neighbours tree is starting to block the view of the valley from my house

[twistedsista]

Hi.

I bought a house mainly because of the amazing view it has down the valley.

The person in the house below me has two big trees that have grown 4ft over the 12ft high hedge that borders our property in the last two years.

It wasn't a major problem when I moved in but now they are starting to block the lovley view.

I asked him nicely if he could trim them, offered to pay for it to be done but he just said he likes them and hes been here longer.

Really upset as the best thing about the house is the view and each year it will be taken away from me a bit. The house is over 80 years old and also worried this will loose me money on the house.

Do I have any right to this view? I assume the council will just laugh at me?

Any help would be good

Can you trim it back on your side? If it's over your boundary I think you're allowed to cut it back to the boundary! I think

Thanks but the tree isn't over my boundary at all, the huge hedge between us is 6ft thick!

In a word, no . Maybe see if he'll have them thinned rather than reduce height.

It's not something that the council would get involved with.

Private matter, since your problem is with trees rather than unneighbourly hedges.

A quick google suggests that in English law, going way back to 17th century, a landowner cannot protect their right to a view. Exceptional cases have taken a different view (one involving houses in a modern riverside development that had been designed specifically to have views of the thames, where one of the house owners wanted to build an extension that would block the view).

I don't think the same would apply to your house.

I don't think you have any legal right to the view, sorry. If they were blocking light to your windows that would be another matter.

No you don't have a leg to stand on I'm afraid. It's a bugger but you have no right to a view.

One way to approach it would be to speak to the neighbour again, and ask if there is anything you can do / offer which would convince him to allow the topping and high-pruning you want. If he doesn't agree there is no recourse though.

OK thanks thought that might be the case, wish I hadn't of asked now I know there is nothing I can do :(

What type of tree is it?

It might be worth checking but I think he can be held responsible for any damage done by the trees. If the roots break a path/drive or branches break and damage greenhouse.
Of course I could be wrong so do check.