Other people's trees?

[working925]

Lovely sunny day here but literally no sun in our garden because of other people's trees shading the garden. Aibu to ask them to trim them/cut them down? Would I be expected to pay - it would be hundreds?

You can ask but they would be completely within their rights to say no.

Were the trees not there when you bought the house? It wouldn't hurt to ask, but personally I'd say no. If I said yes, I would expect you to pay for it, yes.

You can trim back any overhanging branches to the boundary but they don't have to do anything about them.

You can cut back branches that overhang your property, but you must offer them the cuttings.

You can ask. If I were asked I would probably let you do some trimming if you paid for it. I wouldn't remove trees as I think they are really valuable ecological resources. I had to take a tree down for safety reasons and it was hundreds but I imagine a trim may well be less.

Bear in mind it's nesting season. I'm sure the hugely overgrown bushes in my garden (we moved in a few months ago) shade our back neighbour's a lot - we'd love to cut them back but we believe there are at least 2 or 3 bird nests in there.

*neighbours

Why wouldn't you be expected to pay? You should cover the whole cost if the neighbors agree to have the tree removed for your benefit.

Sounds lovely tbh! You can trim them back to the boundary from memory. If they are on their side only then a chat is needed, I think you would need to offer to pay if there is no issue that they can see.

Christ. I'd love such privacy to be honest!!

If you're not happy then go to the council!

YABU. Not everybody wants to live in a treeless unshaded dystopia. You must have seen the trees when you moved in? If you want some sun, go for a walk.

We had just this problem. Neighbours have 3 huge conifers which have doubled in height since we moved in 5 years ago. I nervously went around (taking baby ds for cute factor) and asked if they would consider lopping the tops or removal. She was a lovely lady who was worried about reduced privacy. She is uphill from us and the trees are not as overpowering in her garden. Anyway she's paid to have the tops lopped off. A plum tree on the border of our house and the next door semi we paid £250 to have the canopy thinned out. The crotchet elderly man directly behind us also had some trees trimmed.
It's worth asking. Don't mention paying to start off with. Be prepared to perhaps pay half? Think it was a out £600 to have 3x 30ft conifers lopped.

I think you have a right to daylight too. Tree canopies can be thinned.
Weird 1st responses imo.
However I do live in Sheffield which has trees and green spaces galore.

You can politely ask but not expect anything to happen before the autumn/winter. We have a neighbour who knocked after Easter, introduced herself (she moved in about 18 months ago) and demanded we fell our trees as her new gazebo is in shade in the summer evening. We may trim them later in the year but we appreciate their shade and birds are nesting.

Bloody hell are you my neighbour? No it's not acceptable to bang on about the bloody trees all the time. Yes we are going to get the sodding things looped and just for your info a 2 metre fence will be going up on Monday which will plunge your patio into darkness. That's what happens when you keep coming into our garden to cut down our plants 🙄

I want as much tree coverage on all borders as possible so I cannot even see through to the neighbours. If they don't like that ehy will have to lump it. If my branches come ove their fence they are allowed by law to cut that bit only that goes into their area.

You only have rights if they are fast growing evergreens - e.g. Leylandi. I am completely bordered by trees which have grown a lot since I moved in and have gone from partial to almost full shade in my garden. "Mine" are council owned deciduous trees though, and no chance of them being trimmed so it's a good job I like them! If your neighbour's are deciduous you can ask them politely but they don't have to say yes. Be prepared to offer to pay.

Our neighbour recently asked if they could cut down a tree in our garden. Apparently it had been a source of misery to them for years but they hadn't come to us, just written to the council about it. We agreed and they were happy to pay for it.