Are You Breaking The Law?

From bouncing on a trampoline at the wrong time to picking fruit from a neighbour’s overhanging tree: 13 ways you may be inadvertently breaching law

21:00 10 May 2016

Being an accidental lawbreaker could be simpler and easier than you think. Did you know that bouncing around on a trampoline when done at the wrong place and time can land you in court on a nuisance charge?

 

Danielle Clements, a specialist in property litigation and dispute at Gorvins Solicitors, said: 'People are often surprised by what legally is deemed to be a nuisance.

 

'Nuisance behaviour is not limited to simply loud music and late night parties. We received a complaint from an individual that was founded on noise from a water feature that was constantly turned on.

 

'The persistent noise was an unpleasant distraction that prevented their quiet enjoyment of their garden and could even be heard from their property on a night.

 

'Depending on the level of the noise this unbelievably can actually be a legal nuisance.'

 

He added: 'It’s astonishing how careful you need to be in consideration of your neighbours. What may seem like an innocuous action may actually be illegal and many people will not realise this.'

 

Below are 13 simple ways to avoid being an accidental lawbreaker:

 

1.     Do not attach your washing line, garden hose, or plants to your neighbour’s wall or fence without obtaining consent.

 

2.     Make sure that your bubbling hot tubs are not too loud for your neighbours.

 

3.     Do not cut back tree branches from your neighbour’s side of the fence.

 

4.     Do not just throw back hedge or treetrimmings from overhanging plants without asking permission from your neighbour.

 

5.     Do not take fruit from a neighbour’s tree even it if overhangs your land.

 

6.     Your CCTV camera must not be pointing at your neighbour’s land as this breaks privacy law.

 

7.     Manage the smoke coming from a wood burner, chiminea, or a barbecue.

 

8.     If you’re keeping chickens, ensure that their noise and odour do not cause nuisance to your neighbours.

 

9.     Trampolines should be placed where children and adults cannot disturb neighbour’s privacy.

 

10.   Ensure that your bright security lighting does not shine directly into a neighbour’s property.

 

11.   Noisy DIY should only take place between 8am and 6pm on weekdays and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays and never on a Sunday.

 

12.   When parking a caravan, strategically park the vehicle so it does not affect your neighbour’s right to light.

 

13.   Do not use your neighbour’s unsecure Wi-Fi connection.