You may report a neighbour for having a messy backyard – the principles to know

With regards to whose duty it’s to take care of and tidy a backyard, the burden falls to the proprietor (and typically the tenant if stipulated within the tenancy).

That being stated, there are occasions when neighbours have trigger to complain about messy outside areas and native councils can take motion. 

For example, Folkestone & Hythe district council took one girl to court docket in 2023 and fined her over £1000 for having a messy backyard stuffed with canine poo and garbage.

The council stated that the girl had been issued with a number of warnings and a group order.

Nevertheless, her inaction led to an “disagreeable odour” wafting round which affected these dwelling within the close by space.

Councils usually obtain complaints from locals who’re reporting untidy gardens that vary from ugly to environmental crimes like fly-tipping.

An unkept backyard by itself shouldn’t be sufficient to take motion towards a neighbour and there are specific stuff you merely can not do that may contravene the legislation.

Can I complain about my neighbour’s messy backyard?

You can also make a criticism about somebody’s unkept backyard through your native council web site. 

Typically, you can be requested to finish a kind.

Some let you submit the report anonymously while others require you to fill in your particulars in order that they will contact you concerning the report.

Past making a report back to the council, you shouldn’t take any motion your self.

For example, you can’t trespass onto the gardens of neighbours to take away any garbage or foliage.

Many councils let you test the progress of a report through their web site.

Can the council make you tidy your backyard?

Native councils can take motion towards folks if they don’t take care of their gardens.

Councils have numerous powers to cope with untidy land or gardens in the event that they include materials that’s prone to rot.

This contains however shouldn’t be restricted to discarded meals, faeces, nappies, and lifeless animals.

The untidy entrance or again backyard needs to be inflicting a nuisance to neighbours or attracting vermin equivalent to rats or mice.

At first, residents with untidy gardens are issued with a warning letter that may require them to clear and tidy their backyard inside a selected time frame.

If they do not comply, a group safety discover might be despatched underneath the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Are you able to be fined for having a messy backyard?

If the proprietor or occupier of the backyard doesn’t adjust to the discover, they might obtain a hard and fast penalty – sometimes round £80-£100.

Really useful studying

If the Fastened Penalty Discover shouldn’t be paid, councils will then search prosecution and house owners can face fines of as much as £2,500.

We’ll cost for all cheap prices incurred to these properties the place enforcement motion is taken.

Talking concerning the Folkestone and Hythe District Council case in November 2023, Cllr Polly Blakemore – Cupboard Member for Transport, Regulatory Providers and Constructing Management – stated: “Prosecutions are at all times a final resort, however motion might be taken when folks’s high quality of life is being impacted by thoughtless behaviour equivalent to this.”