What do I do (photo attached)

[awomensworkisneverdone]

My neighbor died suddenly 4 months ago and she was a keen gardener but unfortunately now her garden that is next to mine is over growing and is coming over into mine. Iv obviously trimmed away at the bits on my side but the fruit plants ect are almost as tall as me now and pushing through the fence rapidly. Who do I call? The house is owned and she was 94 so elderly I never saw any relatives or anything since living here. Do I call my local council? Would it be rude to go into the garden and just tame it? The fence separating us is only small.

Defo don't go into the garden without permission.

I think the council would probably be the best, they might have details of the owner and you could offer to tidy up the garden.

I would pop ove the fence and trim it if needed. Can’t imagine any relative would mind, as they are likely to sell the house anyway they will probably be grateful.

Actually having properly looked. Those are raspberries. If you cut them back there won’t be any fruit. I do leave them be and pick the fruit next your fence later on in the Summer, lovely fresh organic raspberries. Yum.

I would not I do. Bloody auto correct !

Would a council really handle an issue like that on a privately-owned? While it’s a bit unsightly, it doesn’t seem to be excessively overgrown.

There is a house in my mum's street which has been empty about 30 years. The council have no interest in any aspect of it as it's privately owned. The neighbours on either side cut the grass and keep the garden under control. Its preferable to it looking like a jungle

I think I might just pop over and tidy it up. She loved her garden and it was always immaculate! So it’s sad to see. No one has been there yet to sort anything. All possessions are still there. It’s completely untouched. And that’s only one patch, down the front end it’s worse but less noticeable as her shed kind of shields it’s away.

Just go in and tidy it up. It’s what she would have wanted if she were still alive and unable to tend her garden, I’m sure.

Seems odd the house has been empty for 4 months. Did your neighbour own the house?

I wouldn't go over there without permission.

Yes spark she owned the house. All I know is she died early hours end of January and ever since Iv not seen any one unless they have been whilst I’m out. But I have no idea who you contact if this happens. And this may be in my head but I also smell a strange smell by her back door all the time it wouldn’t bother me helping out to tame the plants/garden. We use to swap cuttings before.

Maybe start with the council and see if they can advise?

You would have thought there must have been people organising the funeral etc and would be wanting to get everything in order after this long.

That’s what I thought. She was an older lady and my friend said she may not of had anyone. But.. someone would of been notified surely?? I’m going to call the council later I think see if there is anything that can be done(or I can do)

Did you go to the funeral?

It's all a bit sad isn't it? Reminds me of that programme that used to be on where they would try and find beneficiaries of wills.

I'd pop over and tidy-who can it hurt?-could be her estate is still being sorted out and could take ages. Now you'll have see how many votes u get on here and decide!

And this may be in my head but I also smell a strange smell by her back door all the time 

Did she have a pet?

You could try contacting your local council environmental health department and see if they can advise re the smell.

Perhaps even the social work department, they may have been care providers and have a note of her next of kin.

The council won’t be able to do anything in regards to the garden as it’s a private dwelling

You can search probate to see if that’s been granted, that would give you names etc.

It’s oossible that there isn’t any known relatives and the case may be taken up by an heir hunter if no will was made

I thought the council might be able to advise re the whole situation?

If there's no relatives would the council arrange the funeral?

Oh God I’m now imagining a dead ,starved pet. ☹️

So council not interested but said they would investigate the smell at a later date

I was not thinking the council would do anything but that they might be able to put you in touch with the owner as I believe it would be a civil matter. Land registry isn't it?

Could the council not advise you what you could do even though they couldn't help?

Were there many people at the funeral?

They said they won’t do anything to the garden but will investigate the smell. They said it may be food rotting. I didn’t go to the funeral.

Did she have a pet that you know of op ?

A budge

Sorry meant budgie