Border Leylandii Trees Management Questions..

sujsuj

My border hedges with neighbours haven't managed properly for long. When I searched online I can see mentioning of 2M rule, but not sure about the  details.. Also so some notes saying for hedges 2M rule is not applicable!! Could anyone help me here with these Qs.

1. Leyland hedge  Trees from neighbour's property are  very tall and more into my land than theirs. Before me raising it with them want  to know what response I could expect ? Are they legally responsible for cutting it to 2M  on their cost..? Or it is a grey area. Mine is a Rural area.

2. Are they supposed to trim it to a level that no branches even appear into my property? Or they can be more flexible..?

3. There are large trees in neighbour's property but slightly inside their land. Can I ask them to cut those as well (reduce height) ? They looks healthy trees may be up to 7/8 M tall.

Thanks very much.

Nobbie1967

There is no 2m restriction on hedging, this applies to fences if I remember correctly. There is no obligation on you neighbour to trim the hedge on your side or their trees, but you are allowed to cut back to the boundary, but must offer the cutting to them and dispose of yourself if they don’t want them.

There is the option with conifer hedging to approach the local council to enforce reduction in height via the High Hedges legislation, but it may cost you about £500 to instigate the process. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council

Emmia

If it's a leylandii then if you reduce the width, and cut into brown, it stays brown - so be careful if you want to reduce it that way

Ectophile

There is specific legislation concerning high hedges.  It's buried in the Antisocial Behaviour Act, as section 8 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/38/part/8  The height limit is 2 metres.

So you can take action against someone whose over-sized conifer hedge is a nuisance.

daivid

Ectophile said:

There is specific legislation concerning high hedges.  It's buried in the Antisocial Behaviour Act, as section 8 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/38/part/8  The height limit is 2 metres.

So you can take action against someone whose over-sized conifer hedge is a nuisance.

This is correct but only if attempts at meditation have failed and at a cost of circa £300 to the council to decide if the hedge contravenes.

OP if you want to get this sorted you need to start by trying to have a civil dialogue with the neighbour: “tea and cake” as a longstanding forumite used to recommend. If you bring up your reservations about the hedge in a non-judgemental way you might just get things sorted quicker and cheaper than by creating a dispute (which you would have to declare if you sold your house). 

As to the hedge you can cut any parts overhanging your boundary with the proviso it doesn’t critically damage the tree. Any cuttings should be offered to the neighbours not just thrown over - if they don’t want them you will have to dispose of them properly. Individual trees not part of a hedge: to insist on action you would need to prove they were causing damage to your house or that they were dangerous (beyond 'they might fall in a gale')- going down either route will cost.

sujsuj

Nobbie1967 said:

There is no 2m restriction on hedging, this applies to fences if I remember correctly. There is no obligation on you neighbour to trim the hedge on your side or their trees, but you are allowed to cut back to the boundary, but must offer the cutting to them and dispose of yourself if they don’t want them.

There is the option with conifer hedging to approach the local council to enforce reduction in height via the High Hedges legislation, but it may cost you about £500 to instigate the process. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council

Ok..
So 2M restriction is for panel fences.!
No obligation to trim even if  that branches really ruins my life!
On the top its for me to dispose off branches..!

.....All these totally favouring my neighbour.

If there is high hedge legislation then there is a legal route to enforce 2m. So there is way though that could cost £500. If I go by that route who should pay for the trimming..? Who is responsible for the cutting disposal..? I suppose in this case it is up to the neighbour to do both? Any idea what sort of timeline expected to resolve such a local council enforcement..? Now we are about to enter Winter season I suppose next summer is the earliest someone from Council can enforce  the trimming..?Is there 100% success if I go by enforcement route..?

jennifernil

I would just cut back anything overhanging your boundary.   We have a neighbour who actually, 35 years back, knocked away the concrete supporting the edging of our driveway installed along our boundary by our builders, so he  could plant his Leylandii right up to our boundary.

His widow has had  most of them removed, but not the ones beside our driveway.    OH cuts them back to almost the trunk every year, none of them have died yet, unfortunately!

She does however keep them down to about 3m in height.

sujsuj

Emmia said:

If it's a leylandii then if you reduce the width, and cut into brown, it stays brown - so be careful if you want to reduce it that way

What other options I have..? Its not my trees , neighbours. It is taking half of my car parking already.

sujsuj

jennifernil said:

I would just cut back anything overhanging your boundary.   We have a neighbour who actually, 35 years back, knocked away the concrete supporting the edging of our driveway installed along our boundary by our builders, so he  could plant his Leylandii right up to our boundary.

His widow has had  most of them removed, but not the ones beside our driveway.    OH cuts them back to almost the trunk every year, none of them have died yet, unfortunately!

She does however keep them down to about 3m in height.

But problem if I cut back anything over hanging, I will end up cutting more than 50% of tree as  branches are mainly in my side of property than theirs due to better sun light in my side.!

If I cut too much trees I may not have any secure border as well as fence in that area is name sake.

Other problem is there is a very low wire fence in this area &  main protection to privacy is these hedges.

sujsuj

I heard to the Council we need to show proof that we tried to negotiate with neighbour. Is it a good idea to get them to a video call to record it as a proof..? or  neighbour can decline video call and insist on emailing  it. If so I can't show any proof that I discussed this with them..?

sevenhills

sujsuj said:

1. Leyland hedge  Trees from neighbour's property are  very tall and more into my land than theirs. Before me raising it with them want  to know what response I could expect ? Are they legally responsible for cutting it to 2M  on their cost..? Or it is a grey area. Mine is a Rural area.

Why do you say it's your neighbours hedge, if they are more on your land? Surely it's your hedge, or a joint hedge.