To think that the boundary of a terrace house has to be level with the edge of the room?!

[MissB83]

I have just bought a 1960s terraced house. Something which I didn't notice when viewing (in winter!) is that on one side there is an incredibly large boundary hedge which seems to be made up of leylandii and some other large shrubs. When I say it's big, I mean it is four and a half foot wide! However it is really encroaching into what I think must be my garden because at the moment it is most of the way across my dining room window (at the back of the house), and actually means that for example a window cleaner can't get access to the top and bottom windows on that side. I think what has happened is that some years ago the owner of my house has planted one row of leylandii on their boundary and then over time has planted more layers of shrubs in front of them! I have used a tape measure inside my house to measure up to the wall and then measured the same distance outside and it definitely goes to just after the edge of the shrubs so I think I do own them. I also checked my land registry plan and it seems to just show a long straight garden from the boundary of the house (which would also be on the far side of the shrubs).

I would really like to get rid of this mega shrub (!) and replace with a simple fence: partly because they are taking up four foot of width of my garden and partly because I've got a small child and I think a fence would be a more secure low maintenance boundary. However I am worried about how long this weird boundary issue might have gone on and I don't want to annoy my new neighbours. To compound it, they haven't said one word to me since I moved in (I actually moved at the start of July but have been renovating the property since April) despite my efforts to smile and wave etc. I would ideally like to get a tree person round to have a look and give a rough quote to remove the shrubs/get a fence quote and then pop a note through neighbour's front door to alert them what I'm doing. Would this be ok? Also should I be aware of any other pitfalls regarding removal of shrubs like this in a garden?

Is it your hedge or theirs?

Before you do anything you need to figure out who owns what. I don't blame you for wanting rid though, it sounds horrible.

I'm a bit stuck as to how to figure out who owns what apart from consulting the land registry plan- I can try and put a picture of it up if that would give some insight? Local council? Speak to neighbour?

Is there a fence behind it? Or literally just the plants standing between yours and neighbours land? I'd trim it back first to find out.

I have put up a photo which I hope is illustrative - as you can see the shrubs are bang in the middle of my dining room window (and there is a bit more wall to the side of that!) so I think they must be in my garden?

On the plans there will be a T against the boundary which is yours.

There is no fence behind it- just many many layers of shrubs!

It will say on the deeds which "fence" side is yours. Normally it's as your looking out from the kitchen into the back garden it's the right side.

Have a chat with your neighbours and explain what your going to replace it with. They may also hate the bush.

Here is the plan- no T against either boundary? It is the one next to the number on the plan (the right hand boundary as you look at the house).

I expect your new neighbours might secretly be hoping you'll remove the hedge. I know ours were when we moved in.
Does it keep light off their garden?

From you picture it looks very much on your land, and 1960's houses were usually built on rectangular plots. But it would impossible to know without consulting your deeds.

Usually the boundaries and who maintains them is pointed out before you sign when the solicitor asks you to confirm the plot/ house you are purchasing.

I think there is a specific responsibility for the boundary fence/wall/hedge. The fence on the left of my property belongs to me, and on the right my neighbour. I think it’s so there’s only one, rather than each of us putting something up beside our boundary.
You are absolutely within your rights to cut back any foliage or branches which come over onto your property, even if it’s your neighbours tree. But you’re supposed to offer it back to them.

I don’t really understand the problem. Why do you think that it might not be on your land? You can cut back the bit in front of your window anyway. Have your neighbours said something that suggests the boundary starts in front of your dining room window, because that would be extremely odd.

I don't remember having a conversation about boundaries with my solicitor (my naivety, I'm a first time buyer of a house!). I will see if I still have a copy of the deeds.

The boundaries are all straight lines, so it looks as if you draw a line down through the wall you share with next door and continue that straight line into the garden, that's the boundary.

Looking at you photo I'd say the trees are yours. Talk to your neighbours and let them know your plans. They'll probably be delighted!

It’s not so much a weird boundary issue as just an overgrown hedge / shrubbery that needs cutting back regardless of whether you want to replace with a fence. In terms of the fence part the yes establishing responsibility for the boundary and discussing with neighbours as necessary is the way forward

The reason I'm confused/concerned is partly because my neighbour has visibly been cutting the top of the leylandii, which might just be because they are fed up of it blocking light but also makes me worry that they might think that the boundary and the bit of garden that the trees are on are theirs? Whereas the edge of the (inside) of the house is definitely on the far side of the shrubs. I guess I don't want them suggesting that I put a fence in the middle of my dining room window- but that would be crazy wouldn't it?!

It's not a weird issue. You just need to contact a tree surgeon and get them cut back or totally removed. If the roots are on your side of the boundary you can do what you want.

Yes that would be crazy. Most boundaries are in the middle of both properties. You're really over thinking this a bit

I cant see the photos, but leylandii can easily grow 4ft thick! I think it's quite unusual to have a hedge on the boundary of a terrace, it's much more likely that it is planted on your side of the boundary if you can see the trunks going into the ground your side of the middle of the houses.

The best and easiest thing to do in knock next door, say you've just moved in, you think the hedge is on your side and you would like to remove it and replace with a fence, and ask them if they are ok with this. Chances are they will say yes. If for.some reason they say no, say you need to trim them back so you can see in your window, and ask them to confirm the boundary is where it should be between the 2 houses.

Don't ask them if it's ok.

Explain you need to get the trees removed and replace with a fence, ask if there is a particular time that would suit them.

I would also ask if they would prefer a 5 or 6' fence - basically a choice between things you are happy with.

Can't see the pic but I imagine the roots will be in your drainage system too.
Just knock on your neighbours and have a friendly chat about it.
However you will have a plan in your pack of deeds with a red line showing where your boundaries are. Ask your solicitor for a copy if you don't have it.

Just knock your neighbours door and ask, it’s not hard.

Op we cut our neighbours hedge (the bit that faces into our garden, if we didn't it would get out of control. So they are most likely doing the same even though it's not theirs. Also in our other side had two large trees (gone now). But the neighbour in that side used to cut if it went over into their garden, I had no problem with it.

If the trunk going into the ground is on your side of your boundary then it's yours to do with as you like. If the trunk is on their side, you can cut any overhang branches back to be flush to their boundary and give the off cuts to them to dispose of as they belong to them legally. To be polite, tell them what you are going to do first. Maybe have a chat with your solicitor first too to make sure you know where the boundary actually is.

I don't understand the problem OP. It sounds as if the shrubs are part of your garden, planted in your land. If you don't want the shrubs you can cut them back to the boundary