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High or overhanging trees and hedges

High hedges

High hedges are hedges that are mostly made up of evergreen shrubs or trees, over two metres high and obstruct light to your property or garden. This page only deals with issues related to high hedges.

There is an application and fee requirement for this service. See current fee for investigating high hedge complaints in our EHTS fees download.

If you wish to report public path, highway or public land safety concerns regarding trees or overhanging hedges visit overhanging trees and hedge on a public footpath.

High hedges:complaining to the council GOV.UK explains in a simple guide, the powers that local authorities have to deal with disputes between neighbours about high hedges, and how home owners and occupiers can complain to the local authority about such hedges.

The legislation does not cover:

  • ‘Right to a view’
  • Single trees,
  • Deciduous hedges,
  • Issues with overhanging branches
  • Root damage

For further advice, please refer to the Citizens Advice webpage - If you disagree with your neighbour about a tree or hedge - Citizens Advice 

What to do before you can make a complaint

In all cases you must try to settle a dispute about a high hedge informally before we, as the Local Authority, can intervene. You should keep copies of all communications between you and your neighbour, as we will require these when assessing the high hedge application.

There is specific government guidance on resolving high hedge disputes:

  • Over the garden hedge - GOV.UK is a leaflet produced by the government to help you try and resolve a high hedge issue with your neighbour.
  • Hedge height and light loss - GOV.UK is a guidance document that provides an objective method for assessing hedge height and light loss. The calculation method indicates at what height a hedge is likely to block too much light from the garden or inside the house.

Request investigation of high hedge complaint

If you have tried and have been unable to resolve a high hedge issue, you can contact us to request an investigation.

Before you do so, please check that the hedge you are complaining about is growing on someone else's land and is all of these:

  • Made up of two or more mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs
  • Over two metres tall
  • Obstructing light and affecting your enjoyment of your home or garden due to its height

Our role involves assessment and enforcement, not mediation. Refer to the government's guidance for specific criteria details.

To request an investigation, use the details below to contact us for an application form. Submit the completed form, fee, and evidence of recent communication with your neighbour to show resolution attempts. Once accepted, we will investigate the high hedge issue.