Overgrown gardens

In this section we provide information and guidance relating to overgrown gardens and possible vermin infestations. It also gives information on overhanging trees on the public highway.

There are laws on what you can do when it comes to cutting down vegetation from a neighbour's land.

If a neighbour's tree, brambles, or hedge is causing issues on your side of the boundary, you are within your rights to remove anything that comes onto your side. By law, you should offer any clippings back to your neighbour. You should not trespass onto the garden of a neighbour to remove any of the foliage yourself. Before cutting down the vegetation, the council would recommend that you have a conversation with your neighbour about the issue.

Any cuttings that you do make will be your responsibility to dispose of unless your neighbour has asked for the cuttings back. Please be aware, if you decide to throw any cuttings back over your neighbours' fence, without permission, may be considered fly-tipping which is an illegal offence.

In some circumstances, it may be that your neighbour is struggling to maintain their garden and need some support. It is always beneficial to ask how you may be able to help. If you feel as though your neighbour is vulnerable and may require additional support, please use the link below:

• Support for residents

Please be advised that some trees have a preservation order. Therefore, it is important that this is checked before taking any action. Information on tree preservation orders can be found in the Tree Preservation Orders section on our website.

If you believe that your neighbour is a social housing tenant (owned by Great Yarmouth Borough Council), please raise your concerns with the council's housing department:

• for the Yarmouth, Cobholm and northern parishes you can phone 01493 846825
• for Gorleston, Southtown and southern parishes you can phone 01493 846837
• alternatively you can raise the issue by emailing tenancy@great-yarmouth.gov.uk

If your neighbour is a housing association tenant, you will need to contact the housing association directly.

If you are being affected by overgrown vegetation from a piece of land and you are unsure of who the landowner is, you may wish to make some enquiries with people locally.

Alternatively, you can carry out a land registry search (at a charge) to find out who owns the land:

• GOV.UK: search the property information land registry (opens new window)

If your property has been damaged due to your neighbours' overgrown garden for example damage to a fence, this would be a civil matter. In circumstances like these, the council will not get involved and it would be down to yourself to seek independent legal advice.

In some circumstances, overgrown gardens can provide harbourage to vermin such as rats and mice. Whilst overgrown and untidy gardens may be considered an eyesore to some residents, it does not necessarily mean such conditions will result in vermin infestations which would raise any public health concern.

It is not uncommon for most gardens to be visited by rodents at some point or another. As part of their exploratory movements, they can travel between feeding or nesting sites. Even in well-kept gardens, it is not unusual to witness rodent activity under sheds and decking areas where they are provided with shelter.

It is important to understand that a rat sighting does not necessarily mean that there is an infestation, and it is unlikely that any further action will need to be taken.

When can the council get involved?

The council will investigate when there appears to be harbourage to vermin that could give rise to an ongoing infestation. The Council has a responsibility under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to ensure the district is, as far as possible, kept free of vermin. Therefore, the presence of certain waste may need to be investigated this may include:

• a build-up of general waste e.g. black sacks full of general rubbish including food.
• soft furnishing such as mattresses, sofas, carpets, clothes, and textiles
• piles of wood at ground level which could provide a nesting environment
• irresponsible bird feeding e.g. large quantities of food being thrown directly onto the ground or leaving out bowls of food at ground level or on raised platforms

If you are concerned about any of the above being present in a neighbouring garden, then you may wish to contact the department. Please be advised that in certain circumstances, the council may require you to provide evidence if you claim that an infestation exists.

All public maintainable roads and footpaths are managed by the Highways Department at Norfolk County Council. If you have a concern of overhanging trees, branches or bushes which are dangerous or obstruction, please contact the highways department:

• online via Norfolk County Council - Highways problem report form (opens new window)
• by phone to 0344 800 8020

If you have concerns about a possible invasive plant such as Japanese knotweed, please visit this link for more information:

• GOV.UK: How to stop invasive non-native plants from spreading (opens new window)