How to talk to your neighbours about building a pergola – avoid falling foul of the law and awkward neighbour disputes with these tips from experts

Garden with wooden pergola over wooden deck and lights having over the dining table.

Adding a pergola is one of the most effective ways to elevate an outdoor space, creating shade, structure and a natural focal point for planting. But before any posts go into the ground, there's one step that shouldn't be skipped, and that's talking to your immediate neighbours.

Before starting the conversation and sharing your pergola idea, it's really helpful to think through a few key points, including things to consider when building a pergola, whether you're building a pergola next to your neighbour's fence and even practical questions like whether you need planning permission for a pergola.