Ivy on boundary wall

[Trum48]

My Mother-in-law has a garage, attached to her bungalow, and the outside wall is built right on the edge of her boundary.

Her next door neighbour has planted ivy against this wall that is gradually covering the whole wall.

My MiL is not happy with this but he refuses to remove it as he does not wish to look at a brick wall.

What are her rights in such a situation to: -
a) Go onto his proprty to remove the ivy
b) Remove the ivy without going onto his property (v difficult)

Any suggestions as to how to resolve this difficult situation will be thankfully received, if not faithfully applied.

[voltr4m4x]

In plain truth, your Mother-in-Law is perfectly entitled to cut the ivy which is overgrowing onto her property and to restore the cuttings to her neighbour. Your Mother-in-Law is not entitled under the law to retain the ivy cuttings for her own use. Moreover, your Mother-in-Law is not entitled to enter onto her neighbour's land in order to cut the ivy (that would amount to civil trespass).

However, the best option would surely be for your Mother-in-Law (or yourself if you are so desirous of acting on her behalf) to approach the neighbour and try to come to some amicable agreement and thereby reach a satisfactory solution without recourse to quarrels. If that fails then obviously you might care to pursue the action which I have outlined above.

[KRUSTYMAN]

I know how damaging Ivy is to brickwork etc so obviously it is a problem. However, the problem is that whilst she/you are allowed to remove it, she/you are not allowed to trespass on your neighbours property to do so. I think your only solution is to find a pretty powerful weedkiller (possibly one that is taken in by the leaves and kills the roots), but, this then has to be applied from the roof of the garage and you will have to make sure that you don't harm any of your neighbours other plants. You can always claim in your defence that you were preparing the wall for 'sealing' of some kind.

[Trum48]

Thank you evryone

We have already approached the neighbour in an endeavour to resolve the matter but he is adamant as well as abusive. I am not sure how to proceed

[Postdog]

http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/walls.html