Neighbours hedge is high- whats the best way forward?

[Schlomo78]

Hi, anyone had this problem and does anyone know how the law stands on this. We have only been here 5 months so don't want to cause trouble but next doors hedge is very high-about 15 ft at least, it is stopping the sunlight coming into our garden in late afternoon as we have a north facing garden and the other gardens along our row seem to have light for longer than us as the hedge is cutting a lot of it out when the sun moves round.
Has any one had a similar experience? How did you deal with it and does anyone know how the law stands and at what height? Many thanks in advance
hoping...
:O)

[vehelpfulguy]

Well you could start by having a nice chat with the neighbour.

Maybe THEY dont like the fact that it is so high but are too old or too poor to pay for it to be cut down. Maybe they are naturists?

If you have a chat and they say they dont like it either maybe you can offer to cut it down for them or even pay for it to be cut down a bit (making you out to be a nice neighbour).

Start with the friendly approach before talking to the council for example.

[vehelpfulguy]

More here:

http://www.naturenet.net/trees/hedgerow/howhig h.html

http://www.naturenet.net/trees/hedgerow/highhe dges.html

[jake-the-peg]

The high hedge legislation has three factors:

1 - It must be a hedge (defined as trees with overlapping branches)
2 - It must be over 2 meters high
3 - it must interefere with your "reasonable right to enjoy" your property.

This last one is where the issue lies. If you have a 200 foot garden with the hedge at the end you're not very likely to succede.

Providing the hedge meets the first two you can apply to your council and they'll send someone out to make a judgement.

Most councils make a charge for this, with some it's refundable if your claim is upheld and with others it's not.

Check your local council's website for details or give them a call.

[alan30]

The legislation covers hedges:

consisting of a line of 2 or more trees or shrubs

where the hedge is made up mostly of evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs

where the hedge is more than 2 metres high and

where the hedge is blocking light or access to a residential property

If it meets the criteria then you can apply to the local council, usually for a fee, and they will visit and measure up to determine whether the hedge is too high and, if it is, the height to cut it down to. There is a lot of online help if you google 'high hedge legislation'.