You might think of your garden as a personal, private area but if you share a fence with a neighbour, it might not be as private as you think! In order to have a happy life it’s a good idea to keep on your neighbour’s good side and they’ll end up doing the same for you! We’ve put together some of the best ways to keep your neighbours happy, as well as some laws and regulations you might not know about.

How to keep your neighbours happy…

  • Introduce yourself! Put a name to a face and shake a hand or two.
  • If you both have pets remember to be respectful of the other person’s animal. And be aware that there could be some territorial rivalry, as well as noise.
  • Alert your neighbours if you’re going to be entertaining.
  • Keep your garden tidy – overgrown grass and a garden full of weeds are a bit of an eyesore. (A good reason to get the fake stuff, especially if you’re a frequent traveler)
  • Take the bins out on time and bring them back in if you miss a collection.

Regulations to be aware of…

  • Night hours are between 11pm and 7am. Loud noises during this time are prohibited and you could end up with a noise complaint if you upset a neighbour. (Of course with artificial grass there’s no chance of waking them up with the mowing!)
  • If you want to build a structure in your garden that is more than 2m high you have to get planning permission. This is true of fences and gates too.
  • If you live in a listed building you also have to get planning permission in order to add to the building. So you might have to check before building that conservatory.
  • When you buy a house it’s good to know the boundaries. It’s your responsibility to keep up the maintenance on fences, gates and hedges on the boundaries you own. And if a tree or bush extends over the boundary, the neighbour should ask you to come round and trim it.
  • Some trees may be under a Tree Protection Oder (TPO) which means they cannot be uprooted or tampered with without permission from the local authority. This is good to be aware of if you plan on doing some landscaping.
  • Be aware of the kind of wildlife in your garden. It’s actually illegal to disturb nesting birds.

This is just a general guide and does not constitute legal advice. If you want to find out more about these issues go to the government or your local authority website. We hope this helps you have a harmonious relationship with your neighbours!