HAs, insist that tenants keep their gardens neat and tidy. so contact them.

diable

Remove their stuff that comes over to yours and throw it back in to their garden.

macman

Neglect/untidiness is one thing (although it almost certainly breaches their tenancy agreement). However if it's attracting vermin then you can justifiably get environmenntal halth involved.
Or maybe talk to your neighbour (gasp!)?

FurryPaws

I would talk to her, but she's very timid and won't come to her door. I've never spoken to her, even when I wave or say 'hi'. I have to walk round her house to leave my bin out and I would smile and nod but she hides behind her curtains.

I think she would like a tidy garden, as she can't walk down her own path, she just doesn't know how to look after it or have the tools.

I don't want to complain, I just want it sorted. I called the housing exec this morning and they will take a look.

ormus

if shes elderly, age concern have a scheme whereby small jobs such as gardening can be done free, or for very little cost.
some local councils also do a similar scheme.
it does in my area.

worth enquiring.

Leif

If she is elderly or infirm, you could suggest to her that you do the work. A pain I know, but perhaps better than nothing. A strong weedkiller could be sprayed onto plants to kill them all, with her agreement of course. A bit drastic, but it would be better than a jungle. Or you could do the work yourself, cutting down the shrubs or at least pruning them, and cutting the grass, again with her consent.

Marylea

Environmental Health should be able to help.

If evidence of vermin is found, they can take action under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act.

If the garden is sufficiently unsightly as to be 'detrimental to the amenity of the area' they (or the Planning Dept) can taken action under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act.

If the property is tenanted, they are almost certainl in breach of tenany conditions, so contact the Housing Provider as well.