huge horrible hedge problem

pickledtink

Just bought and moved into a house with a long narrow garden. There's a huge ( about 12 ft high, 8 ft wide ) hedge running the entire length,
I checked before buying that it was on my side of the boundary so could be removed. It also intrudes into next doors garden and may well have taken root on that side too.

Now here's the problem. New buyer of GF flat who I met and spoke to yesterday loves the hedge and wants it kept as is! It totally blocks the light from my garden after lunchime and as I'm a demon gardener who practically lives outside this is my worst nightmare.
She seems determined to keep 'her' half so and wants seclusion for her hot tub she is having installed. She has plenty of light coming in from her other side so it's not a problem for her.
I think the fairest option is that I get a proper hedge removal co to meticulously remove all of it up to my boundary ( difficult to establish as it's in the middle of the monster somewhere). Obviously this will be more complex than just lopping the lot down and anything left on her side will still block the light but it would help.
Firstly what is this likely to cost? ( It's about 70 ft long) and any suggestions how to handle this with the new neighbour. The last thing I want is any bad feeling!

Browntoa

I keep my hedge at 6ft and trim both sides , gives plenty of light both sides but keeps privacy

I prefer it to the wood panels that blow down each year !!

silvercar

Your fully entitled to take anything on your side down, including anything under ground level.

Obviously any branches that have grown on to your neighbours side will fall when you take the roots out.

Personally I would tell your neighbours that you are a keen gardener and will be replacing it with something nice and appropriate but it needs removing as it blocks your light.

madeane

If it is on your side and your boundary, you can take it down or do what you wish.

adaze

madeane wrote: »

If it is on your side and your boundary, you can take it down or do what you wish.

Ditto

Albeit you don't want to get off on the wrong foot. If your neighbour wants it so much, why not say "I was going to take down the existing hedge and put up a new fence costing x much, if you want a hedge, I will contribute x amount to it, providing it isn't over 5(?) ft high", or something along those lines. After all you don't want to get rid of the hedge, p**s off you neighbour and end up with her putting one up that is nice and thick and blocks even more light. (BTW maximum height, I think, is 2m)

Try Neighbours From Hell for some ideas otherwise

pickledtink

Thanks all. I know I can probably take most or even all of it down but if she resents that she could just plant some great big Leylandii monster. Not to mention bad relations from day one.
I think we'll just go ahead and let her know we won't cut a single snip over the boundary line. Hard to tell though when the trunks have got so wide at the base they are either side probably!

pickledtink

This whole problem has now turned really nasty. The woman has been a nightmare.
The hedge turned out to be clearly planted on my side but to keep her happy we only took out the first 30ft and left the rest at the far end but cut it right back and brought it down to 2 metres in height.
She made a huge fuss about her privacy so rather than putting up something with trellis and willow ( to let the wind through) I paid double for really strong 2x2 metre panels and posts. Big mistake as it's too windy here for them.
I am worried it 'll come down.
she is demanding I pay someone to remove the roots on her side where the hedge has gone despite the fact that the fence is about 9-10 inches back from the boundary and that area is in fact mine.
She has now got a Solicitor to write and threaten me with legal action if I don't pay a surveyor to prove the boundary and she is laying claim to the hedge.
The boundary is absolutely clear and certainly doesn't need a Surveyor to see it!

I am so fed up I'm going to take down the fence which has cost a fortune and replace it with metal posts and a simple chain link which will let the wind through. I can't risk a panel blowing down and falling in her garden.
Can she demand I erect something which gives her the complete privacy she demands?
I don't see why I should be expected to put up anything in my garden for the benefit of a neighbour? surely she should arrange her own screening on her side?
Also I thought regarding any roots which have intruded into her property she is entitled to remove them not demand I do.
I really bent over backwards and at huge expense to keep her happy but she kept changing her mind. We put up struts while the concrete set. She said ( after being shown them) she wanted them on her side too. I paid the guy another half day to do that whereupon she then said she didn't like them and wanted him back in to remove them. she wanted me to stop at 5 panels rather than the six I had bought so I did. Then she complained because we had started removal of the part of the hedge which would have been covered by the sixth panel. It will grow back very quickly but I went and spent yet more money on brush screening and paid again for it to be put up.
She also claims in her solicitors letter that the posts are not concreted in! Of course they are. She saw it being done.
So far it has cost me over £500.00 mainly through trying to keep this impossible woman happy. I definitely can't afford a Solicitor.
Can anyone give me some advice?
Help. This is really all getting to me.

Inactive

It's your boundary, you can do whatever you like with it. ( within reason ).

You have been far too soft with your neighbour, ignore her and do whatever you like, you are never going to please her anyway.

If she wants total privacy, tell her to buy a detached property and the surrounding land.;)

andrew-b

Sod the neighbour...whatever you do this neighbour isn't going to be happy!! You have been beyond reasonable and tried to keep the peace but she is being completely unreasonable. I don't think this is something your ever going to be able to resolve amicably with them as it's gone too far. It is understandable that she is upset by any loss of privacy (i would be too if someone moved in and took the fence down - somewhat different as our boundaries are shared and i have a dog to keep from escaping!) but legally she has no right to it.

You are already out of pocket for doing things to please her. If they have gone to their solicitor you should do the same. If you have taken out legal cover with your building insurance contact them straight away as it will cover you for neighbour disputes. Assuming the hedge is planted on your side of the boundary you can do what you want with it. I don't think you legally even need to provide a boundary fence at all. I think i would be tempted to try and get the neighbour to pay up all the additional expenditure you've had to make! She might shut up a bit when she realises she might have to pay!!

Andy

oilit

Actually - couple of points here:

1) Yes you are entitled to do whatever you like (within the realms of legal activities) in your own boundary. However, hedges are an odd one - like trees. You shoudl have checked with your local authority what the restrictions are on tree removal - quite often there are rules about trees/hedges with trunks of greater than x diamter at a certain height. (if so you can get get permission by writing to your tree conservation officer at your local council - its normally a formality) if your in a conservation area then you have a bigger problem - as you shouldnt cut down anything completely without permission.

2) Check your hous einsurance - often legal cover is included - call them and get them involved before you spend any money.

IMHO opinion you have been too soft (assuming your lawyer confirmed to you in writing that the hedge was on your boundary, and that you havent contravened and rules about taking it down) - but, now its gone legal you have to defend it. If it turns out the hedge wasnt yours and you did get it in writing from your lawyer then you can counter claim from them.

hewhoisnotintheknow

ask her what she would expect you to do if she was in your shoes, if that doesnt work hang her from the bush