High Hedges

The Current Position

The legislation that covers high hedges are covered in Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, which gives local authorities the power to deal with complaints about high hedges that has come into operation in England since 1 June 2005.

Summary

From 1 June 2005, provided they have tried and exhausted all other avenues for resolving their hedge dispute (such as evidence of all written correspondence), people can take their complaint about a neighbour's evergreen hedge to the Borough Council.

The role of the local authority is not to mediate or negotiate between the complainant and the hedge owner but to decide on whether the hedge is adversely affecting the complainant's reasonable amenity and enjoyment of their property.

If they consider the circumstances justify it, the local authority will issue a formal notice to the hedge owner which will set out what they must do to the hedge to remedy the problem, and when by.

If they don't agree with the Council's decision both the complainant and the hedge owner have the right to appeal against the Council's decision and to be heard by an independent Inspector.

Failure to carry out the works required by the final decision is an offence which, on prosecution, could lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

The Council has set the fee for a complaint at £500 with a reduced fee of £250 for households receiving Council Tax Benefit.

Useful Links

• High hedges: complaining to the Council is a leaflet explaining what complaints local authorities can consider and how they will deal with them. To view or download, please click here (link to CLG website).

• Over the garden hedge - The right hedge can be an ideal garden boundary but the wrong hedge may bring problems. Use this guide to help you agree what is right for you and your neighbours. To view or download, please click here (link to CLG website).

• Hedge Height and Light Loss - A booklet to help people assess whether an evergreen hedge is blocking too much daylight and sunlight to neighbouring properties. To view or download, please click here (link to CLG website). There is also an Excel spreadsheet that can help in making the height calculations.

• For an overview and useful summary on high hedges legislation, please click here (link to CLG website). 

• To view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about High Hedges, please click here (link to CLG website).

• Hedgeline: The Campaign Group for Effective Legislative Control of Problem Hedges, please click here.

For further information, Complaint Forms and Guidance Notes please telephone (01785) 619344.