Shared garden wall damaged by plant

NoisyGiraffe

We’ve just discovered my elderly nan has an issue with one of the shared walls in the back garden. There’s a large buddleia bush growing out of the top of it (not from next door) and the weight of this, along with some ivy growing over from next door, is pulling the top half of the wall down. 

The house next door is a rented property but has been unoccupied for a while. Nan says she would recognise the owner but doesn’t know his name or any contact details and he doesn’t come to the property often. How might we find this info to contact him?

In the meantime I’m thinking we should try and prevent further damage by cutting the plants back as far as possible to take the weight off the wall. Would it be right/reasonable to go ahead and cut down the buddleia and any ivy on Nan’s side before speaking to the owner of next door? 

kimwp

My understanding is that you can cut anything on your side of the boundary (which in this case I would think is further over than the top of the wall, given that the wall has been pushed over- basically draw a vertical line up from the boundary and cut there). I think there's some rules about the branches being owned by them, but you can't just throw them over. If you Google it, there's loads of advice about the law. Who does the wall belong to?

But as with all neighbour things- it is best to try to talk to them first.

kimwp

I just re-read your message - I can't imagine the owner will care - take lots of photos, then cut it back off the wall. Buddleias happily grown back, so I'd see if the owner will take it out completely. 

gwynlas

I would class it all as weeds and I am sure the neighbour bwould have no problem if you removed it all. These are not cultivated plants that have been purchased and nurtured.

Eldi_Dos

Check the rest of the property for buddlia, gutters, rooflines or any gaps in masonry that it may have found to root.

Buddlia roots can be particularly damaging if not dealt with.

Cherryfudge

There is some information here about creepers and overhanging branches. I know from experience that ivy can do a lot of damage so I do sympathise.

It would seem your rights are limited until you can locate the landlord, this may be your starting point, depending where the house is as national law may vary.

swingaloo

If you never see the owner of next door and the house is unoccupied I would cut it all back and get someone to look at the brickwork your self. 
Its not worth the risk of the wall falling and hurting your nan, its down the side of the house and also where she uses her bins.

FlorayG

Personally I would just cut it off at the wall - that won't even damage it, it will grow back next year
The damage to the wall is not being caused by the weight of the branches though, it's being caused by the root system invading the spaces between the bricks
The ivy only has surface 'sucker' roots so won't be doing damage (except by its weight added to the damage already done by the buddleia)

Cherryfudge

FlorayG said:

The ivy only has surface 'sucker' roots so won't be doing damage (except by its weight added to the damage already done by the buddleia)

The exception is when the ivy tendrils get into the brickwork. I've seen it grow into and through a modern double glazed unit: the strength is extraordinary. Most can easily be ripped off though.

lisyloo

Land registry. £3 to get owners name, but won't have contact details.

LightFlare

that Ivy might be all thats holding the wall up