Whether you’re a tenant or a homeowner, it’s only right that you should feel at ease in your own space. This includes any garden or outdoor area you might have access to, as getting some fresh air can be a significant boost to mental health for those of us who spend the majority of our day indoors.
Of course, enjoying your space shouldn’t come at the cost of making your neighbours uncomfortable by constantly blasting loud music or even dumping your rubbish in their bins because you don’t want it on your property. However, within reason, you are free to do as you please on your own plot of land.
One woman has found out that her neighbour’s idea of being a “rude” neighbour includes merely doing things that she doesn’t approve of – such as planting flowers that “don’t fit her aesthetic”.
In a Reddit post, the woman detailed how her neighbour has demanded she remove the flowers she recently planted in her own garden because she “deserves a better view” and doesn’t want to look at flowers she finds unappealing.
However, since the plants are on the resident’s land and don’t encroach onto her neighbour’s garden in any way, she has refused, potentially sparking a trivial gardening dispute.
She stated: “My entitled neighbour came over and told me I had to remove [my flowers] because they ruin the beauty of her yard. She argued that since she spends more on her yard, she deserves a better view.
“I find this really unreasonable since the plants are on my side, and I have every right to enjoy my garden. How do people usually deal with neighbours who think their personal preferences override the rights of others?”.
Those responding to the woman’s message reassured her that she had done absolutely nothing wrong by cultivating flowers within her own garden boundaries.
They also warned her to remain vigilant around her neighbour – suggesting the other woman might attempt to sabotage her plants as their horticultural dispute escalates.
One individual remarked: “Just be wary if she seems like the kind of person who might poison your plants. Put up cameras and prosecute her if she damages your property.”
Another contributor suggested: “Get security cameras installed ASAP. Very often, this level of entitlement leads to ripping out your yard while you are not home, and if you have no proof of who did it, you will be on the hook for the damages.”
A third person commented: “I start bringing them my bills. If they want to tell me what I can and can’t do in my home, it must be because they are paying all of my bills.”
Can your neighbour remove items from your property?
Typically, your neighbour cannot enter your garden without your permission, as this constitutes trespassing. However, under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 in England and Wales, your neighbour possesses a legal right to access your land for vital repairs to their property.
This could involve positioning a ladder in your garden to reach their roof for maintenance work. While most people are aware that they can’t enter your garden without permission, the rules around removing items such as plants are less clear.
However, when it comes to items placed on fences, things get a bit more complicated. Fences can be accessed from both sides, but they still belong to someone. This is usually determined by whichever side of the boundary line the fence is placed on.
If the fence is on your side of the boundary, it is your fence, and your neighbour cannot attach anything to it without your permission – even if it can only be seen from their side. This includes hooks, screws, and even fairy lights.
According to East Coast Fencing, attachments without explicit consent could lead to legal disputes, and trespassing issues could arise if neighbours are found to have interfered with your property without permission.