Hedge dispute

[sandmaster]

My deeds clearly show the boundary of my property runs through the middle of the hedge at the bottom of the garden (as shown on plan). My neighbour's deeds show a T against the hedge on her side. I believe the T shows responsibility rather than total ownership which she maintains. The Land Registry has a general note that a T shows ownership. Is this emphatic for all properties or just a general indication? Any solicitors out there willing to advise me please? She refuses to let me trim the hedge and at the same time refuses to do it herself which is clearly her responsibility.

[cassa333]

If the hedge is hers but grows over onto your land you are allowed to abait the tresspass up to the boundry.

If, for arguments sake the hedge is 4 feet thick and the centre of the hedge is the boundry then you can cut back 2 foot all the way to the top.

There is little you can do about her side of the hedgeor the height on her side. You could cut right back to the boundry and then errect a fence tight up against it though.

As the land registry will tell you measurements on deeds are not 100% accurate so be careful if you do have any work done.

Take lots of before, dureing and after photos or even film the work being done.

[cassa333]

Sorry forgot to add...in the absence of any more difinative information, in the case of a hedge (and fences or walls etc) the T will denote ownership.

Shared ownership would likely be written somewhere.

Also how old is the hedge? Has it grown markedly since the deeds were drawn up? How have you come to the conclusion that the middle of the hedge is the boundry and not further one side than the other?

All these may alter the boundry a little.

[sandmaster]

Thanks Casa. The hedge itself is probably hundreds of years old and is on a bank which has accumulated around it over the years. My pre registration deeds show the hedge as two parallel wavy lines and the boundary is shown as a dotted line through its centre.