Neighbour Disputes
If you are in dispute with your neighbours, perhaps over noise or a high hedge, you may need to get your local council involved to help resolve the problem. Remember, never take the law into your own hands as there are many practical ways to tackle such disputes.
Noisy neighbours
It’s best to try and resolve the problem early on by talking to whoever is responsible for the noise. If the problem persists, then it’s important to establish the facts – make a record of where the noise is coming from, at what time, and if there are any particular reasons for it. Some local authorities will be able to give you a noise record sheet to note the problems.
Contact your local authority (usually the environmental health department) which will give you practical advice and might suggest using Mediation UK to help resolve the dispute.
If the local authority thinks the noise is a statutory nuisance, they will serve an abatement notice on the neighbour. An abatement notice will set out what is required of your neighbour. For instance, if the issue is loud music, they may be asked to stop the noise outright, or be asked to just play music between set times. In extreme cases, prosecutions can be made for anti-social behaviour, if the police have enough evidence.
Find a local Mediation UK service (external link)
There is no law that says how high a hedge or tree forming a boundary between houses can be, nor what kinds can be planted. It is usually the case that you can cut off roots or branches that cross your boundary, but it is best to seek advice before doing this.
If you think a neighbour’s hedge or tree is damaging your property, get a professional tree consultant to advise.
