Neglected house fence damaging mine -what to do?

[Greenwitchart]

There is a neighbouring house that looks like it has been abandoned ( or is owned by someone who is housebound).

Their garden fence is now falling down as their garden is so overgrown and this is damaging part of my garden fence. A couple of my panels are coming off because their heavy wood fence is pushing into mine.

What should I do? I am dropping a letter through their door today but if no-one lives there it won't have any effect.

I have tried pushing back their fence into their garden but it won' t shift and would need to be dug up and properly removed and shrubs cut as well on their side.

Any advice on what to do next? I assume I could report it as an abandoned property to the council? The overgrown garden is likely to be attracting vermin as well.

Knock on the door?

I tried that but no answer which is why I believe the property has been left empty.

You can find out who owns it from the Land Registry, or maybe ask the council for advice.

You could get a copy of the title register from the land registry which will tell you who owns the property and then you can contact them.
It is cheap and easy to get a title document online.

Practically though, if it really is abandoned and you get no response, I would take photos showing the damage the old fence is doing, keep a copy of letters sent and then get on and remove as much as is essential leaving the removed old panels stacked on their land.

I think this would be mitigating your losses and therefore reasonable.

Should the owner object at a later point you can show that you have done your best to make them aware and their failure to maintain their property was causing damage which you had to resolve.

Try posting a letter. If nobody lives there they may have their mail forwarded automatically. This wouldn’t work with a note put through the door.

Contact the Council

They can take action

In particular charge a higher rate of Council Tax and take action over the garden and disrepair

the owner could just as easily be in a full time care home and thus the property 100% exempt from council tax
You are correct however that the council will know what the position is re council tax on that property, not that such is any business of the OP.