Britain’s garden wars, the annoyances causing neighbour disputes and garden grief

Not much will get people’s blood boiling quite like a good old garden dispute. And although they’ve always been a feature of our British way of life, it seems that pressures around housing density, more time at home, rising property prices and the increasing value people place on outdoor space have intensified tensions further over the last few years.

That’s why we decided to survey 1,000 UK adults to canvas their opinions on our top garden complaints.

Our survey found that nearly half (46%) of people say they have been impacted by their neighbour’s gardening or landscaping choices, with disputes over privacy, boundaries, flooding, noise and overgrown greenery causing conflict between neighbours across the country.

This all adds up to millions of households across the UK engaging in garden related disputes.

Read on to see what else our neighbouring annoyances garden survey dug up, luckily none involve installing artificial grass, a very non-invasive procedure.

Our top issues with neighbouring gardens

1. Untidy, unkept gardens

15% of Brits say our neighbours let their gardens become overgrown and untidy, impacting our own ability to enjoy our gardens. But if you’re thinking “my neighbours garden is an eyesore”, what can you actually do?

Well, if things get really bad, the council can intervene in cases where a garden could be seen as a public hazard, such as the blocking of a path, but more often than not, neighbours are left to resolve any issues themselves. 

Legally, if plants encroach on your own property, you have the right to cut them back–but only to the property border. You cannot cross into your neighbour’s land or damage the plant. (Although 10% of Brits actually say their neighbours have crossed into their own gardens to cut their plants). 

Another potentially illegal act our neighbours are taking is in their planting, 6% of UK adults say their neighbours have planted invasive plants in their garden. And while this in general is a nuisance, depending on the species, this can actually break UK laws. 

Plants such as Japanese knotweed and bamboo are so invasive they can cause structural damage to any nearby homes, impacting your homes’ safety and value. In cases like this, you may have the right to sue your neighbours if they have planted illegal, invasive plants in their garden. 

2. Privacy impacts

When asked about their sense of privacy in their garden, almost one in ten (9%) say their neighbours have added CCTV to their garden which impacted their home’s privacy.

Nobody wants to be overlooked when in their garden, especially if you’re partial to a bit of naked gardening (yes, this is actually a thing and is not illegal). However, as people have become more security conscious and the cost of CCTV reducing dramatically, along with it has come concerns over privacy.

If you feel a neighbour’s camera is pointing in your garden, UK laws are in place to deal with this. The ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) is the place to go to seek legal advice if you suspect your neighbour's CCTV camera is recording your private garden. If it is, it infringes on your privacy rights and may violate data protection laws (GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018). 

Remember, these same rules apply to you if you have CCTV too, make sure you are not capturing images from neighbours’ homes or gardens, shared spaces, or from public areas.

Meanwhile, 8% have had their neighbours raise their ground level, built a patio or decking, impacting their home’s level of privacy and another 8% say their neighbours have removed a tree, making them feel overlooked. 

3. Sunlight impacts

8% of Brits say their neighbours have planted a tree that blocked their own home's view/light, while another 8% say the same about their neighbours building a shed. 

With sunlight being in short supply in the UK, most of us are very protective about those hot spots within our garden that soak up the rays at key times of day, so when something big and shady comes and interrupts that, it can spell trouble. 

Unfortunately, you can’t claim right to a view when it comes to trees. But if you are dealing with an overhanging tree in your property, you do have the right to cut it back to your property line. Make sure you do not fell the whole tree without permission, that would make you liable (as this amounts to trespass). Consent should be sought from the other owner before work is undertaken on any tree.

Where there is any doubt as to whose land the tree lies, you should speak with a surveyor who will be able to assess this properly.

Not strictly a neighbour issue, but the question of “can I cut back council trees overhanging my property?” is a common one too and the answer is yes, but only up to your boundary line.

Luckily when it comes to hedges, there is official guidance on how to settle disputes on the government website. To ascertain whether you have a serious enough issue for the council to consider, check the following statements, if you can answer ‘yes’ to all the points then you might have a case:

• Is the hedge (or the part of it that’s causing problems) a ‘high hedge’? 

• Is the hedge growing on land owned or occupied by someone else?

• Is the hedge made up of a line of 2 or more trees or shrubs?

• Is the hedge mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen?

• Is the hedge more than 2 metres tall?

• Is the hedge a barrier to light or access (even if there are gaps)?

• Does this hedge’s height harm the reasonable enjoyment of a home you own or occupy and/or its garden or yard?

• Are you the owner or occupier of this domestic property?

4. Flood risk

While raising the ground level of a garden might not sound like a big deal, 7% say their neighbours have impacted their garden’s flooding risk by doing landscaping such as raising their ground level, building patio or decking, or adding stones to their garden. 

If your neighbour is raising their ground level, they need to seek planning permission if the increase exceeds 30cm (approximately 1 foot), especially if it causes drainage issues, creates overlooking or damages shared fences. 

When it comes to installing a new patio or decking, the upheaval and noise caused by works can be a cause of tension between neighbours, as well as possible problems of overlooking. Patio and decking can also cause flooding issues, impacting how the garden affects ‘surface water’. If your garden floods because of your neighbour’s work, they could be liable under the flood and water management act 2010.

5. Noise levels

Noise generally remains one of Britain’s most common causes of neighbour disputes and gardens are increasingly becoming part of the problem and in particular, noisy hot tubs as 5% hate these in their neighbour’s gardens. 

Depending on the level of noise, the frequency and time, you may be able to raise a formal complaint. It’s best to check with a property dispute specialist to see if you have a case. 

Confrontation Nation

Nobody likes confrontation, not least with our neighbours, however our survey revealed almost a quarter (23%) of people have complained to their neighbours about their gardens - equivalent to half of those impacted by neighbouring garden choices. 

Furthermore:

• 10% of UK adults have even complained multiple times to their neighbours 

• Men are more likely to complain (27% vs 19% of women)

• 18% say that while they haven’t complained to their neighbours they have considered it 

Britain’s Most Confrontational Cities

The survey also uncovered stark regional differences with London and Manchester emerging as two of the UK’s biggest hotspots for garden-related neighbour tensions.

In both cities, over half (55%) of people said they had been impacted by neighbour gardening choices.

Manchester residents were the most likely in the UK to complain to neighbours, with 35% saying they had done so. Londoners were not far behind at 30%.

Both cities also recorded some of the highest rates of residents receiving complaints from neighbours.

In London, nearly half of respondents (49%) said neighbours had complained to them about their gardens.

The state of agreeableness across the UK

Experts say population density is likely a major factor, in large cities where homes are closer together and outdoor space is limited, even relatively minor garden changes can cause tension.

By contrast, Brighton appeared significantly more relaxed, maybe it’s all that sea air.

Just 18% of Brighton residents said they had been impacted by neighbour gardening choices, while only 5% had complained to neighbours.

Glasgow, meanwhile, recorded the highest overall rate of people impacted by neighbour gardening decisions, at 61%.

Cardiff also stood out for confrontation levels, with 43% saying neighbours had complained to them.

The Great British Compromise

All this can make for pretty bleak reading, but despite the disputes, the survey findings also suggest most people still try to avoid full-scale confrontation.

Although half (46%) say they have been impacted by neighbour gardening choices, only around half of those affected have formally complained. However, we can’t take this for granted, as outdoor living becomes an even bigger part of modern life, the battle over boundaries, privacy and peace may only just be beginning.

It’s important to understand your rights when it comes to both your own, and your neighbour’s gardens, to avoid potential upset when it comes to any landscaping on the cards.