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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbours behind angry and coming round about cutting holly bush

89 replies

Bellasmummy1980 · 31/07/2017 14:33

Hi all

We live in a rented (ex-council) house (3 bed, long back garden, all very tidy). There is an alley way that leads round to the back and holly bushes all along the back of the alley (so in the 'council owned' alley). The holly bushes are out of control and lean right into our garden creating mess on the trampoline. My husband decided to have a 'trim'. Hes chopped it back at the bottom and has made it a bit 'thin' so its a bit 'gappy'. The neighbour next door told us that the neighbours behind are very angry as we have cut his bushes and ruined his privacy. Also he dosent want to see "those nasty council houses"

Would ibu to tell the snob to eff off when he comes round to complain?

OP posts:

Original poster

Bellasmummy1980 · 31/07/2017 16:01

I wish i could be that calm person that nods and listens. Even if i was bu i think i just wouldnt be able to contain myself. Im that person that shouts out the bedroom window when the neighbours visitors park across my driveway (nearly every bloomin day)

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2017 16:03

He's fucked off because he's trying to sell his house and instead of a dark green hedge at the back you can now see houses

Exactly. And I can say this because I grew up in one, not many council houses are known for their outstanding beauty and aesthetic design. What would you rather look at. Hedges are common, even if it's a friggen gorgeous house, because people don't want to sit and look at each other's houses, they want privacy in their garden.

That's why he is fucked off, because he's no longer selling a private garden.

mistlethrush · 31/07/2017 16:05

Unless you own the land included in the alley (in which case you could take the trees down entirely if you wanted to unless they were protected), I think it would have been acceptable to cut down the bits of Holly tree that were overhaning YOUR fence, but it sounds as though your OH has trimmed it back to your Neighbour's fence. As the trees are growing on your neighbours side of the alley, I can understand why this might have annoyed them, unless, as already stated, you own the land that the alley is on.

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2017 16:08

Even if i was bu i think i just wouldnt be able to contain myself

Why? This isn't class warfare. It's not even your house. You rent. It doesn't matter how gorgeous you perceive the house to be and how happy you think he should be to look at it, Surely you can understand why he is annoyed. Sounds like your husbands proper hacked it and he's trying to sell. Selling is very stressful. Have a little empathy. Most folks would be a bit pissed off.

aginghippy · 31/07/2017 16:08

Ahh Bellasmummy now you are trying to turn this into a parking thread

freefaller1 · 31/07/2017 16:09

Our backed on neighbour has a big plum tree that leans over into our garden and they went nuts when we trimmed it back. Not nice edible plums either as the tree has seen better days.
They threatened to complain to the council- not sure what they will do but not really that bothered either.
I told the neighbour in future I'll just throw all the rotting fruit from my garden into hers as it's her property!

In hindsight I should have asked her first to do something about it but by the way she keeps the rest of her garden (hoarder next door style) didn't think she'd mind!

Original poster

Bellasmummy1980 · 31/07/2017 16:09

The thing is you can barely see into each others garden. You would really have to stand right by the fence (which is 6ft btw) and look over it to just about see anything. The 'thining' bit that dh cut back is only about a few feet wide then it goes back into thick bushes (because he couldnt reach that high up).
I totally understand about privacy and would be annoyed if dh cut back anymore. Its his attitude i dont like. Why did he even have to mention council houses? Just 'houses' would have been fine!?

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2017 16:13

Well you're only going on hear say and what your neighbour said. I doubt he said it to your neighbour. Who I assume also lives in an ex council house and is possibly stirring it. I really wouldn't go off in one on gossip.

As said, council houses are seldom know for their outstanding aesthetic design and it's not even yours. It's not even council, it's private. I really don't see your issue. So you disagree on the aesthetics of the house you rent, who gives a shiny shit?

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 31/07/2017 16:14

But you don't even live in a council house, you live in a privately owned house that you rent?

Original poster

Bellasmummy1980 · 31/07/2017 16:18

I never said that i either liked or disliked our house or that it was aesthetically pleasing or not. I am annoyed about his attitude which in turn resulted in my attitude.

OP posts:

tabbymog · 31/07/2017 16:19

The last thing you want is going barefoot, or even with sandals on, into your garden and stepping on a holly leaf. Been there, done that, bastard things. Cutting them back is necessary for your kids' safety, especially on a trampoline. Your neighbour's an idiot. Would the council be interested to know that this person is apparently trying to sell council property as their own? Nasty little man, it sounds like you'll be well rid of him.

Cuppaoftea · 31/07/2017 16:20

Your DH ought only to have trimmed back to your fence. As you rent I'd be a little worried as to your Landlord's view if the neighbour complains to them, I'd think the Landlord would also welcome the screening the Holly trees provide and want to maintain good relations.

Keeping your trampoline clear isn't a defence for damaging other people's property, your DH ought to apologise.

Bunnyfuller · 31/07/2017 16:20

I'd be pissed off if the shrubbery giving my house a semblance of privacy was hacked back. Your husband must've overdone it, and hacked a lot back for it to now be thin and gappy. And seeing a neighbour's trampoline at the bottom of your garden is not a huge selling point.

Why didn't you just go speak to him and see if you could agree to neaten up the hedge. Or, shock horror, just move your trampoline.

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2017 16:21

His attitude though is down to that one comment which could easily have been embellishment from the neighbour. It's not even a council house,

Original poster

Bellasmummy1980 · 31/07/2017 16:28

You cant see the trampoline as its behind a 6ft fence. As i said before you really cant see into the each others gardens. Im not sure why i would have to move my trampoline when i can just trim back the holly bush that is invading my garden.

OP posts:

aginghippy · 31/07/2017 16:29

At this point, it's only gossip from the NDN. He may never even come round.

TheEricaOlthwaiteGang · 31/07/2017 16:31

A diagram would be immensely useful as I can't picture how the holly bushes are growing over your boundary when you say that your DH cut the bushes back along the neighbour's boundary.

I live in a terraced house with a walled garden that backs onto a wide cobbled alley. My deeds show that the cobbled land from my boundary wall to the centre of the alley falls within my ownership. So perhaps there is a similar situation here and although you perceive the alley to be no-man's land it is actually owned by the neighbour.

It is normally a good idea to just knock on and notify neighbour's when you plan to do something like this. It's just courteous and avoids conflict.

Gingerandgivingzerofucks · 31/07/2017 16:32

Just repeat ad infinitum that by law you're entitled to trim back any bush/tree which overhangs your garden (unless they're under a protection order, doubt if for holly)

You might also like to ask if he'd like to have to mention a dispute with the neighbour on the vendor's pack when he sells? If he has fenced in the bushes that should be in the alley, contact the council to say he's appropriated council land if you're feeling really nasty.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 31/07/2017 16:34

You could have just move the trampoline further away from the holly and hearer your non ghastly non council house and that would have solved the problem.

And kept your privacy.

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2017 16:39

As she rents I really don't think it's good advice for her to report to council and escalate a war. If she was my tennant I'd get rid of her and not renew when lease came up, if she did that.

bbcessex · 31/07/2017 16:41

Sounds like hearsay from a 'neighbour of a neighbour of a neighbour'..

I'd put it out if your mind.. you're creating monsters unlikely to ever happen...

Original poster

Bellasmummy1980 · 31/07/2017 16:42

Just re-read one of my previous posts and realized how sweary i was. Apologies for that. Summer seems to have crept up on me and in last min desperation have gone on a diet so i maybe a little hangry

Moving the trampoline is not an option as the garden is full of other stuff (patios/sheds/garden furniture ect)
NDN is a very reliable source which i trust (cant say why as this may out me). Also attitude of the neighbour at war a few doors down was witnessed first hand when the very rude woman came round shouting at the tree men about not looking at ghastly council houses ect... it seems the street behind have a very poor attitude to housing

OP posts:

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 31/07/2017 16:48

very poor attitude to housing confused

Your attempts at points scoring are very clumsy OP.
Maybe they have the right attitude to people who butcher their bushes and evade their privacy and it's nothing to do with housing.

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2017 16:53

Op, what do you want, are you trying to turn this into a class warfare thread. Your language is highly inflammatory " yucky council houses" " ghastly council houses" "posh houses"

Honestly you sound like you've got a massive chip on your shoulder. You don't own the house and it's not council. Let it drop.

Original poster

Bellasmummy1980 · 31/07/2017 17:12

In regards to the 'inflammatory language' Im just repeating what others have said and my own 'posh house' comment is in retaliation. So we have cut back some overhanging bushes and therefore our landlord must turf us out? Charming!

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