Next door neighbour dilema

If it’s £4K I’d say I’ve been really clear. I won’t pay a penny unless I’ve been provided with copies of at least two quotes. Not a penny. So you cancel this one, or you send me the quote and get another one asap, so I can look at the two, or you pay it all. This is very expensive and I can’t keep having this conversation. I have never told you I’ve booked something costing £4K and you owe me half.

That is a fortune to trim a tree...4k.
Not a chance I would be paying 2k regularly for a tree.
You need to get really firm with her and speak to the council about EXACTLY what your obliged are.

Have you seen the invoices? Are they legit? 800 is mad for a tree trim, say you'll get some quotes yourself and indeed do that, when they come out at the proper price you then need to have a conversation as to where the the other 600 went on the last ones, I'm guessing in her pocket cheeky bitch

What have you done to look after the tree and did you consult her first? Why is she always instigating the work? December is a lot of notice so you have time to get your own quotes.

Ours was £800 last year. Huge 90 foot tree with TPO requiring specialist team to scale the tree and cut and lower trimmed branches to a waiting vehicle. It took them all day.

I think £800 inc vat is probably about right.

She’s booking work and expecting you to appear with a blank cheque

reiterate going forward discuss any potential work prior to getting quotes and agree

but it’s also up to you to organise some of these quotes

native trees live in the wild for years without having a finger laid on them. This!

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but you shouldn't have agreed to the work the first time and please don't do it again. Certainly don't agree unless you've seen the letter from the Council giving permission for it to be trimmed.

I have had protected trees in my garden for over 30 years now. Agree with the TPO stuff and a decent tree firm won't touch it without the correct paperwork because the council won't be happy with them either and, at least round here, a good proportion of work comes from the local councils who have care of public trees. The only circumstances where a tree firm can touch a protected tree without prior council permission is if the tree is dead, dying diseased or dangerous and needs immediate attention. They are putting their own rep with the council on the line if they do this. Trees do need keeping an eye on but they need trimming when they need trimming and there is no set timescale. They may need trimming or crown lifting to benefit the home owner but its certainly not to benefit the tree. native trees live in the wild for years without having a finger laid on them. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but you shouldn't have agreed to the work the first time and please don't do it again. Tell her so in writing! 4k is a shedload of money to pay. I had an entire (unprotected) tree removed last year in an expensive part of the south and it cost me 33

All works to a TPO tree require prior approval - there are bug fines for unauthorised works.
That is the same thought England and Wales (probably Scotland, but they do have different systems).
Depends on the type of tree, but it wouldn't be unusual to require trimming every 5 years or so. All trees should be regularly inspected by a qualified arboriculturalist to make sure it is healthy. Regular trimming keeps it healthy.

Never rely on a tree surgeon to make the necessary applications - always check. As the owner, you will be liable for any fines.

As others have said let her know in writing that she must consult with you prior to any work being agreed. That you both must agree on who carries out the work. That you get three quotes from different companies.

£4k is a lot of money for trimming a tree!!!

£800 for 1 tree? I have 4 oaks with TPOs on them and that's what I pay for all of them. Definitely refuse to pay without seeing the quotes and make sure the contractor has the necessary permission.

You are absolutely correct. I had a couple of TPO trees in a previous home. You can't touch them without permission from the council.

Well she'll continue to arrange trimming without consultation as long as you pay up whenever she asks. I would not have paid last time without seeing an invoice. Refuse to pay and she'll either foot the bill or start discussing arrangements with you beforehand.

I wouldn't pay if I didn't see 3 itemised quotes

The "every 3-5 years" sounds like someone is out to print money.
Ours were done before we moved in and it was 20 years before they were done again - at no point was it suggested to be at regular intervals and they are a respected and well established company.

Also TPOs in place so the tree surgeons put in for the necessary permissions.
Quote was also shared with neighbours prior to booking in.

£800 doesn't sound abnormal to me given what we would pay in north London. Also the cost would include the application to the council for permission for the tree works.

£800 for one tree? We didn't pay much more for 4 trees and we were pleasantly surprised it was less than we had thought. The trees we had done are not on our property but were impacting it. We could have just had our side done and left it like that but we did speak to all the neighbours and we all agreed for it to be done as well as the price first.

Agree with this, we have 6 trees with TPOs on our land and we must have permission to cut them, it takes ages too so would in no way be ready if booked now for December.

Edited to add that £800 is very high. We pay that for the four at the front of our house and that includes out surgeon submitting the application for permission to trim the trees for us too.

This.

Also for people wondering, a proper tree surgeon will apply to the council themselves for the permission to work on the tree.

I think this sounds suss. I find £800 for a tree trim a surprisingly high amount. My garden has many trees and not one has ever cost more than £200. We had an entire tree removed to the root by a arborist for £500 last month and we are in S. London. No wonder you aren’t seeing quotes and invoices. You now need to say no: you will not be going halves on work which is sprung on you suddenly, and you will need to see three quotes before it’s booked, and you will require an invoice.

You seem to be leaving everything up to her then complaining about what she does. Why not tell her you will organise the next trim?

I would be grateful to her for taking on the 'mental load' of this task and happily pay up. As it is she is doing all the arranging plus paying half. All you have to do is write a cheque.