If you have a badly overgrown garden, or a neighbouring property does – don’t be overly concerned as although it looks bad, it rarely results in a nuisance for public or environmental health. If neighbouring vegetation is present on your property, then you have every right to cut it back to the boundary line and passed back over to the neighbour’s property. However, it’s always a good idea to speak with your neighbour first to find a resolution.
If your garden has become overgrown, there is always a risk of it becoming a home for various pests including mice and rats. Such rodents are a normal sight passing though gardens though, so it’s not likely to become a long-term infestation problem. Anyone seeking action against a neighbour for overgrown vegetation would have to prove that there is an ongoing rodent infestation caused by the conditions of the land.
Councils have some formal powers to deal with issues where conditions have been left to the point where there is a significant rodent infestation. If you’re concerned about issues relating to rodents, your local council will have a Pest Services department you can contact.
When clearing out your own overgrown garden, it’s important to know that some things are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. For example, it is against the law to intentionally destroy or damage a bird’s nest or the eggs inside. Any killing or injuring of wild animals is also a criminal offence. As well as birds, other protected species include grass snakes, slow worms, frogs, toads, newts, adders and bats. Establish whether you have any of these in your garden before clearing.
For large amounts of garden waste, consider hiring a skip to dispose of all your waste and make a fresh start for your property. For Skip Hire Swansea, visit http://pendragoncarmarthenshire.co.uk/
Waste that accumulates on a property doesn’t often result in pest problems, unless the waste contains discarded food items. Other domestic waste such as white goods, old cars and other non-perishable rubbish might look ugly but rarely mean a public health offence has taken place.
Where there is an identified rodent problem, councils will work with private sector housing and public health teams to provide the required evidence and decide whether any action is needed against the owner of the property. The first step is usually baiting of the land and adjacent properties, with further action being taken only if this proves ineffective.
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