According to the UK government's official website, you are legally entitled to trim your neighbour's hedge if it extends into your property from their home or a public highway, but only under specific conditions. You are permitted to cut back only as far as the property boundary. If you exceed this limit, your neighbour could take legal action against you for damaging their property under the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
Who owns the hedge? Check before you trim
To avoid breaking the law, it is recommended to find out who actually owns the hedge before carrying out any trimming. Solicitors at Bonallack and Bishops stated: "If it transpires that you have trimmed or moved a hedge which belongs to someone else, you could be held liable and forced to pay substantial legal costs." There are no hard-and-fast rules regarding boundary ownership; the only way to determine ownership is to check the deeds at the Land Registry. Often, there will be no definitive answer, and it will ultimately be a shared responsibility.
What your neighbour must do
Your neighbour has a responsibility to maintain their hedges so they neither damage your property nor grow excessively tall. If any damage occurs, your neighbour may be held liable. Conversely, if your hedge encroaches onto your neighbour's property, they have the right to cut back the section that has crossed the boundary line, although they must return any clippings to your land. Any cutting that takes place on your side of the boundary could constitute an offence unless there is a lawful justification.
Resolving disputes amicably
You have every right to pursue a civil claim for any consequent damage, but it is always recommended to try having a conversation with your neighbour first. If approaching them feels intimidating, consider writing a letter that clearly sets out the problem while sticking strictly to the facts. Garden disputes are extremely common, and establishing who is in the right is not always clear-cut. Failing to stick to the rules could land you in hot water, and your neighbour could even take legal action against you for damage to their property.
