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Original poster

To think neighbour should shift tree asap?

78 replies

Moveyourbloodytree · 26/01/2025 23:02

Enormous conifer tree of neighbours came down in the storm on Friday. It didn't look unstable or unhealthy to be fair.

It was planted very close to the boundary between our gardens and it has fallen straight across our garden horizontally. Luckily not much damage caused apart from an old piece of play equipment that’s no longer used. It is however completely blocking access to half of our garden and our shed.

Neighbour was out at the time so popped a polite note through the door with our numbers so they could arrange access and whatnot. We’re on polite terms with them but don’t see much of them really.

Transpires his grand plan to get this 40+ foot tree out of our garden is for him and DH to chainsaw it themselves and use our green bin and his to remove it. Pointed out that we couldn’t even get to our shed to access our chainsaw and even if we could there’s not a cats chance in hell the blade would go through the trunk. He just shrugged nonchalantly and said it would get sorted.

AIBU to be annoyed that his tree falling in our garden somehow means we’ve got to pitch in sorting it and if I’m NBU how do I politely tell him he’s crackers if he thinks there’s any solution bar him putting his hand in his pocket and paying for a company to come deal with it?

OP posts:
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carruj · 31/01/2025 15:34

We had exactly this scenario last week except thankfully the main part of the tree fell a to our garden and the other 2 boughs fell across the boundary fence threatening to break it and cause damage their side .Thankfully it happened early and we were able to get hold of our tree surgeon who came straight round and removed it .We were covered by our insurance as it happened so it is worth your neighbour checking .
We know that loads of people were after him for his services that day so as said it may take a while, we were just lucky we phoned first, We would have paid if our insurance hadn't covered as it was our tree.
Good luck with your neighbours.

Percypigsyumyum · 31/01/2025 15:22

I feel your pain. Our neighbours dodgy and rickety fence (already battered from the previous storm) came down on Friday. Our garden now opens into theirs and we can’t let our dog out into the garden as he’ll just wander through. So far it has been a week and they have done nothing about it!

helpfulperson · 31/01/2025 14:28

Your housing association are wrong. It is there responsibility and they should be going via their insurance.

JohnofWessex · 31/01/2025 13:54

outdooryone · 31/01/2025 10:28

I also agree the Housing Association needs a revisit - this tree has damaged their property and they have an uninsured, amateur contractor undertaking dangerous work without their permission.
Have you sent HA a picture of how big this tree is?

I suggest making a complaint, as it will go through their complaints procedure they will have to address it

Point out that it needs to be dealt with by qualified people - see Chainsaw Certificates not by someone from down the pub

outdooryone · 31/01/2025 10:28

I also agree the Housing Association needs a revisit - this tree has damaged their property and they have an uninsured, amateur contractor undertaking dangerous work without their permission.
Have you sent HA a picture of how big this tree is?

BoldAmberDuck · 31/01/2025 09:47

On a seperate group I saw a post from a man with a log burner who was delighted when a neighbour tree fell down. He asked for the logs which they were very happy to give him. Maybe someone local might want them?

RLmadmum · 30/01/2025 20:15

Moveyourbloodytree · 30/01/2025 18:46

Oh god I hope not Shock. Middle aged fella who works nights and name begins with J? If it is please tell him to book a company Grin

Show quote history

Thank god, no! Older fella, starts with I, harmless but bit of a fretter. Also had idea of chainsaw on conifer with neighbours help to save £££ 🙈

JohnofWessex · 30/01/2025 18:56

Moveyourbloodytree · 30/01/2025 16:22

Because we are social housing tenants therefore we only have contents insurance.

We’ve spoken to the housing association and because he is a homeowner and not another tenant they won’t remove the tree for us. They’ve advised he is liable for removing the tree.

Any damage caused that we’d want him to pay for we would have to prove he knew the tree was diseased or unstable which can be difficult. Luckily we don’t need to claim for any damage so it makes things simpler.

Show quote history

I would put a banger under your landlords as its on their property

taxguru · 30/01/2025 18:53

Hoardasurass · 26/01/2025 23:08

It fell 2 days ago give him a chance ffs

When a huge limb of a neighbour's pine tree splintered off and fell into our garden, we reported it to the council because it had a TPO on it and "someone" would need to get council permission to deal with it. The council's tree preservation officer came round and issued a "7 day notice" to the neighbour which was a legal instruction for them to have it removed within 7 days. They managed to find a tree surgeon to do it - plenty out there and they can adjust their schedules if they want to, even just after a fierce storm!

Original poster
Moveyourbloodytree · 30/01/2025 18:46

RLmadmum · 29/01/2025 21:49

One of my colleagues came in Monday and told us his conifer had fell into his neighbours last weekend and he was getting it sorted. I'm actually cringing now thinking it's the same person 🙈

Edited

Oh god I hope not Shock. Middle aged fella who works nights and name begins with J? If it is please tell him to book a company Grin

OP posts:
Choccyscofffy · 30/01/2025 16:42

Meadowfinch · 27/01/2025 01:31

There are plenty of people with chain saws who can deal with this. A conifer is softwood so relatively easy to cut up.

The tree is already on the ground so as long as he's used a chainsaw before, and knows his basic safety drill, it shouldn't be a problem.

My barber nipped out and chopped up a tree for me last weekend. I stacked the branches to burn while he dealt with the trunk. Mucking in gets it done quicker in between downpours. It cost me the price of a new chain

Booking a tree surgeon could take weeks and is very expensive.

Does your barber moonlight as a free tree cutter?

It’s not OP’s job to muck in.

Everyone seems to want to pass their responsibility to others.

Sansan18 · 30/01/2025 16:40

Moveyourbloodytree · 30/01/2025 16:22

Because we are social housing tenants therefore we only have contents insurance.

We’ve spoken to the housing association and because he is a homeowner and not another tenant they won’t remove the tree for us. They’ve advised he is liable for removing the tree.

Any damage caused that we’d want him to pay for we would have to prove he knew the tree was diseased or unstable which can be difficult. Luckily we don’t need to claim for any damage so it makes things simpler.

Show quote history

His tree has damaged the social housing providers estate so I'm genuinely surprised they can't help.This is dangerous, skilled work and no-one should undertake it without the correct equipment and training.

TheCatterall · 30/01/2025 16:38

If he keeps gaining access to your garden to try and cut it up he’s going to make a right mess and take ages.

Im surprised the social housing landlord isn’t taking it up with him on your behalf.

chargeitup · 30/01/2025 16:35

Fastingandhungry · 26/01/2025 23:17

I helped my neighbours when their fence panels all blew down and damaged my property, we sorted it out and between us made it safe until they could repair a couple of weeks later. It wouldn’t cross my mind not to help out. I presume you don’t get on?

Edited

A few fence panels is in no way similar to a 40ft tree

Original poster
Moveyourbloodytree · 30/01/2025 16:22

Windowsand · 29/01/2025 23:32

Why would you not contact your insurance company?
What if he injures himself and says that you agreed to the work being done.
You are being foolish.
This is risky work that needs a professional to do it.

Because we are social housing tenants therefore we only have contents insurance.

We’ve spoken to the housing association and because he is a homeowner and not another tenant they won’t remove the tree for us. They’ve advised he is liable for removing the tree.

Any damage caused that we’d want him to pay for we would have to prove he knew the tree was diseased or unstable which can be difficult. Luckily we don’t need to claim for any damage so it makes things simpler.

OP posts:
justthatreallyagain · 30/01/2025 14:44

See this tree surgery website unfortunately it’s your responsibility not fair I know!
evolutiontreesurgeryltd.co.uk/blog/who-is-responsible-for-fallen-tree-removal-uk/#:~:text=–%20If%20the%20tree%20was%20healthy,the%20removal%20and%20any%20damages.

justthatreallyagain · 30/01/2025 14:42

Sadly I actually don’t think it’s legally his responsibility - check with the tree department at your council they all have one. We had a neighbours tree end up in our backyard - when I asked them to move it they also ‘kindly’ offered to help us cut it up…I checked with the council and to add insult to injury not only was it our responsibility they owned the tree so I was legally bound to offer them the parts back - I threw them over the fence!

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 30/01/2025 14:03

Tell them it's really got to be moved within the next 14 days and that unfortunately you are not in a place to help. You might want to get a quote to get it moved and let them have it.

JohnofWessex · 30/01/2025 13:41

Solicitors letter

Dear Neighbour

Its your responsibility

Get it moved by.....

Please ensure the Contractors working on the site are insured and hold the appropriate qualifications. We will need to see these before they are allowed onto our property and start work.

If we do not hear from you by...........

We will appoint our own contractors and recover the costs from you

Lots of love

Next Door

XXX

outdooryone · 30/01/2025 10:28

Windowsand · 29/01/2025 23:32

Why would you not contact your insurance company?
What if he injures himself and says that you agreed to the work being done.
You are being foolish.
This is risky work that needs a professional to do it.

^ This, plus what about any damage he does while working away on it for the next few weeks? What if the wood it too large and sits there for 6 months? What if he has an accident while doing it?

While I understand he is desperate to do it, this is the responsibility of a home owner to have insurance (my insurance covers it) and to maintain the trees (I cut 7 down in my house over the years, and keep the others at a modest height). His responsibility and I think you need to stop him before this gets deeper...

HalfMumHalfBiccit · 29/01/2025 23:41

We had a 60 ft tree down in the last storm. We are going through insurance. As advised we used professional contractors to chainsaw it and remove the green branches and chop into firewood. Then a specialist came to chainsaw and remove the root ball using a drill on a digger which split the root. DH the smaller job of splitting the logs.

Windowsand · 29/01/2025 23:32

Why would you not contact your insurance company?
What if he injures himself and says that you agreed to the work being done.
You are being foolish.
This is risky work that needs a professional to do it.

Porcuporpoise · 29/01/2025 22:37

Wakeywake · 26/01/2025 23:58

Why would he put it in the green bin (not that it would ever fit)? Fallen trees are worth money, he can just sell the wood.

Green conifer wood is not worth much to be fair. If he wants to cord, split and dry it he could maybe sell it for £60/tonne in a couple of years.

RandomButtons · 29/01/2025 22:34

If he tries it himself he’s going to end up in A&E.

MauryPeppertone · 29/01/2025 22:30

To get a couple of trees trimmed recently they quoted me over £1000, I just don’t have that kind of money, assume your neighbour might not.

Wouldnt be covered by my insurance either, I thought fence panels were, as they were with my previous insurer but this one gleefully sends out emails in windy weather to assure you they aren’t covered, and we could buy a small car with the price they charge.

it doesn’t need someone professional with a chain saw, just someone safe and competent.

A neighbour locally, had their old uncle up a tree with a chain saw a year or so back, that was a bit worrying ( he’s quite ancient) but he got the job done.