AIBU to resent being asked to pay for neighbours cutting back our tree?

You’re being ridiculous.

We have a tree that overhangs the boundary. It’s taller than the house. I suppose I could pop in a time travel machine to have it planted further away 60 years ago but I really can’t be bothered!

I would email the landlord and the letting agent, give a factual account of what has happened that previous tenants did not allow you to trim their side.

Refuse to pay for the work on that basis, and remind them of the law that states they must offer you the branches but you don't need to accept. Incidentally a lot of tree surgeons keep them for firewood anyway.

Say that once the work has been done, you would be happy to arrange with the landlord for you to come and keep on top of it every winter going forwards.

All in writing so you have a record.

I would have cut it back anyway as best I could from my side

No he really couldn't.

I have a beautiful acer tree in my garden next to the neighbours fence which I have pruned every year to keep it under control, it grows very quickly. It should only be cut in the winter term before buds appear, otherwise it can harm the new growth.

In the past my previous neighbour was happy to cut his side but the neighbour is a woman on her own, like me, and we get on very well. I plan to ask her if my gardener could come in her garden to prune the tree when he’s doing my side as ideally I’d like the tree to be be neat on both sides, I can see her side when I drive in. I think she will be fine as she offered to pay for part of the cost of my new fence without me having to ask. I don’t intend to ask her to contribute as my gardener doesn’t charge a lot for the extra work.

whatever the legal position re trees, I think having a good relationship with neighbours is important and it’s my choice to have a tree growing so close to the boundary.

If the tree is on your land, then it's damage is your responsibility, and the onus is on you to ensure it is kept safe. And a really good time to do that is before anything happens.

If it were to be blown down or cause damage (or worse, injury) to your neighbours, their insurance would start from the suggestion that it was not inspected or maintained - rendering you liable.

Where the reasonableness lies is another matter.

Tree stuff is really shit. Our neighbours have mature trees that damaged our fence panels and uprooted a low wall because of their roots. We had to pay to replace the fence and accommodate the trees. OTOH when our tree roots were lifting the paving at the back neighbour we ended up paying for our tree to be cut down. We also pay for the fence neighbours trees to be cut back. I’m sick of the bloody trees!

Are there any other large items that I can keep in my neighbour's garden?

So long as the base is on my side?

It’s YOUR TREE. Even though you thoughtlessly planted it on the property boundary, you are still responsible for keeping YOUR TREE trimmed and healthy. You’ve been the CF all these years.

In addition, tenants are not legally responsible to maintain any tree or shrub owned by the LL that are higher than 6ft due to health and safety.

The ridiculous thing is planning to store half your your tree in the neighbours garden.

They may not have had their details.

If it’s your tree then it’s your responsibility

Whether they are unreasonable to have let it get into that state is a bit irrelevant really. It is in the state it’s in and their past refusal to cut it won’t change anything now. They can cut it back to the boundary and offer the branches back to you but you don’t have to accept them. However, with it being your tree which is now an inconvenience for other people, (it’s not the landlord’s fault the tenants refused to let you cut it for years) for the purpose of maintaining a neighbourly relationship it’s probably better in the long term to just do it, although I would use this opportunity to secure a future agreement that it doesn’t get left to grow out of control their side in future, be that by you keeping it trimmed going forward or them.

what nonsense

Wet have to pay to get our neighbour's tree cut back because it takes over the back of our garden the bottom end of their garden is completely overgrown with brambles and bushes and trees, I really resent it but the landlord doesn't care and the tenants won't pay. I would really to the landlord and tell him his tenants refused access and trust to pay, tell him to get the next tenants to sign in their context that they permit access for the trees to be trimmed and then maintain your trees

Of course the landlord could insist that the tenants allowed the tree not to become a problem

If you don't want the cuttings but they are still thrown back this is now seen as 'Fly tipping' and your neighbour can be legally dealt with ! 😀

This is one of the more ridiculous posts I have ever read. Dig up and replant a mature tree? I’m the OP will get right on that 🙄

The law on trees is ridiculous.

Unfortunately it’s your tree, so I’d be sucking this up, either do it yourself or pay someone.

Why should someone else pay to do this. Its your tree!

I’m not sure why you think someone else should pay to maintain your tree.

You’re right, you were not meant to do that. You have to OFFER it back and if they say no, your responsibility to then get rid of.

You need to dig up the tree and replant it so that the natural sized canopy is inside your garden.
This might kill it, but you or the previous owners should have thought of that before positioning it on the boundary.

I wouldn't be paying for my neighbour to cut back their tree if it over hung my garden. Would take legal advice too if needed.

Legally they cut the tree back to the boundary but have to ask you if you want the branches etc. They are guilty of flytipping if they just hurl the pieces into your garden.