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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to refuse to cut down my tree?

201 replies

Ellybellyboo · 07/05/2017 08:48

I have a lovely old tree in my garden that my neighbour is insisting I cut down. We've told him no, but he keeps on and on about his right to light.

The tree doesn't overhang their garden at all. This neighbour is behind me. The tree is along the side of my garden and affects no one (we have a field beside us). He's claiming that it casts a shadow and leaves the end of his garden (where he's built a decked seating area) in the shade in the evenings

The tree in question has a TPO and we have to faff getting permission to have it pruned let alone cutting it down

I live in a little housing estate which backs onto a much larger one. Our estate used to be wasteland but did give views of open fields down to the sea. The neighbour in question applied for loads of TPOs in an attempt to stop our houses being built and spoiling his view so I kind of think tough luck

He's always been a bit difficult and constantly complains about anything and everything so I'm not feeling like I want to go out of my way

OP posts:
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theoldtrout01876 · 07/05/2017 15:02

I have a tree at the bottom of my yard, a very pretty tree with beautiful purple berries that the birds love. Its about 6 foot away from the fence between me and arsehole neighbors.

Said neighbors put up a huge pool in their yard and being special the building permit rule for pools didnt apply to them so they didnt get one. The pool was too close to my fence and my tree dropped berries into their pool. I was told to cut it down. I refused but told them to feel free to trim the branches back to the property line. Nope wasnt good enough, it had to be chopped down apparently.

Mr arsehole neighbor decided the best way to accomplish this was to try intimidating me. That didnt work cos Im scarier than he is Grin. A stand off ensued.

I came home early from work one day to discover a bucket truck in their back yard, hanging over my fence chopping down my tree. They had taken a full 1/3 off by that point. I went a tad ballistic.

My poor tree is now a skinny tree. I didnt need to cut it all down though so its still there driving him insane. I even planted some new ones just to annoy him, large evergreen things that grow fast. Gee that deck next to that pool dont seem to get much light these days does it. Arsehole.

Original poster
Ellybellyboo · 07/05/2017 15:10

Thanks Katie!

I was assuming individual as the council make us all put in separate applications if we want to do any work.

4 of the trees are on common/shared land and one of my neighbours has 2 in his garden so we asked if we could put in one group application for all 12 but they made us do them all individually. Right pain in the arse

I'm going to speak to the council tomorrow. I really want to cover my arse if he gets difficult

OP posts:
ArseyTussle · 07/05/2017 15:12

I love a shady tree to see under. Smile

(Misses point a bit)

Katie6448 · 07/05/2017 15:15

You're welcome. :)

It could be an individual order in that case, or you may well have a council who likes to make work for themselves! We prefer all trees on the same property to go on one application form, much easier!

susanboozan · 07/05/2017 15:36

All neighbours are demented. But we are neighbours to others also. And we might seem demented to them aswell.

It has to be a control thing. My place is my place but yours is also impacting on my place so sort it out.

There is no reason for neighbours not discussing things and sorting it out. But there is always one demented bugger around who thinks maybe because they were there first or something that they can control everyone else.

Thankfully I do not have this problem with anyone in my area. Fingers well and truly crossed here though. Never know do we.

SnickersWasAHorse · 07/05/2017 15:48

What would he do if your house was casting a shadow on his garden in the evening? Ask you to knock it down?

Original poster
Ellybellyboo · 07/05/2017 15:58

Shhhh. Don't give him ideas Grin

I think he's just shitty that these houses were built and he's been moaning ever since. I don't think cutting the tree down will appease him. He'll just move onto the next thing to moan about.

A couple of years ago he had a bee in his bonnet about our dog barking all day. DH runs his own business and takes the dog to work with him. The dog isn't here all day so it couldn't possibly be our dog he heard. We finally squared that, now it's the tree

OP posts:
insancerre · 07/05/2017 16:01

Can you just not it up a million watt security light that comes on when he is sat on his decking
He can't complain about that, after all you are giving him more light

Nanny0gg · 07/05/2017 16:05

He's a complete idiot.

He shouldn't have put his decking in shadow. The tree was there first! Even without a TPO you don't need to do anything.

Let him waste his money.

TheMaddHugger · 07/05/2017 16:07

Go chuck an active beehive next to the fence where he's decking.

OK. Im grumpy and off to bed. 12.37 here in Oz

Night All

OnTheRise · 07/05/2017 18:11

Put a load of Christmas lights in the tree and leave them flashing on and off all night. Then he'll have plenty of light to see by when he wants to sit on his decking.

Tell you what. How about we all send you things to decorate the tree with? I've got an old ironing board, a broken generator, and a few leaky buckets and I'm sure other mumsnetters have things which are equally beautiful to contribute. Sadly I think they'll only hang on the side facing his garden, and not on the bit you can see, but still. It's the thought that counts.

Tapandgo · 07/05/2017 18:39

We had a TPO in two different properties. We couldn't remove them even if we wanted.
If he wants them trimmed he can be asked to pay for it (if he gets permission). Can't see why you should pay if it comes to that.

Rossigigi · 07/05/2017 18:43

Never knew there was such a thing as a TPO- every day's a school day on MN.

Staypuff · 08/05/2017 22:30

Get yourself sone of those pigeon spikes quickly so he can't climb over and gets a prickly bum if he tries. Grin

YouTheCat · 08/05/2017 22:49

If he steps foot in your garden without your permission, I'd call the police (on 101) and ask them to have a word. I'd also mention the harassment. You are entitled to quiet enjoyment of your property (and your tree). Even if there wasn't a TPO he has no right to expect you to chop it down.

joangray38 · 08/05/2017 22:50

I would watch out that he doesn't arrange for it to be cut down when you are away/at work etc . Our lovely neighbour did this to a shared oak tree , before anyone could realise and stop him. All because it put leaves on his lawn. He didn't get fined as no one could prove he had done it.

PurpleDragon76 · 08/05/2017 23:12

How did your call to the council go? I for one am Team Tree! Shitty neighbour needs to get a life

TheweewitchRoz · 08/05/2017 23:14

I'd tell him about the CCTV you've had discreetly installed as you're worried about burglaries - might make him think twice if he were inclined to chop the tree down himself!

Sprinklestar · 08/05/2017 23:39

I'd get your solicitor to write him a letter asking him to cease and desist harassing you about said tree. Two can play at that game!

helpimitchy · 08/05/2017 23:55

He sounds like he has ishoos and the tree is just his latest focus.

I'd be looking at harassment charges if he continues.

RoseDore · 09/05/2017 00:02

I live in a conservation area and my neighbour wanted the four trees at the end of my garden cut down because 'nothing grows in the garden and there are insects and spiders in the trees.' Her garden is north facing and the trees don't cast any shadow at all, all the shade is in my garden. Needless to say, they are still there. The tree officer told me if there were bats nesting, they wouldn't be allowed to cut them down Grin.

SophieGiroux · 12/05/2017 22:28

Any update?

Original poster
Ellybellyboo · 13/05/2017 07:48

Sorry, meant to come back and update but it went mad at work and I haven't had a minute.

I spoke to the council on Monday and they were really helpful.

Confirmed they'd never remove a TPO because a tree was casting a shadow for a small period of time in a garden. Also confirmed that as we'd had work done on the tree this year they wouldn't permit any further work or allow us to cut it back any further.

They suggested I call the police about the harassment but I thought that was a bit over the top so they're going to write to him

I explained I was worried neighbour might take matters into his own hands to they've noted everything down and will put it on file.

I had a letter yesterday from them, just confirming our conversation so I'm hoping neighbour has had his letter too.

I haven't seen neighbour since the weekend, but I haven't been about much. DH saw him in the local shop and said neighbour started moaning but DH informed him we'd spoken to the council and that he'd hear from them in due course

So, victory for team tree so far

OP posts:
Hassled · 13/05/2017 07:53

Yay for Team Tree!

LakieLady · 13/05/2017 08:14

Until I got to the bit about the sea, I was starting to suspect that you were my SiL, Elly. They've had this with their bonkers neighbour. Said neighbour cost them thousands in objecting to their planning application, and even explaining quite clearly to the neighbour that "I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire" hasn't stopped the old cunt from asking.

Why on earth do people buy a house where there are trees on the boundary, only want to have them chopped down a few years later? That's nearly as daft as buying a house next door to a pub and complaining about the noise.