| Neighbour issues 17:35 - Aug 14 with 5380 views | Paul |
Not a frequent poster here but would appreciate a view from others.
Whilst on holiday, our neighbour has taken it upon themselves to cut back the trees and hedges that run along the shared boundary. No issues with this, except that they have
a) done a rubbish job,
b) come over the boundary line into our grounds by over 6 foot in places, and
c) killed 2 nesting birds (doves) that were in one of the trees in the process.
This follows a disagreement a couple of weeks ago when the neighbour in question asked when I would have the shrubs and trees trimmed as they were coming over the fence. I told them it would be in the autumn (as we have done every year for years) but they could cut back any overhanging branches from their side up to the boundary as it's their right. However, they weren't happy and threatened to cut them all down and the conversation ended on heated terms. Nothing further happened until we went away and came home to all the cuttings dumped on our lawn.
From my understanding the Criminal Damage Act 1971 provides that unless you have a lawful excuse, intentionally or recklessly causing damage to “any property belonging to another” amounts to a criminal offence. That includes a hedge. Therefore, what they have done equates to criminal damage. If so, what should I do about it (serious responses please)? Police? As much as I want to confront them about it, there's no point as the damage has been done but I want to ensure it doesn't happen again. |  | | |  |
| Neighbour issues on 18:50 - Aug 14 with 1179 views | bluestandard |
Solicitors will be a waste of time and money. Police seems OTT. Best you can do is report it to the Council as some kind of anti social behaviour. They have teams which deal with this. The flip side is that if your hedge was interfering with any of their rights eg light etc then you might find yourself in trouble for having been less than cooperative to their request to trim the thing. Don’t know the facts so can’t comment, but if my rights were being interfered with I’d be less than happy with someone telling me they were going to wait until autumn to address the situation. |  | | |
| Neighbour issues on 18:55 - Aug 14 with 1169 views | MattinLondon |
| Neighbour issues on 18:31 - Aug 14 by Paul |
We started off on good terms, but the relationship deteriorated when they started texting us regularly complaining about all manner of things such as our kids playing in the garden during the day (apparently they shouldn't because the neighbour works nights), our decades old oak tree that drops acorns into their garden and then the plants in our garden that grow and block light. We got so fed up with the near constant whinging we blocked them on our phones and social media so any interaction now is face to face.
We are having CCTV put up and are determined to be the bigger people in this despite the upset caused. |
Previously I’ve worked well into the early morning but I would never expect neighbours - especially ones with kids - to alter their lifestyle simply because I worked late.
Being the bigger person sounds good but it doesn’t wash with some. Personally I’ll send them a letter stating that if they have any future complaints to email them to you and then you document any such complaints. Think the CCTV sounds like a good idea. |  | | |
| Neighbour issues on 19:02 - Aug 14 with 1139 views | monkeymagic |
| Neighbour issues on 18:41 - Aug 14 by Paul |
Thanks.
Yeah, I can't be doing with the hassle really. We have very different lifestyles to each other but there is a line and they have crossed it. Hopefully the CCTV is enough of a deterrent moving forwards. |
I think cctv is a good first step, and I would place it somewhere where they are aware of its presence. If that doesn’t do the trick, it might be that you have to stop being the nice/reasonable person that I’m sure you are and confront them. My neighbours behaviour escalated from issues I told/convinced myself were petty to being out of order in any ones book. I blame myself for letting it get that far, as in retrospect he was clearly seeing how far he could push it. In the end I told him in quite clear terms what I thought and he has been much better since then. Still does some odd stuff periodically, presumably to prove to me/himself that he hasn’t backed down, but calling him out definitely helped. Very unpleasant thing to have to do but continually letting it go began to eat me up in the end. | | | |
| Neighbour issues on 19:03 - Aug 14 with 1141 views | Ryorry |
| Neighbour issues on 18:31 - Aug 14 by Paul |
We started off on good terms, but the relationship deteriorated when they started texting us regularly complaining about all manner of things such as our kids playing in the garden during the day (apparently they shouldn't because the neighbour works nights), our decades old oak tree that drops acorns into their garden and then the plants in our garden that grow and block light. We got so fed up with the near constant whinging we blocked them on our phones and social media so any interaction now is face to face.
We are having CCTV put up and are determined to be the bigger people in this despite the upset caused. |
That sounds horrendous, you’ve got a difficult one there.
Is one of them more reasonable and easier to talk with than the other? I mention this because I had a similarly serious dispute over a shared private water supply with neighbours who moved in soon after I did. The bloke was being really awkward, quite hostile, but one day I managed to waylay his missus when she was on her tod. She by contrast was very friendly & understanding & explained that he felt v. stressed by the situation & responsibility of looking after his young family.
We ended up getting round a table, seeing & understanding each others’ povs which led to amicable resolution. Over the ensuing years we’ve all now become really good friends and help each other out.
It occurrs to me that the fella working nights may be reacting out of tiredness and stress, including re his job. Maybe suggest going for a drink when he’s had a day off? |  |
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| Neighbour issues on 19:05 - Aug 14 with 1137 views | stonojnr |
| Neighbour issues on 17:51 - Aug 14 by Perublue |
I’d let it go, my parents had hell with something similar which spanned a couple of decades and outlived some of the people … as an aside I do remember when working on the hedge cutting gang with council many many moons ago we weren’t allowed to start our rounds until the end of the nesting season which I’m sure was late June julyish but my brain is like jelly so could be wrong. |
Ive seen councils out cutting hedges again in August already, though I dont think the countryside act specifies a date, its just accepted to be roughly between March and July, I know the RSPB usually recommend later but I think thats just incase the nesting season is delayed through weather.
but tbh stuff like this its very annoying, you have every right to feel aggrieved about it, but it really isnt worth the aggro to take it further, because it will escalate, and likely out of hand, and it can really wreck your peace of mind and your own home life, because youll start stressing about what theyre doing when you arent at home, but then also not want to be there anymore, and thats not a good place to end up at.
So Id say let it go you dont have to be friends or be sociable with your neighbours ultimately, but you dont want to be fighting them on stuff like this. | | | |
| Neighbour issues on 19:27 - Aug 14 with 1084 views | GeoffSentence |
| Neighbour issues on 17:48 - Aug 14 by DJR |
This indicates that they could have committed two offences, one under the Criminal Damage Act and one under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
https://www.blbsolicitors.co.uk/blog/hedge-law-uk/
I am not sure if the police will want to get involved in what they might regard as a boundary dispute, but you could try, if you think involving the police would stop their behaviour, as opposed to raising tensions.
The other option would be to contact someone like the RSPB who may well be willing to act given what they have done to the pigeons, although they may only be interested in more endangered species.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/policy-insight/working-with-the-law/investigati [Post edited 14 Aug 2023 17:52]
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The RSPCA are interested in any mundane species. They set the police on me for shooting feral pigeons, which I hadn't, but for some reason one of the neighbours got it in their head that I had. |  |
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| Neighbour issues on 19:33 - Aug 14 with 1082 views | bluelagos |
Do nothing and dont let it bother you. That he may have cut some extra bits down than he should and probably accessed your land to do so is hardly worthy of worrying about. That you've already spent time checking out the legal rights n wrongs suggests he's already inside yer head.
From your comments, the wisest things (for me) you did was blocking his number. One to be ignored rather than to be escalated. There really is nothing to be gained from the legal route(civil or criminal) other than further antagonising a fraught relationship.
Arsehole neighbours are out there, let him be the one spending his evenings stressing over nonesense like over hanging branches. |  |
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| Neighbour issues on 19:44 - Aug 14 with 1060 views | PremierBlue |
Surprise him. Defuse the situation. Establish a common interest like taking him to Portman Road for a game (or something else that you can converse around). Somewhere in there is a human being and a potential Town fan :)
Listen to what he really wants. Let him know that you want a good relationship with mutual respect between you as neighbors and with some simple rules you both can agree upon going forward, whilst clarifying your view on what has transpired and what is acceptable.
Seek a common ground and build for the future. Humor is sometimes a powerful ally. Release stress and find a happier life, without giving up on what is right. |  | | |
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| The OP specifically.... on 19:45 - Aug 14 with 1052 views | BlueBoots |
| The OP specifically.... on 18:07 - Aug 14 by Bloots |
....asked for serious responses.
Otherwise I would have suggested dog crap through the letterbox. |
Nah... the dog crap goes in a paper bag on their doorstep, which you then set fire to... |  |
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| Neighbour issues on 19:45 - Aug 14 with 1051 views | BiGDonnie |
| Neighbour issues on 17:59 - Aug 14 by Herbivore |
The proportionate response would be to slash their tyres. |
I was gonna say sh(t through the letterbox on the way home from the pub but that also works. |  |
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| The OP specifically.... on 19:46 - Aug 14 with 1049 views | BiGDonnie |
| The OP specifically.... on 18:07 - Aug 14 by Bloots |
....asked for serious responses.
Otherwise I would have suggested dog crap through the letterbox. |
Ah ffs, hadn't seen this. | |
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| Neighbour issues on 19:58 - Aug 14 with 1027 views | pennblue |
| Neighbour issues on 19:33 - Aug 14 by bluelagos |
Do nothing and dont let it bother you. That he may have cut some extra bits down than he should and probably accessed your land to do so is hardly worthy of worrying about. That you've already spent time checking out the legal rights n wrongs suggests he's already inside yer head.
From your comments, the wisest things (for me) you did was blocking his number. One to be ignored rather than to be escalated. There really is nothing to be gained from the legal route(civil or criminal) other than further antagonising a fraught relationship.
Arsehole neighbours are out there, let him be the one spending his evenings stressing over nonesense like over hanging branches. |
I would agree with Lagos but would add that cctv imo will just inflame the situation
What you need to do in any dispute is put yourself into the other persons shoes as they are probably really equally unhappy with you.
Communication is key here so get together the person from each household that can talk calmly and defuse the situation.
They maybe not very nice people but i would say more often it is that you are not understanding each others point of views so both feel angry, once you have got this understanding you will find a compromise on things more easily | |
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| Neighbour issues on 06:55 - Aug 15 with 889 views | ElephantintheRoom |
Move to France. Nothing can be planted within a metre of a boundary so such disputes shouldn’t occur.
However an angry neighbour recently shot and killed a child playing in the garden so it just goes to show that petty disputes can rapidly escalate. I’d ignore them - but keep any vegetation a metre away from the boundary line if it means that much to them. Plants have a habit of growing - and need trimming more than once a year on a contentious boundary | |
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| Neighbour issues on 07:34 - Aug 15 with 850 views | DJR |
| Neighbour issues on 19:27 - Aug 14 by GeoffSentence |
The RSPCA are interested in any mundane species. They set the police on me for shooting feral pigeons, which I hadn't, but for some reason one of the neighbours got it in their head that I had. |
They sound a bit bonkers. |  | | |
| Neighbour issues on 09:20 - Aug 15 with 802 views | Ryorry |
| Neighbour issues on 19:27 - Aug 14 by GeoffSentence |
The RSPCA are interested in any mundane species. They set the police on me for shooting feral pigeons, which I hadn't, but for some reason one of the neighbours got it in their head that I had. |
I remember in 2018 or '19, the RSPCA making a big hue and cry about dogs at Crufts being on what they alleged were leads that were "cruel"(they weren't) because they were "too short". In a show where the only attendees are madly devoted dog lovers who'd sooner be cruel to themselves than their dogs. | |
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| Neighbour issues on 10:18 - Aug 15 with 762 views | mojo |
Hi Paul,
Neighbour disputes are annoying aren't they.
I think it would be unlikely that the police or a local authority would consider it a matter of sufficient public interest to investigate.
I think I am right in saying that Citizens Advise Bureau offer a free 30 minute legal advice session so that could be something to look into, particularly if it happens again.
Any deliberate destruction of a bird nest is a criminal offence under the WCA 1981. Again a matter for the police to enforce in conjunction with Natural England who employ Wildlife Crime Officers. Natural England are not the easiest of organisations to deal with based on my experience. I suspect it comes down to evidence and rarity as others have highlighted.
Accessing your property without permission to do works would be trespass and therefore a civil matter. | | | |
| Neighbour issues on 12:58 - Aug 15 with 700 views | SE1blue |
You’ve been given some great advice from all angles on here.
My advice would be, if it’s at all possible for you, move to somewhere you won’t you have these issues. I totally appreciate that’s massive and absolutely might be impossible due to schools, work etc but if you can, just make that jump for a better life.
When you’ve reached the stage of asking for legal advice, erecting CCTV (which will only result in them raising the bar), arguing over acorns and kids playing, it’s time to move if you can. Life’s short and shouldn’t be filled with this kind of stress (and I appreciate that it sounds like they’re the issue).
And this wouldn’t be a case of one side winning or losing, it’d be you taking control and finding a better place. Totally appreciate that might not be an option though. I had to do this myself once and it’s a game changer. |  |
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| Neighbour issues on 13:16 - Aug 15 with 668 views | itfcjoe |
| Neighbour issues on 12:58 - Aug 15 by SE1blue |
You’ve been given some great advice from all angles on here.
My advice would be, if it’s at all possible for you, move to somewhere you won’t you have these issues. I totally appreciate that’s massive and absolutely might be impossible due to schools, work etc but if you can, just make that jump for a better life.
When you’ve reached the stage of asking for legal advice, erecting CCTV (which will only result in them raising the bar), arguing over acorns and kids playing, it’s time to move if you can. Life’s short and shouldn’t be filled with this kind of stress (and I appreciate that it sounds like they’re the issue).
And this wouldn’t be a case of one side winning or losing, it’d be you taking control and finding a better place. Totally appreciate that might not be an option though. I had to do this myself once and it’s a game changer. |
Only point I'd add to this is CCTV is quite normal now, I have it at mine on front and back all linked up with a Ring doorbell and of the 2 houses either side of me, 3 of the 4 have it as well - it might be because of our location that it is popular there but it isn't like even 10 years ago where putting it up would be seen as unusual |  |
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