Joint Garden Hedge

[Elspeth]

We have a joint garden hedge with our neighbour and since they installed a hot tub in their garden they have allowed their side of the hedge to grow unchecked. Our side is and always has been 2 metres high, their side is now about 3 feet taller, making it look like two separate hedges. They refuse to discuss it and it is spoiling our enjoyment of the garden. What to do?

[spathiphyllum]

One of you own the hedge.

[Elspeth]

No, the house is a semi and the hedge is on the boundary. Because of this the local council cannot intervene as it is the responsibility of both neighbours to maintain their side of a boundary hedge.

[spathiphyllum]

Where is the main trunk of the hedge growing?

[woofgang]

Whether or not the hedge is on the boundary is irrelevant. Someone owns it.....although having said that personally I would be happy with the extra privacy afforded to me by the higher hedge and if they only allow the hedge to grow that is on their side of the boundary, (the hedge can't be the boundary, although the centre of the hedge might mark the boundary) then you can do no more about it than you can if there was a fence there and they planted a tree and allowed it to grow higher than the fence.

[spathiphyllum]

Who owns it depends on where the main trunk of the hedge is. The owner will have responsibility for their half, and the top.