Maybe some kind of herb. Is it aromatic?

I think its Hypericum Hidcote - maybe they kept it (presumably in a pot) there because it flowers, or maybe it gives more privacy. Needs cutting back hard this month.

Hah, i wish on both accounts. It's not fragrant and keeping it in a pot? More like a masonry grow bed.

I can believe that it would require cutting back because it's huge...

Well, when they bought it, it would have been no higher than 8 or 9 inches with attractive, butter yellow reasonably large flowers. Probably didn't occur to them what would happen once it got going...

These are quite good value when they are in flower - go on for ages. Just cut it hard back as Bamboo suggests and give it a trial. It flowers on the new years growth so you shouldn't miss a seasons flowers.

Okay. I will make sure i keep some for the front of the house then. In pots... :-D

Thanks for the ID

Hypericum Hidcote (which yours is) gets a bit big for pots even with regular trimming - you'll need large containers. If you want a smaller one look at Hypericum Kouytchense.
There are many different hypericums so make sure you don't get the spreading one.