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Neighbour and tree height query
New Gardner
Posts: 79
hello. I’m hoping for some advice; a new neighbour purchased the house directly behind ours and our back garden is on the boundary with their back garden. We have been living here for several years and have our trees at the edge of our garden pruned /lopped. The previous neighbours never had an issue with this and their trees (behind ours) where taller than ours, however the new neighbour left a note at our door asking us to contact them (a week before Christmas) to ask if he could cut the height of our trees as he was getting his done too and would not expect us to pay. We called him and told him that we maintain the height of our trees ourselves with our own Gardner and would continue to do so.
He came to our door today again asking for my husband to come into his garden next week to ensure that he doesn’t cut the trees to a height we aren’t happy with, but my husband told him that we already pruned them not long ago and were happy with the height. He said he just wanted to reduce the height to our roofline and not to invade our privacy. He insisted he would return next week when he was cutting his trees (which are directly behind ours, but is not our concern really).
Our house is to the front of the road on a hill, which they would be higher up behind us, however we have a much better view of the surrounding area, I suspect this is a factor. Our neighbours to the left of us have much taller trees in their garden, which I don’t believe they have ever been asked to trim by the neighbours behind. We don’t really want to have to lower the height of our trees any further and have already stated this. Here is a photo of our trees from our bedroom window;
we don’t really know what else we can say to this neighbour, or what stance we should take. He has not yet moved into the property and is still carrying out renovations but seems determined for our trees to be cut regardless. Any advice would be appreciated.
He came to our door today again asking for my husband to come into his garden next week to ensure that he doesn’t cut the trees to a height we aren’t happy with, but my husband told him that we already pruned them not long ago and were happy with the height. He said he just wanted to reduce the height to our roofline and not to invade our privacy. He insisted he would return next week when he was cutting his trees (which are directly behind ours, but is not our concern really).
Our house is to the front of the road on a hill, which they would be higher up behind us, however we have a much better view of the surrounding area, I suspect this is a factor. Our neighbours to the left of us have much taller trees in their garden, which I don’t believe they have ever been asked to trim by the neighbours behind. We don’t really want to have to lower the height of our trees any further and have already stated this. Here is a photo of our trees from our bedroom window;
we don’t really know what else we can say to this neighbour, or what stance we should take. He has not yet moved into the property and is still carrying out renovations but seems determined for our trees to be cut regardless. Any advice would be appreciated.
1
Posts
Your trees do not look as though they are taller than his in any event. All he may legally do is to prune any branches of your tree which overhang the boundary into his garden and he must then offer the prunings to you. DO NOT let this man bully you in agreeing his intemperate demands. Threaten him if you have to with a solicitors letter.
P.S I am an ex-lawyer.
Just in case, take photos of your trees now and when he has his done and keep a note of each of his visits in case he doesn't take a hint and becomes persistent and you need intervention.
Council's will only get involved when certain conditions are met and it also involves a fee of c£600 (depending on which council is involved) from the complainant which of course is prohibitive to many people.