• Last year UK local authorities received 1,604 complaints from residents about their neighbour’s hedges – but this is just a fraction of the 4.7 million annual disputes between neighbours over the issue
• 12,876 complaints because of neighbours’ trees every day
• 12 per cent increase in complaints to councils about neighbours’ plants since 2017 

New research¹ from Churchill Home Insurance reveals councils are handling thousands of complaints from residents each year about their neighbours’ high hedges. Last year UK local authorities reported 1,604 complaints from residents about their neighbours’ plants, with issues including root damage to the property and sunlight being blocked from the home. The problem is on the rise, with the number of complaints to local authorities increasing by 12 per cent since 2017. Just one in eleven (nine per cent) complaints made to local councils about neighbours’ hedges in 2019 were rejected.

However, local authorities are dealing with just a tiny percentage of the nation’s ‘hedge wars’. The true scale of the issue is much larger – on average each year there are 4.7 million² issues and disputes between neighbours over trees and plants – the equivalent of more than 12,876 every day.  Furthermore, almost one in five (18 per cent) householders has encountered problems with their neighbour’s trees and vegetation in the last three years.

On average, over a million householders each year suffer damage to their property, or experience an accident, caused by a neighbour’s trees and hedges. Almost 600,000 households have issues with the light to their property being blocked by neighbour’s plants and over 440,000 have had issues with subsidence from the roots of trees planted next door.

Before a householder can even complain to the council, government advice says they must take all reasonable steps to solve the matter with their neighbour directly³. They are advised to speak face-to-face and if necessary, seek third party mediation before they can register their dispute. Residents are usually charged by local authorities to investigate complaints and this issue alone has generated almost £217,000 in revenues for local councils in the last three years.

Pritpal Powar, Head of Churchill home insurance, said: “Overly large trees and hedges can spell misery for the neighbours whose enjoyment of their homes is destroyed by a loss of light or who face subsidence caused by destructive tree roots. Our homes should be a place to relax and chill away from the world, so it is important our neighbours consider if the plants in their garden might upset those living around them. 

“While some may shy away from addressing the issue directly with their neighbours, the government offers clear advice in its ‘over the garden hedge’ guide. If this fails, people can report problems to their council, who manage to resolve almost three quarters of complaints. Churchill family legal protection also offers advice to householders on how to best deal with these issues, which customers can access via a 24-hour legal helpline.”

Local councils tackle complaints about high hedges through Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003⁴ and they are also able to make an assessment as to whether the height of a high hedge is having an adverse effect on a neighbour’s enjoyment of their home and garden. Councils have the power to issue remedial notices forcing the trimming of hedges and failure to do so is an offence punishable with a fine of up to £1,000. However, last year councils only issued eight fines in the whole of the UK.  Councils do not have the power to order the removal of a hedge or for it to be trimmed to under two meters. 

When complaints do reach the local authority, a resolution is usually found, with almost 71 per cent of cases settled in 2019.  However, in only one per cent of cases did councils issue a remedial notice, demanding that a neighbours’ hedge be cut back. 

Regional findings

London leads the way with residents complaining that their neighbours’ plants are encroaching onto their property. This is followed by Northern Ireland and Wales, with over 200 cases recorded in each region last year. The North East (15) and Scotland (22) recorded the smallest number of reported complaints over neighbours’ trees and hedges.

Table One:  The total number of complaints logged by councils in the UK regarding neighbours’ high hedges, trees or plants

Source:  Churchill Home Insurance 2020

Family legal protection⁵

In an ideal world, life would run without a hitch. Unfortunately, things are not always as plain sailing as we’d like. At Churchill, we often hear about neighbour disputes, fallouts with tradesmen and disagreements with employers, and we understand that our customers might need a bit of help to reach a resolution. With our optional Family Legal Protection you’re covered for up to £100,000 of legal costs for some of those arguments.

For more information please visit https://www.churchill.com/home-insurance/extras/family-legal-protection

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Notes to Editors

 

¹ Freedom of information Act request issued to all UK councils on 13^th February 2020. A total of 326 out of 384 local councils (85%) responded, of which 316 (83%) provided usable data.  The actual number of complaints is estimated to be significantly higher at over 2,000, because not all councils provided usable data in response to a Freedom of Information Act request issued by the insurer.

² Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults between 19th – 21st May 2020 and extrapolated up based on number UK adults / UK households both from the ONS to get 1.9 adults per household

³ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/over-the-garden-hedge/over-the-garden-hedge

⁴ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council

⁵ There is a better than 50% chance that you will obtain a successful judgment, and recover your losses or damages, but don’t forget, all claims must be reported to the legal helpline as soon as possible. Please see the home insurance policy document for full terms and conditions.

Churchill home plus includes Family Legal Protection. If you’d like further information on any of the above, please get in touch with us. We’ll help you find the best cover to suit you and your family.

 

For further information please contact:

Claire Jarrett

PR Manager (Home & Life)

Tel: 01651 832 411

Email: [email protected]

 

Alannah Sims

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Tel: 0207 025 6563

Email: [email protected]

 

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.  

Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.  

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com