Overgrown gardens a health risk?

Question

There is a house just down the road from where I live that has a very overgrown garden.The brambles are at least as tall as me (5 foot) The property is private (not a council house or I would have reported it to the local council), all around it is rubbish such as car parts, empty bottle crates, ripped bin bags with rubbish spilling out.I'd be very worried if it was right next door to me.All the other houses around here are well kept.Is there anything that can be done in order to get the occupants to clean up? Surely it is a health risk and would draw vermin to the area, we have seen rats close by.The house right next door to it is undergoing renovation and is not yet occupied.

Starlet180:If you want to rant or insult people, this is not the place to do it,LOVE.I simply asked a question and wanted other peoples opinions.People like your are a blight on Q&A.

Hi LynGardener, it's a couple in their 30's.What makes me cringe is the fact that they have a snack van selling burgers etc as their business.It's parked outside most of the time.Their net curtains in their windows are grey, torn and tatty.You'd not think anyone lived there it's so scruffy.There's now a stack of broken kids toys been dumped in the driveway too.

Answer 1

You can complain to environmental health. They are there for everyone's well being,not just council tenants...............

Answer 2

This is definitely a nuisance at best and a potential health hazard at worst. Ring your local council and talk to the Environmental Health people - they will know exactly what can be done (if anything). As it is a private property the council can only assess the risk to public health and advise the owner to remedy potential hazards. They cannot force your un-neighbourly neighbour to clean up unless an enforceable breach is being carried out (such as harbouring vermin which affects others' properties). Other people may have complained about the same property and they are more likely to do something about it if they have. The householder still has a duty of care to reasonably protect anyone entering their property (postman, delivery people, etc) so that may be a route they could take. Poor you for having to look at the mess!

Answer 3

Sounds like someone in that house is having trouble looking after themselves and their property. Do you know who lives there? They might need some help from social services, or maybe just a hand from some friendly neighbours...

Before going down the road of official complaints etc., you might want to offer the hand of friendship. If this doesn't appeal to you, then the next option would be to call social services and express your concerns. They can usually offer some sort of help to people in this kind of difficulty.

Answer 4

As stated above you can call environmental health, but they can't do very much, yes if there is decaying refuse, that can be dealt with, but the car parts and the hight of the brambles are not something that EH can do a thing about. They can only make sure that there is no health risk. Only if the vegetation starts blocking light or obstructing public areas can anything be done about that.

Answer 5

Yes, overgrown and out of control gardens can be a health risk as they provide shelter for vermin, and are also good breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Most communities have laws that restrict homeowners from turning their lots into dumping grounds. Contact your local police and ask which department you need to speak with to file this report. In most cases they will contact the owner and file a notice with him/her that something must be done within a certain time period. If nothing happens, then in many cases the municipality will clean up the mess and bill the owner for the work done.

Answer 6

Clearly starlet108 doesn't care about image and by the answer she put I'm presuming she is the kind of person who is happy to live in her own filth.
Pinkribbon would have paid a lot of money for her house, and won't want to be looking out of her window at a pile of rubbish every day. I wouldn't either. You can report it to the council and they will talk to the owners and come to some agreement about getting the rubbish cleared. They may not however be able to get it completely tidied, but its worth having a word with them so that they know of the situation and can keep an eye on it.

Answer 7

The undergrowth is not a bad thing on its own - cover for wildlife -- but - Yes - if there is a lot of rubbish as well as the undergrowth. The council should be informed. They can force the owner to tidy it up - or they will do it and charge him a fortune for doing it - and then fine him if he won't pay .

Answer 8

In the US, we report such houses to the local police (constabulary) and they take action through city code enforcement officers. Most cities have laws stating you must keep lawns (3 inches) and open fields under 6 inches (sometimes less) in height.

Answer 9

even though its a private house you can still report it to the council

they will talk to the owner , as its obviously turning into a health hazard for the rest of the tenants and occupiers near bye

all the best
Ian

Answer 10

sounds like starlet might own a place like that, hmmmm..........Yes it would be a health risk, perhaps yoou should talk to the neighbors and get a group together to compalin. There is strength in numbers.

Answer 11

This sounds like a wild life haven.

Remove the human detritus and then enjoy the birdlife, butterflies, wild mammals and flowers that this small wilderness will encourage.