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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbours have chopped our tree down

309 replies

treeless · 05/05/2019 13:58

More of a wwyd as know I'm not being unreasonable...neighbour in terrace next to ours have chopped our tree down! It's clearly on our driveway and not theirs. Speechless!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
JaneEyre07 · 05/05/2019 19:18

Oh.My.God.

That's insane.

I'd honestly report that to the Police for criminal damage. Phone 101.

ControversialFerret · 05/05/2019 19:25

Looks like a photinia to me. It's a shrub but it can be trained as a tree - I have both. FYI the trees are bloody expensive as they take a fair bit of training! My tree's trunk width is nowhere near as large as yours, and mine cost me £60 (I got it last month).

For a trunk of that width you are looking at a pretty mature specimen. Guessing it at about 20cm or so, that's about £600 to replace with a like-for-like tree.

SleepWarrior · 05/05/2019 19:34

So what did you say when they asked if they could put your tree in your garden bin? I fear your best moment to speak up is long gone...

EffYouSeeKaye · 05/05/2019 19:38
Shock
Heaviestdirtyestsoul · 05/05/2019 19:49

Can you get onto their garden to chop their bushes down? Ok, maybe not- but can you sharpen a few branches and poke their bloody eyes out? Thieving swines!

m4rdybum · 05/05/2019 19:50

Was it structurally sound?

WhatchaMaCalllit · 05/05/2019 20:02

@m4rdybum - looking at the photo of the trunk it looked structurally sound at that level. Irrespective of whether it was or not, it was not up to the OPs neighbours to remove the tree, it would be up to the OP to do that.

BuildBuildings · 05/05/2019 20:03

I'm so confused as to why anyone would do this. You need to chat to them. Totally unacceptable!

FedUpParent · 05/05/2019 20:18

If I were you I’d claim you paid a large sum of money for it, I’m completely baffled that anyone would think this is ok

Best-case scenario Offallycheap’a diagram is what they thought and it was a genuine mistake but even then you would think to ask! Unreal

Some people are just so self-centred I. Can’t comprehend it

Poppyinafieldofdreams · 05/05/2019 20:39

I thought we needed trees to live.

HardAsSnails · 05/05/2019 20:48

If it is a photinia, if you leave it alone now, it will almost certainly send out new growth and get all shrubby again.

Littlecaf · 05/05/2019 20:50

Op that’s mad! Yes do go round and ask them wtf is going on and can you have your tree back please!

BogglesGoggles · 05/05/2019 20:54

It’s your property, they have to pay for the damage. Present them with a bill to replace with a similar sized shrub if thatvariety and have it planted. If they don’t pay sue them. Do you have their phone number or email address? Communicate with them through writting so you have evidence.

WheelyCote · 05/05/2019 20:59

CF's!!! Id be livid. Id knock on the door and say WTF!?

Gruzinkerbell1 · 05/05/2019 20:59

Definitely calls for a WTF conversation

Original poster
treeless · 05/05/2019 21:27

@babdoc that's very sad and must have been horribly difficult to deal with

OP posts:
Myyearmytime · 05/05/2019 21:28

I would ring their landlord or managing agent .

SuckingOnDiesel · 05/05/2019 21:29

👀 wonder what they'll say!

Original poster
treeless · 05/05/2019 21:39

I don't know the landlord or managing agent. They are a friend of the previous tenant, so property wasn't advertised.
They're acting like it was their tree as they asked if we had any space in our bin and have acted nonchalant.
I think the tree is a Photinia as pp have suggested.
My other half thinks that they've done us a favour as we may have had to cut it down to do driveway. I would like to politely tell neighbours that I'm not sure they realised they have cut our tree instead of theirs as I feel to say nothing is too door-matty. I'd like to ask them to at least make sure the roots are disposed of etc as the damage has been done now. Other half think they've inadvertently done us a favour so don't say anything. Hmmm.

OP posts:
AppropriateAdult · 05/05/2019 21:39

If the neighbour is a tenant your first port of call can/should be the landlord as they should be asking for his permission to cut down trees if they think that they are in their garden.

It's got nothing to do with their landlord - they cut down a tree in somebody else's garden. It's no more the landlord's problem than if they'd robbed the house of somebody two streets away.

Original poster
treeless · 05/05/2019 21:41

Sorry that should have read my other half (as in partner) thinks.

Think I've answered all queries now? There are some proper CF stories on here and some funny diagrams!

OP posts:
Offallycheap · 05/05/2019 21:44

Other half is a wuss.

Smilingthru · 05/05/2019 21:47

😳

Original poster
treeless · 05/05/2019 21:49

That's what I said to him. He said they've done us a favour.

OP posts:
Dippypippy1980 · 05/05/2019 21:53

I think regardless you need to explain to them it belongs to you - this could be phase one of a bigger plan. Point out where their garden ends and yours begins.

If you are planning to extend the driveway you could find a big feud on your hands if you use what they have now claimed as their garden.

It doesn’t need to be confrontational - and your other half can hide behind the sofa while you have a chat.

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