13 ways you could be breaking the law without knowing it

Trampolines are fun for children -but could lead to complaints from neighbours over privacy and noise

But even if you think you’re a law-abiding citizen, you could be breaking the law when it comes to the people next door.

Whether it's picking fruit from a neighbour's tree which hangs over your fence, or vacuuming after 8pm, it's possible to become an accidental law breake.

Property litigation and dispute solicitor Danielle Clements, of 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.”

Thanks to an increasing number of complaints about neighbourly activities, Danielle has compiled a neighbour's charter, which offers guidance and warnings over inadvertent law breaking.

Here's 13 ways you could be inadvertently breaking the law:

1. If you intend to attach your washing line/garden hose/plants to a neighbour’s wall or fence, obtain consent first. It is your neighbour’s property, so their consent is required.

2. Bubbling hot tubs which are relaxing for you may not be for you neighbour, and could constitute a nuisance due to noise.

3. Only cut back tree branches to the extent that they overhang your land. Cutting back into your neighbour’s property is illegal. If the tree has a preservation order you cannot cut any branches.

4. Do not just throw back hedge/tree trimmings from overhanging plants without speaking to your neighbour first. Despite the plants belonging to them, this could be considered to be garden waste fly tipping.

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

6.Ensure any CCTV cameras around your property do not point at part or all of a neighbour’s land. This could in some cases breach privacy laws under the Human Rights Act and possibly lead to allegations of harassment.

7.Smoke – whether from a wood burner in the house, a chiminea in the garden, or a barbecue – can constitute a nuisance.

8.Keeping chickens might seem like the “good life” and a good idea, but the noise, odour, flies and vermin can be deemed to be nuisance behaviour.

9.Be mindful where you position children’s trampolines to ensure the noise is not too disturbing, but also to avoid children (and adults!) being able to see into neighbours' gardens and affect their right to privacy.

10. Bright security lighting, if it shines directly into a neighbour’s property, can constitute light pollution or a nuisance

11. It is recommended by environmental health officers that noisy DIY should only take place between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, Saturdays between 8am and 1pm, and never on a Sunday. Similar recommendations are in place for hoovering and other noisy domestic appliances.

12. If you are parking a caravan or motor home on your drive, give some thought to whether the position of the vehicle might affect your neighbours' right to light and constitute a nuisance.

13. Do not use a neighbour’s unsecured Wi-Fi connection without their knowledge i.e. ‘piggybacking’. Criminal charges can be brought against you under the Computer Misuse Act 1990/the Communications Act 2003.