Almost 100 complaints about vermin in neighbouring gardens have been reported to local authorities in the West Midlands over the past year.
Of the 92 complaints, Hereford topped the list with 52 – accounting for a whopping 57% of all vermin complaints across the West Midlands.
The findings come off the back of Airtasker’s ‘Garden gripe report’ which revealed almost 12,000 enraged Brits nationwide have made an official complaint about the dire state of their neighbour’s garden over the last year.
The UK regions with the most complaints about vermin:
| Rank # | Town | Number of Complaints |
| 1 | West Midlands | 92 |
| 2 | East Midlands | 85 |
| 3 | Wales | 13 |
| 4 | South East | 12 |
| 5 | South West | 7 |
| 6 | Scotland | 6 |
| 7 | Yorkshire and The Humber | 4 |
Overall, the West Midlands had 803 complaints from residents about neighbouring gardens, ranking fourth overall among all regions.
Overgrown gardens (309), vermin (92), overgrown hedges (83), rubbish (56) and untidiness (54), made up the top five reasons for garden gripes in the West Midlands.
The top five locations for complaints made against neighbours in the West Midlands can be found below:
| Rank # | Town | Number of Complaints |
| 1 | Wolverhampton | 140 |
| 2 | Walsall | 111 |
| 3 | Hereford | 77 |
| 4 | Birmingham | 70 |
| 5 | Newcastle-Under-Lyme | 54 |
Elsewhere, London was named as the ‘UK’s Garden gripe capital’, accounting for 1,333 complaints from frustrated residents, with overgrown hedges named the most frequent complaint.
Commenting on the research, CEO and Founder of Airtasker, Tim Fung said:
“As a platform we pride ourselves on helping hundreds of people fix up their gardens every year and keep them under control. But, as we near the end of summer, many gardens across the UK will have grown out of control if they’ve not been managed.
“For those that don’t have the time or feel unable to tackle key jobs in the garden it seems outsourcing these tasks to an expert is becoming an increasingly popular choice. Our own data further highlights this – in July we saw a 763% year-on-year increase in gardening tasks posted to our site.
“We hope our investigation can help to shine a light on the unruly gardens’ causing friction amongst local residents, and encourage those in power to take the appropriate action in addressing this issue.”
The experts at Airtasker also offered advice on how Brits can resolve three common garden disputes:
Pruning overhanging trees/bushes
You are allowed to prune branches that overhang into your property up to the boundary line. However, always communicate with your neighbour first, as improper pruning leading to damage could result in a costly property damage claim.
Light being blocked by high hedges and bushes
A neighbour’s high hedge or shed blocking light can lead to disputes due to the ‘right to light,’ which entitles a person to a certain amount of natural light. Ignoring this right may result in legal action or compensation claims.
Invasive plants and weeds
If invasive plants like Japanese knotweed are in your garden, take immediate steps to prevent them from spreading, as this can be a criminal offence. Seek professional advice for removal and consult a dispute lawyer if needed, as landowners may seek an injunction or compensation for damages.
