Hedge and fence issues?

Keep_pedalling

Unfortunately there is little you can do about the hedge, but the dogs are another matter. If the dogs are allowed to roam freely in his garden once the hedge is down contact you local authority immediately, he will be committing an offence under The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Davesnave

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Unfortunately there is little you can do about the hedge..

There is. The OP can plant another on their side of the boundary, but now is not the time.

Bare root hedging is best bought and planted from November - March and internet suppliers are the most economical source. I use:

http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Hedging__Trees__Shrubs___Conifers_1.html

I would wait and see on the dogs. I have a feeling they won't want them to get 'lost.'

Norman_Castle

Why are they removing it? Is it possible they are unwilling to maintain the hedge but don't want to pay for a fence and by leaving it open are hoping you will provide one to keep their dogs out. Make them aware they will need to keep their dogs out of your garden.

tiredoflife

They say it takes up too much room, Its just a regular dividing hedge. It probably takes abut a ft of room I guess? We maintain it. They are refusing to put up a fence as they say its up to us. Just looking at a few quotes now for fencing and its about £1500!

I will make them aware about the dogs. To be honest, i think we will have to just bite the bullet and pay for a fence and let them get their own way. I don't want to look out to their garden every time we are out in the garden.

I just don't understand why they couldn't be nicer about it and say, look this is the situation, do you want us to go halves on a fence etc. Ironically, he is putting a new fence up on his other side of the garden, where there is already a low lever fence, but he is putting a high fence there as he wants privacy!

Currently looking on right move at detached houses......

Again, thanks for the support guys.

bouicca21

Presumably you are already on bad terms with the neighbours. I think you have two options - making sure the dogs get lost is one, another is either directly or via an overheard conversation letting them know that if their dogs trespass on your garden they will be removed and are likely to be destroyed. A pair of unsupervised bulldogs near a two year old? Definitely dangerous.

DRP

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Why are they removing it? Is it possible they are unwilling to maintain the hedge but don't want to pay for a fence and by leaving it open are hoping you will provide one to keep their dogs out. Make them aware they will need to keep their dogs out of your garden.

Yep^


1. Tell them you can't afford to pay for a whole fence at the moment - particularly at such short notice.
2. Make sure they know they have responsibilities regarding the dogs.
3. Back it up with an email/letter etc


Be aware that when / if you decide to move house, you will probably need to shell out on a fence before going on the market - no buyer will be impressed with the lack of one.

Norman_Castle

I would check carefully that it is his hedge on his land and take numerous pictures from all angles before it is removed to prevent later boundary disputes.

Chrishazle

Whose responsibility is the boundary? The deeds to our house have little T marks showing which property is responsible for which boundary. There may also be a covenant about maintaining the boundary.

Keep_pedalling

Under no circumstances would I put up the fence, make it clear to him that he has a legal duty to keep his dogs under control, and that failure to do so could land him in court.

Grenage

Don't let this turn into some passive aggressive cold war; just be calm and frank. You can't afford a fence, and have no plans to put one up - you aren't bothered about the loss of the hedge, but they'll obviously need to keep their dogs in their garden somehow.

The somehow is not your problem. Consider planting a bareroot hedge when funds allow (as already mentioned), but obviously that's a long-term plan.