Public Health - High Hedges

Does your neighbour have a high hedge that is cutting out light to your house or garden? The Council has powers to assist you in certain circumstances.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 gave councils the power to deal with complaints of high hedges.  Councils can determine complaints by the owners/occupiers of domestic property adversely affected by evergreen hedges over 2 metres high. 

The Act allows councils to a charge a fee for this service, to be paid by the complainant, and the council has decided to charge a fee of £666.  The Government considers the service should be cost neutral to councils.

Before requesting the council to consider your complaint you must have approached your neighbour first to see if you can agree on the hedge being reduced in height.  If you fail to make sufficient effort to resolve the matter amicably with your neighbour, or your complaint is considered to be frivolous or vexatious, the council may refuse to deal with your complaint.

The council may, if it considers the circumstances justify it, issue a 'remedial notice' requiring the owner or occupier of the land where to the hedge is situated to take action to remedy the problem and prevent it recurring.  Any remedial notice may be enforced through criminal prosecution and/or by the council entering the land and carrying out the necessary work if the owner or occupier fails to do so.  In such circumstances the council would reclaim its costs of carrying out the works from the owner or occupier.

The council has contracted out the work related to dealing with complaints of high hedges.

You can download a complaint application form and guidance notes here for completion and return to the council.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website has some useful guidance, which can be downloaded, to help you in approaching your neighbour and dealing with your complaint.