We’ve had to rebuild our garden wall as vines covering our mysterious neighbour’s house are taking over the street
A WILD overgrown garden filled with cars covered in vines is taking over a street - forcing one neighbour to rebuild their garden wall.
The property is covered in crawling greenery, trees and out of control shrubs growing around a van, car and even a boat in Ramsgate.
One of the neighbouring properties has been forced to rebuild their garden wall after buying their home in lockdown.
Another asked their mysterious next-door neighbour to cut down some of the wild plants that were creeping onto their property - which was obliged.
Pals of the homeowner described him as a "lovely, well-kept man", saying he could do what he likes with the house.
But Thanet District Council have been unable to engage with the owner of the home, leaving some locals frustrated.
READ MORE OVERGROWN PROPERTIES
One neighbour told the Sun: “The locals are aware of it, the PCSOs and the fire brigade have been round a few times.
“The post office doesn't even bother anymore, if they get anything for him they mark it all undeliverable.
“I don’t understand how there is no responsibility for it, you have people walking up and down picking up litter.
“I’m left thinking seriously what is the point of that when you have this there.
“It isn’t as bad as it was, it has been cut down a bit. But the front is completely overgrown.”
Most read in Money
Other locals said the owner of the home was an "enigma" and kept himself to himself.
One neighbour, called Ted, said: “I just sometimes see him to say hello to.
“He gets in and out over the back. He is very nice, but a bit secluded really.
"The house is definitely lived in, he doesn’t do a lot with it though. He leaves us alone so we leave him alone.”
Rena Reves, 40, added: “He is an enigma wrapped in bush. I’ve lived here for 12 years and it’s always been like this.
“There used to be a little path that went up to the front door but that's long gone.
“I think squirrels live in one of the vans at the front of the garden.
“The problem is when it starts affecting other people, you can live how you like until then.
“Some of the vines have started going to the chimney of the other house, and if it gets into the brickwork that won’t be any good.
“He is very much is a recluse who keeps himself to himself."
What can you do if your neighbour's hedge takes over your garden?
You are allowed to trim back any branches or roots that cross into your property from a neighbour’s property or a public road.
But you can only trim up to what's yours.
If you go beyond your property boundary you might get in trouble with whoever owns the further space, and in the worst case scenario, you could be taken to court for damage caused.
Solicitors at explain: "There are no hard and fast rules with regards to boundary ownership, and the only way to find out who owns a boundary border is to check the deeds at the .
"However, if one neighbour can prove that they’ve been the one to maintain the border over the years, without the consent of the legal owner, they may be able to prove ownership under the principle of adverse possession."
Before you even reach for the shears though, you'll have to check the hedge isn't protected by a either - and if that's the case you'll need the council's permission instead.
If something needs to be done, this will be issued in the form of a Remedial Notice.
Councils have the power to fine householders up to £1,000 if they refuse to comply with orders to cut hedges back.
She added: "Sometimes you see a little light on in the property but nothing else.
“When he does leave he has to go through the back because the front is so overgrown.
“He did cut some of it back when another neighbour asked, when they moved in a few years ago.
“It’s just always been like that for as long as I can remember.”
But some locals think that more needs to be done about the property, claiming the shrubbery sometimes forces people to walk in the road.
One said: “People used to have to walk in the road to get around it and it just isn’t safe.
“I can’t understand how it has been left to get like this, how is there not some duty by the council or anyone else.
“Every time I have moved back to the area it has just progressively gotten worse.
“The vines were covering the windows of one of the houses right next door at one stage.
“People have said that a man does live there, and hear noises but there is no way of knowing what they are.
“There is sometimes a light on in the property, but you don’t see anyone.”
However, friends of the owner have defended him, saying: “He’s a lovely man. Done a lot for charity.
“It doesn’t bother him. He goes in the back way, he keeps himself lovely and clean.
“Always polite, well trimmed and dressed. He does live there and has for a while.
“He is a bit of a recluse, but it’s always been like that.
“It’s his property. He can do what he wants. He owns the house.”
A spokesman for Thanet District Council said: "We are aware of the situation at the property on Boundary Road, Ramsgate and our Empty Homes Team has attempted to engage with the owner on more than one occasion, unfortunately without success.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
“A council inspector will be visiting the property to assess the current position and to determine whether we have recourse to any legal enforcement.
“Our primary aim will be to bring the property back into residential use, it could provide a much needed home in this time of ever growing housing needs."
