Neighbour refuses to remove damaging Ivy attached to my house

[post2gary]

A neighbours Ivy is growing into the loft of my house and damaging repointing but they wont remove it - what should I do?

[BabsG]

You could spray it heavily with one of these deadly weed killers and hope that it kills off the entire plant. I have no time for neighbours who don't control their plants (or their children).

[R1Geezer]

yeah give it the agent orange treatment

[Postdog]

I must be missing something here - their ivy, your house. Er, if it is YOUR house, you remove the bit on YOUR house - you are entirely within YOUR rights.

I assume, as with overhanging branches in gardens, technically you return what you have removed as it is their property, but that said, would they know?

[post2gary]

Their garden backs onto the side of my house and therefore I don't have access to remove it - I would need to valut a fence to "treat" their Ivy and they'd know it was me!!

[EmEd1984]

send them the bill for the damage they're causing. thats just plain obnoxious of them, how rude!! i think you must have the patience of a saint p2g...

[LoftyLottie]

Just cut the ivy on your side of the house. Spraying Ivy is the worse thing you can do to treat it. It is extremely difficult to remove dead Ivy from the side of a building. It should be cut from the base and pulled away whilst it is green, which is fairly easy to do.

We have lived in our house for years and regularly cut back the Ivy which comes from next door. Cut it off before it gets up to roof level.

You can cut the Ivy and then put it over their fence as postdog has said.

[LoftyLottie]

I believe your neighbours must allow you access to their garden to cut back any plants which have grown into your property. However, you can't cut back the ivy on their side of the fence.

[post2gary]

To be able to cut or spray the Ivy I would need to be in their garden - their garden backs onto the side of my house (wierd I know but it's a small village)

[daffy654]

Why would it matter that they knew it was you that sprayed or cut the ivy down? You are well within your rights to do so and if they have a problem with that then they are just plain stupid!

[LoftyLottie]

Just checked and you do have a legal right to enter your neighbours garden to cut down anything that is damaging or invading your property, but you can only cut as far as your boundary line, so you can's cut it down at the base or presumably spray it as you will be then killing the entire plant on their property.

I would advise you to do this and keep it cut back on a regular basis.

[LoftyLottie]

'can't'

[EmEd1984]

don't pull at it before he it goes brown, it damages the pointing!! let it die first and 'uncling' itself

there's not really much point in just trimming it back either, you'll only be doing the same in next to no time. the only way you can stop ivy is by getting rid, don't rely on your neighbour to deal with it on your behalf.

from some googles i've done it's coming up as criminal damage, its pretty serious stuff!!

[post2gary]

Cheers Lofty - I guess then I can cut it down from the point it touches my house.

Thanks all for responding - feeling much better now, full bloom!! :o)

[LoftyLottie]

Perhaps the neighbours like their Ivy. I agree that they should let you in to cut it back but why should they agree to remove it. Our neighbours have Ivy and like it on their house and I have some on the back of mine. We keep it in check and it provides nests for the birds.

The only problem I can see is that you don't think they will like you entering their garden to cut the Ivy back and they don't have any choice in that.

[LoftyLottie]

I think that's the best option post2gary.

[post2gary]

My house is just under 200 years old, so any Ivy growing up it is bound to affect the structure/repointing etc. I used to live in a new house and had my own Ivy growing up it - my worry is because it's an old house I don't want brick and tiles coming loose

[LoftyLottie]

There are two schools of thought on ivy, some experts say it's fine to leave it and others say don't have it at any cost. Our house is 250 years old and has lime mortar and the ivy hasn't damaged it at all. However, when it starts getting under roof tiles and growing it's not welcome!

Personally, I like it for its contribution to wildlife. It's an essential plant for birds for cover, nesting and providing insects for food.

If you look around at how many old houses have Ivy growing up them and always have done, and are still standing it makes you wonder - especially as new houses don't stand the test of time so well.

[Postdog]

I haven't read all these posts (too busy) but I saw the comment about access. I believe they cannot refuse you access for essential maintenance, and nor can they really argue if they are causing your property damage in some way. I'd get this properly checked out if I were you, because I am 95% sure right is on your side.

[logic]

I have recently had a similar problem with my neighbour they can refuse acces, and if you enter their property it is trespass, however, If it does come to this, you can apply to your local court for permission to enter to do maintainace work, and they WILL give you the right to do so,
There is a small charge levied by the court, however it is only a few pounds, and you will be getting access legally,
my advice is tell your neighbour your intentions first, and if you get a negative answer then go to the court, it's only for an application, (not a hearing, )
good luck,
pete.

[logic]

see number 5

http://www.thompsons.law.co.uk/ltext/prnghbrs. htm#access_property_repairs