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Anyone have any good links to info regarding rights etc with regards to trees in neighbours gardens?
Outline of issue is that we're looking to get an extension built and there is a very large (and annoying to everyone else whose garden the leaves\catkins fall into & whose light is blocked) and after speaking with their old next door neighbours they were reluctant to do anything about it.
Our concern is that the roots will possibly cock up plans for the extension, and if we do build without damaging it that the risk of it falling onto our extension and just cluttering up the guttering with the catkins\leaves (I know this is no reason for someone to cut a tree down but still a concern of ours) could prove to be a nightmare in years to come.
We've had a few people look at the options (as we have to get the overhang cut back yearly) and all the experts (plus the gypos we've had in to chop stuff back) have said it's in a crap state and needs either chopping down or at the least totally cutting back in the hope that it will grow up and over their property).
We're not averse to paying for the work as we've budgeted for it and made contact this weekend, but are concerned about the legalities etc of the whole affair.
Is there a www.neighbourtreelaw.co.uk site or similar that has info regarding this kind of thing?
5kg salt on the roots apparently
I have 20kg of copper nails. I could sell you one.
Kill it with fire tomorrow night.. Obviously a Nov 5 mishap. Some stealth dousing of tree with a few litres of reasonably flammable propellant and a few well placed rockets. What could possibly go wrong?
i assume you have been delivering all their cuttings back to them in the form of - dumped on the front lawn ?
how close is it to your house ? if its that close your insurance must be interesitng under teh "any trees within XX metres " question.
You're not meant to call gypos "Gypos" anymore hahaha.
Aw crap I just did it myself.
This may sound a bit radical, but have you spoken to the tree owner?
I would speak to the neighbours and say you're happy to pay for its removal, which will help them as it won't be a problem for them in the future. I'm sure if you talked it through and let them know professionals have deemed it a potential nightmare they will let you remove it.
Got a pic of the tree?
Keep it nice. Afterall the neighbour may object to your planning/extension..
This may sound a bit radical, but have you spoken to the tree owner?
^^ this
our neighbours had a heated discussion with their neighbours earlier this year about some kind of Australian Zombie tree that was overhanging their garden and despite lots of allegations and slurs [i]the very next day[/i] some of our overseas cousins of Romany origin turned up and cut it down
[url= http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php ]Garden Law stuff[/url]
wife has drafted a letter to pop through their door as they've not been in when we've popped round. We'd like to do it amicably and hope that now they have new neighbors they will be open to the idea of getting rid of it.
It's currently about 3m from corner of house, but extension will come to within about a meter of it.
have you asked the tree what it thinks?
Presumably the tree was there when you bought the house?
Have you told the neighbour you intend to build an extension?
No?
Thought not.
Maybe we should just Tarmac the whole planet, then we won have to put up with pesky things like leaves, trees, catkins and nature. Go on, concrete and 8' high wood fence, you know it would be great round your new extension.
Of course your "professionals" are suggesting it is in a poor state and needs work done...that's how they make their living.
I find the thought of someone's plans to extend and affecting their neighbours very selfish. If they don't want the tree touched then you should consider leaving them alone and not becoming a source of stress and aggravation in their lives. If on the other hand they're happy then everyone wins.
Don't assume they don't also want it gone. We're building a new garage which will mean we need to severely trim back a hedge and also chop most of a tree down which is mostly our neighbours. We went and had a chat with them assuming they would go mental, actually they were delighted and have actually cut it down themselves, wanted to remove the hedge and want to put a lean to on the back of the new garage so will pay for some of the planning and design. Perfect. I also started the conversation about carving off 20sqm of their section which is moving slowly but they seem keen within reason, they have 1/4 acre anyway!
You should probably find out via the council if the tree is protected. That'll define the start point for what is (legally) possible.
Funnily enough Ive just had this from the other side of the fence
My neighbour wants me to cut down a tree which overhangs his garden as he doesnt like sweeping up leaves
I asked him who should pay to which the answer was me
The tree is mahoosive but well away from his house and doesnt block out light either - not that that actually counts for anything
Anyway being reasonable I phoned the council knowing full well it was protected who obviously said it cant be touched giving me a polite reason to decline rather than telling him to swivel
You can chop anything overhanging your garden but I dont think you are being reasonable in expecting it to be cut down
Neighbours, everybody likes good neighbours....................
Come on, join in everyone 🙂
took a while longer before the expected responses came to be honest 🙂
brakes - Member
have you asked the tree what it thinks?
This a good point - I'll find a tree whisperer to see if it's had enough of life
suburbanreuben - Member
Presumably the tree was there when you bought the house?
Have you told the neighbour you intend to build an extension?
No?
Thought not.
yes & yes - so you thought wrong
matt_outandabout - Member
Maybe we should just Tarmac the whole planet, then we won have to put up with pesky things like leaves, trees, catkins and nature. Go on, concrete and 8' high wood fence, you know it would be great round your new extension.
haha - yes I agree totally. I'm not bothered about the leaves, the ex-neighbour was allergic to the catkins (this was the reason for them moving from what I understand after the neighbour was indifferent to their plight), and I quite like trees. I would also use a brick wall rather than wooden fence as the constant reminder of nature would be too much to handle
glasgowdan - MemberI find the thought of someone's plans to extend and affecting their neighbours very selfish. If they don't want the tree touched then you should consider leaving them alone and not becoming a source of stress and aggravation in their lives. If on the other hand they're happy then everyone wins.
I find the thought of not being able to build on our own land due to the fact that something from someone else's land has grown under our property selfish.
If they don't want the tree touched, and it prevents us from extending then we will leaving them well alone as moving will be the next step.
Thanks for the sensible replies to those who gave them
You can build. It will just impact on how you do it. Probably deeper foundations or a raft. You can cut back the branches that over hang so no issues with leaf fall if that really is an issue.I find the thought of not being able to build on our own land due to the fact that something from someone else's land has grown under our property selfish.
You want to do it amicably and you sent them a letter????
FAIL.
What on earth is wrong with speaking to them, you know, face to face? A letter will get their backs up straight away even if it a nice one. I just don't understand some people.
Well speaking to them is proving tricky as they are not at home when we are.
So far we've popped round two or three times each sat/sun the last 3 weeks and not managed to speak to them.
Considering you don't know the contents of the letter (which just tells them we'd like to have a further chat about the new extension and their tree as they've not been in when we've called around).
You're right in that you dont understand people, but that's mainly as you jump to conclusions
I wouldn't send a letter to the tree. Not one made of paper anyway. That would be like when kidnappers post body parts to the hostage's family...
Not if it's got a TPO on it. We're surrounded by trees, all with TPOs and the only thing you can do without permission is cut out the dead wood. A house a few doors down from us has a branch tapping on the bedroom window and the council told them they can't touch it!You can chop anything overhanging your garden but I dont think you are being reasonable in expecting it to be cut down
Depending on the tree the roots might not go that deep, in which case they shouldn't affect your foundations. What will affect them (and possibly the rest of the house if the roots are that close) is the ground heave you might suffer if you cut the tree down.I find the thought of not being able to build on our own land due to the fact that something from someone else's land has grown under our property selfish.
...the only thing you can do without permission is cut out the dead wood. A house a few doors down from us has a branch tapping on the bedroom window and the council told them they can't touch it!
it's surprising how windy it is this time of year and how fat the squirrels are...
How about you put your extension in the tree?
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