Untidy land
You can report untidy land if it's:
- affecting the amenity of the area
- visible from the public highway
- affecting more than one person or property.
Untidy land may attract environmental crimes, such as fly-tipping.
Before you report untidy land to us, you should try to resolve the issue with the owner or occupier of the land.
If untidy sites are left, they may become worse, and the area starts to feel neglected and unsafe. Untidy sites are rarely dangerous to public health but may have a negative impact on the local area.
Untidy gardens
You can report untidy gardens if it is:
- visible from a public highway
- affecting more than one person or property.
If the land is only affecting your home or there is a fence (or similar) blocking the view, we may not be able to act. Please upload a photo of the land when you complete the form.
Trees
Trees are not considered an untidy land issue.
Empty or derelict buildings
Issues with derelict or empty properties should be reported to our planning department. To report a property, you believe to be empty or derelict, email planning.representations@medway.gov.uk.
More about empty or derelict buildings.
Pest and vermin issues
Please report pest or vermin issues to our environmental protection team by calling 01634 333 333.
What you can do
There are laws about what action you can and cannot take.
You cannot go into a neighbour's garden to remove any foliage or rubbish.
You can cut back anything that comes over your side of the boundary. You should offer any clippings back to your neighbour as they belong to them.
What happens after you've reported the issue
Once we have established that it is untidy land within the scope of the law, we will ask the owner to tidy the area.
We normally give the owner up to 28 days to confirm that the works needed will be completed and provide the start date. We will try and work with the owner to resolve the issue.
Serving notice
A notice can be served on the property or owner to request that they tidy it up.
The notice will tell them what needs to be done and when. It is an offence not to comply with the notice within the period specified.
If the requirements of the notice are not carried out in the required time the owner or resident could be fined and prosecuted at court.
Many of the problems of untidy land are easy to put right.
Issues may include:
- land with fly tipping, industrial or demolition waste
- builders rubble
- dumped sofas or furniture
- abandoned vehicles or caravans in poor condition.
Confidentiality
We'll keep details of the person who reported the untidy land confidential.
In some cases, it may be obvious where the complaint has originated from, for example previous neighbour disputes.
If the case goes to court for non-compliance of a notice, then any photos taken will be used in evidence. This could mean it becomes apparent where the complaint originated from.
You can also report untidy land or gardens by phoning 01634 333 333.