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Rights to light?

owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
edited July 2023 in Problem solving
In one of my rental properties, a sapling has 'sprung up' about 4-5m from the house and close to the boundary.  (ETA: sprung up to about 6m tall now, but that's another story!!)
I have been informed by the tenants, of an invitation to discuss 'the tree' being pushed through the door by a visiting official last week whilst they were away.
Seems the PITA neighbour must have complained.
Are there any legal issues here such as right to light or whatever, that I need to consider before discussing this with said official?
cheers
Just another day at the plant...
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Right to light is a myth - or it is up here anyway. 
    We had a situation in a previous house when we were adding an extension. Neighbour complained it would 'block his view' of the grassed area in front of our house, and our neighbours on the other side. He couldn't see the grass from his house anyway, unless he hung out his upper windows, and considering he never paid any attention to his front garden he couldn't have seen anything but his own weeds from downstairs.  A clown. 
    His objection was quickly thrown out....
    The location of the tree, and the roots, as @pansyface says, may be more of a problem, but it could just be the  neighbour being a PITA.

    What type of sapling/tree is it? Do you know? If it's growing rapidly, it may indeed be a problem. Are the complaining neighbours near the boundary it's next to?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Probably best to check what kind of tree it is, and if it's something that's going to get huge with few if any redeeming features like an ash or sycamore, remove it before it gets any bigger. 
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
    Perhaps. I don’t know the substance of the complaint yet.
    Just hoping to garner any relevant knowledge to prepare myself in advance.
    Just another day at the plant...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2023
    Last time I filled in details for buildings insurance I had to confirm there were no trees over a certain height within a certain distance (can’t remember the figures).   
    Maybe something like that has brought the matter up?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If it gets massive it could also potentially affect your ability to get insurance for the property, which presumably you need as a landlord.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • RBMancRBManc Posts: 59
    Yes, a right to light is not necessarily a protected right - they may talk about it to try to add clout but it isn't generally anything to worry about. You can check your Deeds to see if there is any reference to rights or easements to light if it does come up in conversation. 

    I'd expect that it may something more like insurance liability or potential damage to the property/foundations as the folk above have mentioned. I would be slightly concerned to know what kind of tree it is as some trees which are quick growing can be a PITA themselves if they spread themselves around quickly. Probably worth checking what kind of tree it is likely to be if you can so you can at least ascertain whether it may be an issue in the future and get rid sooner rather than later to save hassle. 
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    'Right to light' is not a myth, but neither is it an automatic right.  A property just a few doors down from us had to modify the plans following an objection from their immediate neighbour on the basis of loss of light. The complainant was the long term occupant of the property so that may have had some bearing on things - I don't know the full details.  I just saw the upheld objection on the modified planning application.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    The last thing you need is a Council-chaired meeting led by a team of graduate Social Scientists.  Get in there quick and just cut it down whilst it's still small.  End of!
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If it was me, I'd just get rid of it. Self seeded fast growing trees are often bad news. Goat willow grows really fast and really big. Treat them like weeds 
    Maybe your tenants planted it.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I agree with @B3. Get it out now whilst it’s still only 20’ tall,  you may need a professional tree feller if you leave it much longer. 
    If you didn’t plant it,  it’s an interloper. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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