Duncan Lewis' Housing Solicitor Featured in This is Money on Neighbour Plant Disputes (24 April 2026)

Duncan Lewis' housing director has been featured in This is Money, providing expert legal commentary on a reader's dispute involving a neighbour's climbing hydrangea that has encroached onto their property.

The article responds to a reader, an 80-year-old pensioner living alone in a detached cottage, whose neighbour's climbing hydrangea has spread across the boundary, blocking gutters, reaching the main roof, and growing over a landing window. Despite repeated polite requests, the neighbour has failed to take meaningful action.

Manjinder sets out the legal position clearly and practically, explaining that where a neighbour's plant crosses a boundary and encroaches onto another person's property, this can amount to a legal nuisance. She confirms that a homeowner is entitled to cut back any overgrowth to the boundary line without requiring their neighbour's permission, provided they do not step onto the neighbouring land or cut beyond their own side.

She also addresses a commonly misunderstood point: that any cuttings technically remain the property of the neighbour and should be offered back, even if in practice many people agree to dispose of them informally.

Manjinder also outlines the escalation options available, noting that a solicitor's letter can often resolve matters without the need for court proceedings, and that as a last resort, a court can order a neighbour to address the nuisance, though most disputes are resolved well before reaching that stage.

Her inclusion underscores her standing as a leading authority on housing and property litigation, and reputation as a trusted voice on the practical and legal issues that affect homeowners in their everyday lives.

To read the full article click here

About Manjinder Kaur Atwal

Manjinder is recognised by the Chambers UK legal directory as a UK-wide notable practitioner, offering strength across a wide range of social housing matters, including interim relief and homelessness applications. She heads a Housing Team ranked Tier 1 across London by The Legal 500 for its "excellent knowledge of the law" and "extensive experience". The department is recognised as a market-leader in all areas of social housing and property litigation including disrepair, unlawful evictions, homelessness, possession disputes, and complex judicial review matters.

About Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Solicitors is an award-winning firm with a long-standing reputation for delivering expert legal services with a genuine commitment to justice and client care. Recognised by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, and listed among The Times Best Law Firms, the firm operates across a wide range of practice areas, serving clients at every level.

The Housing and Property Litigation team is widely regarded as one of the leading practices in the field, bringing deep expertise to complex landlord and tenant disputes, possession proceedings, housing disrepair claims, and judicial review matters. The team is dedicated to protecting the rights of those facing challenges that directly affect their homes and quality of life.