Rules on Hedges & Roots Growing into your Property

Originally written by Jeff Durham, updated by the editorial team on 14th April 2026

Hedges make better boundaries than fences for most people. They look good, help wildlife, and can add value to your property. But they cause plenty of neighbour disputes when they grow too tall, spread where they shouldn't, or damage foundations with their roots.

If you're facing issues with a neighbour's overgrown hedge or need to understand the legal position before taking action, you can use our free Tree and Hedge Dispute Advisor.

Knowing your rights and responsibilities helps you avoid these problems and stay within the law.

Planting hedges on your property

You can plant a hedge anywhere within your property boundary without asking anyone's permission. Just remember that if it grows to affect your neighbour's property later, you could be liable for any damage it causes.

Want to plant directly on the boundary line between properties? You'll need your neighbour's agreement first, since a boundary hedge affects both of you. When neighbours share a boundary hedge, each person usually maintains their own side, though this depends on what you agreed when planting.

When hedge roots cause damage

Hedge roots spread much further than the hedge itself. When your neighbour's roots grow under your property, they can damage foundations, block drains, crack paths, or steal water and nutrients from your plants.

You can cut back any roots that cross into your property, right up to the boundary line. No need to ask permission. But be extremely careful not to destabilize the hedge itself. Cut too many roots and you could cause the hedge to fall or die, leaving you liable for replacement costs.

Serious root damage like subsidence or blocked drains might get you compensation from your neighbour. You'll need to prove their hedge caused the damage and that they knew about the problem or should reasonably have known about it.

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Dealing with overgrown hedges

High hedges block light, invade privacy, and make terrible neighbours. They often go hand in hand with a wider problem of an overgrown or messy garden next door. The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 lets local councils step in, but only for specific types of hedge problems.

These powers cover evergreen hedges over two metres tall that block light or access. The hedge must be a line of two or more trees or shrubs, and mostly evergreen. Single trees, deciduous hedges, and anything under two metres don't count.

Try talking to your neighbour first. Councils won't help unless you can prove you've attempted to sort things out yourselves. Keep records of every conversation, email, and letter.

Direct talks failed? You can complain formally to your local council. Expect to pay £300 to £400, though fees vary between councils. The council investigates and can force the hedge owner to cut it down. But councils don't always intervene, and the process takes time.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Legal restrictions and consequences

You can usually trim hedge growth that crosses your boundary, but several rules apply.

Bird nesting season runs roughly from March to September. Disturbing nesting birds breaks the Wildlife and Countryside Act and can result in fines. Check carefully before cutting anything during these months.

Living in a conservation area? You might need planning permission for major hedge work. Tree Preservation Orders can protect trees within hedges, requiring council approval before cutting. Breaking these rules brings fines.

Check your property deeds for restrictive covenants limiting hedge heights or types. Breach a covenant and neighbours or developers can take legal action against you.

If your hedge overhangs public footpaths or roads, the council can order you to cut it back under the Highways Act. Ignore the notice and they'll do the work themselves, then send you the bill.

When disputes get serious

Most hedge problems get sorted through reasonable conversation. When that fails, your options depend on the specific issue.

High hedge complaints go through the council process above. Property damage, boundary disputes, or trespass issues might need civil court action, though this gets expensive and outcomes are never guaranteed.

Consider mediation before formal action. Many councils offer mediation services for neighbour disputes. It's cheaper and less stressful than court proceedings.

Regular maintenance prevents most problems before they start. Keep hedges at sensible heights, trim them regularly, and talk to your neighbours before issues escalate. A well-maintained hedge should improve relationships, not destroy them.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Tree and Hedge Dispute Advisor lets you find out your rights on overhanging trees and high hedges. Takes 1 minute. Try it now →

Showing 20 of 385 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

ProblemNeighbours Editor 20/08/2026 at 11:00 am

@Spratt Since you're in Scotland, you have a specific remedy under the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013. You can apply to your local council for a high hedge notice, as leylandii over 2m that block light or reasonable enjoyment is exactly what the Act covers. There's a fee (usually around £400ish depending on the council), but given her refusal to engage, that's your best route. Keep copies of your letters and the engineer's report as evidence, and mention the potential structural damage in your application.

Spratt 20/08/2026 at 10:44 am

I live in Scotland. My house backs onto two cottage gardens. I have no access to the rear of my property. One property owner planted a line of leylandii to hide the view of the rear of my property. I have two roof windows for my utility room and bathroom which form part of the rear of my property. The original owner moved in 2007 and at that time the height of the leylandii hedge was approximately two meters. The new occupant let the hedge grow and eventually it rose to approximately 8 to 9 meters high in 2020. throughout this time I had to climb onto a flat roof at the rear of my property to cut and trim the hedge sides. Having used a 7 foot step ladder and extension hedge cutter 3 meters I still could not cut the hedge sides. Away from the flat roof I had to resort to the use of scaffolding to cut the hedge on my side. In 2020 I had a structural engineer inspect the rear of my property for any damage, as my house sits approximately 1 to 1 1/2 meters lower at the back of the house in relation to the gardens of the properties to the rear. The engineer recommended that the hedge be removed as it had grown too tall and that damage at a future date may occur. The height of the hedge also effected light coming into the roof windows etc. In 2024 part of the hedge was cut down by the owner however, they left the remaining hedge intact. Attempts to discuss this matter with this person face to face resulted in this person swearing and threatening to call the police if I did not leave. Since then all attempts to discuss this matter in person failed. Requests in writing offering mediation have met on negative ears. I have trimmed the remaining hedge as high as I can get, however the hedge is now so thick and woody that there is hardly any greenery left and it is still encroaching on my property. There is also a break in a garden wall which although repaired many years ago has again grown from a hairline crack to that of approx 5 mm. I have again just sent a recorded delivery letter to this person but do not expect a reply. What does one do in such situation.
There is history between us from the very moment this person moved in, as her garden became full of a rat infestation and only in the past 2 years discovered that this person did not want to look at the rear of my ugly house, hence that's why the hedge was left to grow. What do I do now? I'm at a loss, 76 years old and suffered a heart attack.

ProblemNeighbours Editor 18/06/2026 at 2:31 pm

@Vicky Your neighbours can legally cut anything overhanging their side back to the boundary line, but they cannot dig up or remove the bushes themselves as those belong to your parents. If they pull the whole plants out, that's criminal damage and they'd be liable. Put it in writing to them politely, making clear they're welcome to trim their side only. Worth checking the deeds too, in case the bushes form part of a boundary hedge with shared ownership.

Vicky 18/06/2026 at 2:22 pm

My parent's neighbours want to build their driveway up to the boundary line - they live in terraces housing.
At the moment there are hibiscus bushes planted on my parents side that have grown onto their side too.
The neighbours are talking about removing all of the bushes but I've asked them to cut back their side only.
Are they within their rights to take out the bushes?
My parents are in their 80s.
Thank you

ProblemNeighbours Editor 31/05/2026 at 12:13 pm

@penny You have the legal right to cut back any branches that cross the boundary, but only up to the boundary line, and the cuttings technically belong to your neighbour. Given your age, the easiest route is to write to them politely (keep a copy) asking them to trim it, as it's their responsibility to stop it encroaching. If they refuse, your local council can sometimes help if it's an evergreen hedge over 2 metres under the High Hedges legislation. Otherwise, a local gardener will usually do the job fairly cheaply, and Age UK can sometimes point you towards trusted handymen in your area.

penny 31/05/2026 at 12:13 pm

my neighbours hedge is growing int my back garden i am almost eighty years old and not able to cut it back if they refuse what can i do

ProblemNeighbours Editor 17/05/2026 at 1:30 pm

@JJ You're only legally obliged to trim back anything that actually overhangs your side of the boundary, and even then it's a right, not a duty. The landlord, as owner of the hedge, is responsible for its overall height and maintenance, including any High Hedges complaint under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act if it's over 2m and blocking light. Check your tenancy agreement too, as some farm business tenancies sneak in boundary upkeep clauses. Otherwise, put it back to them in writing and let them arrange it.

JJ 16/11/2024 at 8:44 am

We are tenant farmers. We had 2 tied labourers cottages next to the farm. The Landlords have taken both back a number of years ago. Both cottages have their own gardens. One cottage has a high hedge planted within its boundary their side of the farm field fence line. The Landlords are expecting us as the farmers to trim their hedge on our side. I am sure in the hope that we will also reduce the height all at our cost. What are our rights?

Andy D 26/06/2024 at 2:22 pm

My house, along with 5 others, has a hedgerow along our shared access pathway belonging to one property on its other side. Any idea who is responsible for maintenance trimming etc. of the shared access side?

tired neighbour 17/06/2024 at 4:40 pm

I live in a detached house with no side access and have 2 houses built along side me, am on a hill side and 1 of the houses is lower than mine , i have a tiny 2 feet high wall at the top of the garden and having had problems with the neighbor i want to plant a hedge inside my boundary , it will put her decking in the shade and she says i cannot do it , please someone advise me

Debbie 17/04/2024 at 10:00 am

I am a land owner and my neighbour has an agreement with land registry that the hedge is maintained to 8ft which we have maintained to this for the last 10 years plus and paid for this. He has recently moved in and now has been abisive about this and doesn’t want it cutting, it’s now at 12ft and straggly and unsightly, going thin at the bottom. He has also started putting mission on our side of his hedge, again insightful and trying to be in control and cause issues. Can he do this and what’s the best way forward. He has also planted 20 ft trees next to our house.

Renata 07/04/2024 at 8:52 am

I want to plant some hedges ( buxus)for privacy right by neighbours conservatory extension and outside our kitchen window . Will the roots in future when it has grown cause any problems to either of us

Philly 10/05/2023 at 9:39 am

My neighbour has planning to build 7 self builds on the field behind me which runs alongside my garden which is in conservation area although the development field is not.
We have a gateway and Devon linhay barn of which there is an established access for maintenance which he is now fencing in and removing access.His planning condition does not include this fencing and should include a bat zone along our green boundary hedge and the row of linhay.His intention is to take building plot right upto the linhay walls which are used as annexes to our cottages.

Bettyboop 13/11/2022 at 5:43 pm

Hi..my neighbour has erected a “corner fence” in front of his hedge and it is such an eyesore from our side (he painted most of it, but left half of our side unpainted)…His garden is higher than ours because we are on a hill…not sure how he is going to cut corner of hedge…hedge has been trimmed by me for years as previous owners did not acknowledge hedge was theirs…Do I have to “put up with it…

Gpmum2 24/07/2022 at 1:44 pm

I bought my house and there is a large hedge or many types of hedges the other side of my fence, then the pavement. It has been mentioned that the previous owner planted these hedges. Do I have to maintain them even though they aren’t in my property. They have been there 20 years.

cuuca 13/07/2022 at 9:27 am

So I recently purchased a property in the country. the property is surrounded by hedges.
In the paperwork, it says all boundaries are my responsibility. I believe this is the old rule as the hedge shared with the neighbour used to be farmland. In my eyes when they purchased the land they should have taken responsibility for trimming the hedge on their side.

The neighbour insists I should be trimming the hedge on their side.
Does this sound correct?

My other option was to pull this hedge up completely and put something else in place as the upkeep of the hedges on my side is hard enough without having to also do the neighbours.

Any input welcome

Waffs 18/05/2022 at 11:17 pm

My neighbor had all over grown scrubs tress vines, and everything randomly growing on our property line. We would trim our side but the thick was so unruly , the weeds would grow right back . Well he sold his house and new owners took over . I ask if he would mind if we cut the small trees scrubs and everything else growing on his property line . That starts from the beginning of our driveway to the end of our driveway. Making it horrible getting in and out of the car. Because these over grown bushes constantly blocking my path way . He said go ahead and do what u want. I won’t be using that end of the house anyway. I will be renting the property . It’s a summer house at the New Jersey shore. I was thrilled !!!!!!! So me and my husband got the crew together and two days of uprooting. Cutting with chain saw , weed whacking , shoveling , 9 trips to the dump to get rid of the foliage. Two burtal days of work . Not to mention being pricked by thorns and poison ivy !, and a load of weed killer !! Finally it’s done and looks great !!
The neighbor doesn’t even notice. That was la year ago . This year we go down the shore to open our summer home up and what do I see ……. 6 Azelea bushes planted right on the property line !!!!!!!!! I am so angry. We clean the horrible mess up for him to plant more over grown scrubs right on the property line. …. The law says bushes and hedges must be planted 3-5 feet from property line. What should I do ????

Floyd 23/03/2022 at 8:34 pm

Our neighbour has a eight foot hedge in front of his house blocking any view of LochNess, but the law says that you have no right to a view, but the good thing is that you have a right to daylight, so if the daylight in your house is reduced then you have a right to complain, and they should be forced to remove some of the hedge or all of it if need be.

Antes 11/08/2021 at 5:41 pm

What can I do about where I can report it because it is impossible to reach an agreement with the neighbor. He cut the bushes and trees growing from the property he was renting, and despite Togo that I asked him not to, he transferred them to my side, destroying my flowers.

corky 09/08/2021 at 4:15 pm

My mother in-law has a 2m wooden fence she is 86 year old but next door has hedge about 4m high it is starting grow out of the wooden fence panels and now there getting distorted when winter comes the leaves block the drains he has trimmed back his side but will not touch mothers side ?

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