Neighbour and massive tree

[GermanHouseCat]

Our NDNs have a massive tree in their garden which overhung our garden very significantly to the point where tree "droppings"(!) were rotting our decking and branches were blocking out the sun for hours every day. Some branches were pushing up against our conservatory windows.

NDN and I are friendly and I recently asked him if he would mind DH and I paying to have some of the lower branches removed to give the tree a better shape and stop some of the problems we have been having. He said that they would be absolutely fine with that, and would have done it themselves but they can't afford it. We agreed which branches needed to go.

On Saturday a tree surgeon came and did the work. He was great and took a long time to do a tidy job and then cleared as much of the fallen branches as he could access. I am really pleased with the job - the tree looks fantastic.

Anyway, neighbour has just come home from a weekend away. He and his DW like the shape, but are concerned that some of the branches which fell in their garden were not cleared away. We are talking about a few (max 5) small branches which could easily be snapped in half and left out for the garden bin men. They want DH and I to go and clear them away. By contrast our entire garden was covered in branches, some of which damaged plants and all of which had to be dragged through our house.

NDNs are both able bodied and young, and our council are very good at collecting garden waste.

AIBU to think this is cheeky?

The tree is theirs and was causing damage to our property, as well as massively overhanging and blocking light. Yes, we wanted it cut back which is why we were happy to pay, but really isn't it neighbour's responsibility to keep under control?

They are BVU! Keep trimming the branches off and chucking them back into their garden as that's what the law says you should do to stop it getting out of hand again. If you can reach to top, lop that off too if they are in agreement.

Trees are a nightmare

YANBU.

Cheeky buggers.

I was worried this might be about us until I read it. Our lovely neighbours came round and asked if they could trim the tree on their side and did we want the cuttings?! I apologised for the awful tree and said we did plan to get the whole thing taken out at some point and their tree surgeon was welcome to come into our garden if that was what was needed.
Weird they want you to tidy their garden.

I'm practising a new technique where these kind of things are involved. Just agree vaguely and then never, ever get around to doing it.

NDNs are usually very reasonable, generous types. I think maybe they genuinely believe they are doing us a massive favour by allowing us to cut branches off and therefore (as we want it done) we should make sure it's cleared up fully. Weird. If the tree was in my garden I'd count my lucky stars that somebody else was willing to pay to manage it.

How rude of them! You've done them a favour by cutting it - you could have complained to the council about their tree but instead you have very kindly paid for it to be cut for them. Of course they should pick up the branches on their side!!

As I understand it, the legal position is that anything that overhangs your garden can be chopped without prior agreement but you must put the cuttings over the fence as technically they belong to your neighbour.

Complaining to the council wouldn't achieve much (unfortunately). The most you could expect is them to knock on the door and ask the neighbours to consider doing something.

They are being cheeky! Should be thanking you profusely for sorting out a tree which is their responsibility. Have you discussed what will happen when it grows back, or do they think you will be paying a tree surgeon every few years?

If you inwardly roll your eyes, grit your teeth and go do as they ask you've paved the way for a cordial relationship with the NDN so that as the tree grows again you can go out with secateurs and chop it back.

They're very cheeky but if it will help keep the tree in check longterm without any objections I think I'd do it.

But once. Only once. I'd make it clear to them in a polite, cheery way, that any more clippings or branches on their side are their responsibility to clear as you've enough to do clearing your own side.

Vivacia - yes that's what they did when we complained about a neighbours huge hedge at the back of our old house (after numerous attempt to compromise with them and eventually offering to cut it ourselves which they refused - we didn't want to cut it down completely just a little lower). The council went round several times to speak to them until eventually they agreed to work with us to sort it out.

If the tree is very large you need to speak to your local council first. It may be listed under a Tree Protection Order and you could be in trouble if you lop it without their agreement.
In addition many councils have regulations about lopping even non-listed trees.

Just to say that it's wrong that branches should be put over the fence into the owners' garden. Pruned branches should be offered back to the owner but if they refuse them, it's your responsibility to dispose of them. I thinl that only applies to stuff from your side of the fence though.

I spoke to our council about the NDN's large silver birch tree which overhung our patio.

They said they wouldn't intervene as the houses are privately owned.

So I invited the neighbours round to see what a mess their tree made of our garden, how it blocked our gutters, covered the garden in black sap, seeds and leaves all year round and how the roots had lifted the patio slabs so that they were a trip hazard. I'd cut off as much as I could but mercifully they had it removed soon after.

I certainly wouldn't have paid a tree surgeon to prune someone else's tree I'm afraid, you have been more than reasonable and they were very cheeky to expect you to clear up their mess.

i believe the law states that if the tree is their property you are legally required to pass the cut down branches over to them otherwise it becomes theft. Perhaps you could find a lighthearted way of dropping that into the conversation?

They are being twats, althoughfor the sake of goodwill if you are on friendly terms and it is only a max of 5 as your op states i would just go and do it

I think we'll go and clear it at the weekend, but I will definitely make the point that even though we are benefiting it is still us that is doing them a favour, not the other way around.

Just brezzily ask them if they want all the trimmings back as by law they need to be returned...might shut the fuckers up

the trimmings must be offered... they don't have to accept...

Throwing branches back over won't help neighborly relations.
Offer back any cuttings as Joey says but if they are refused they are your responsibility to dispose of.