I'm in the middle of a house renovation and I've run into a bit of a problem with a hedge that borders my property and my neighbor's. We're not entirely sure whose hedge it actually is. We're planning to build an extension on our garage, which means we need to dig foundations, and that requires removing the hedge. I've talked to my neighbor about this, but he's really against removing it. The tricky part is that we can't determine who owns the hedge since neither our deeds nor his specify ownership. The roots seem to be planted more on our side, so does that mean the hedge is technically ours? What are our options here?
3 Answers
It's possible the hedge was put in by a previous owner, and that complicates things. Sometimes, if it's a new estate, boundaries can be similar with neighbors. Have you tried consulting other neighbors for a bit of history? If this keeps going nowhere, considering alternative solutions like offering to replant something your neighbor prefers could help smooth things over.
Boundary lines can be tricky! They’re not physical entities, so it’s best to get some teamwork going. Get your deeds out, and maybe some tape measures to figure out where the true line lies. Focus on where the trunks are because that’s a big indicator of ownership. If roots are spreading but trunks are clearly on one side, that can tell you a lot.
You've got a few possibilities with your situation. If the hedge is on your property, you're in the clear to remove it. If it's on theirs, that's obviously a problem. There's also the chance it's a boundary hedge, which falls under different rules. The tough part is figuring out which scenario applies to you. Have you checked your deeds for any boundary specifics?
Yeah, we checked, but it doesn't clarify anything. My neighbor insists the hedge is his, but he can't prove it, and we're left unsure.
I’ve thought about that, but our place dates back to the 1930s, so the deeds don’t clarify much. Plus, I’ve already offered to remove and replace it with a fence, but I want to avoid any plants that might cause structural issues.