This is my first AIBU so please be gentle.
Background. Neighbours almost continually do stuff to the house; often at weekends and late into the evening (we've had to abandon the house due to noise on occasion!). We've had boundary issues (over about an inch of garden - their issue not ours!) and privacy issues (they shaved their trees so there was effectively no fence between gardens, we gave them over a year as they said they would put up fences, then offered to pay to do it ourselves - the woman was very arsey about it and refused - we eventually put a fence up on our side and left it at that.)
There is a small 3m x 2m brick wall that borders our back garden before the fences start. Some on our side, some on theirs; they wanted it knocked down as they say its subsiding and said they would pay (asked us for permission in writing). No problem we said just let us know when your going to do it - they never responded and this was Feb. We know know it's a party wall so I'm guessing they have realised they need something more formal.
Fast forward to now. We are planning a single story extension and almost a month ago asked them if we could take the wall down and rebuild at the time of building the extension ad would cover the cost. They verbally agreed.
Last week we had our building surveyor round and he suggested that instead of rebuilding the wall then our extension next to it that we simply make the extension wall the wall iyswim. Neighbour responded to my txt and popped down, seemed ok with it but obviously wanted to check with his wife. His only concern seemed to be that it would limit light onto his patio for a few hours (which is true but this will happen regardless) so we offered to pay him to take his trees down completely as this would let shed loads more light into his garden all day. Obviously this benefits us as we won't need deep foundations but the suggestion was initially made for the purpose of his light.
Last night they responded! I started reading and was impressed - they were being reasonable, happy to agree to the party wall, happy to remove the trees and replace with 6ft fence, happy to discuss us potentially using their garage and garden for access!
They want to put up a small extension on what will be the new shared wall / our extension which i'm fine with (obviously the removal of the tress will be good for them / this too so the removal benefits us all in terms of foundations)
Then I got to half way down the fairly long email. They want 10k!!!! Partly for compensation of living with ugly trees for the last 2 years after they shaved their side because, they say, we were 'unwilling to discuss in a proper manner' the trimming or possible removal of the trees. Now I will be fair, when they moved in and mentioned taking the trees out I was not keen - because a) in their original shape there were a great fence and b) we'd only just paid £400 to have them trimmed (previous owner was an old lady and we were happy to help her out). If they had asked our thoughts after they had shaved them we would have not objected lol. In fact I even hinted at it when we put the fence up! In any case, they were / are their trees and they could do what they liked.
Waiting to speak to our building surveyor to see what he thinks before replying. Have no issue covering costs (would get quotes to ascertain this) and something in the way of goodwill but 10k (they gave no breakdown) is taking the mick in my opinion. AIBU to think this?