Urghhhhh neighbour!

[Iwanttoflyaway]

So we've recently moved into our new house about 6 months ago. Both sides were lovely then.

Anyways at the front of the house, my house and neighbors is separated by a hedge. Last time they were trimming it down I went out and asked if they minded if we let that grow longer. They used to trim it so short they could see into our living room from their front garden. They agreed etc. Said sure no problem.

So today Ive just popped out and it's been trimmed down again. Arghhhhhhh

The back story to this is at the back garden we had some trees trimmed down. And the same neighbours came round asking our tree surgeon if they would chop a branch from our tree that was hanging into their garden. We told them how much the tree surgeon charges per branch etc and if you wanted it done you'd need to hire him separately. They weren't happy.

So now what and who is being aibu?

Is it possible to put up a fence give yourself some privacy?

It would have been neighbourly to cut the branch for them, it’s your tree and it must have been causing them a nuisance.

Yes they could have cut it themselves, but as someone surrounded by others people’s tress it’s annoying having to spend time and money on tress that I neither planted nor wanted.

I am afraid I would have been inclined to trim the hedge low in retaliation.

If the hedge grows along the boundary it might be jointly owned,p. Your solicitor should have advised you when you bought the house.

@Anotherusefulname it's was a completely different tree to the one we were getting work on

But you can’t always chop or trim over hanging branches yourself (as you know because you’ve used a tree surgeon)

I think it makes sense for them to ask the tree surgeon directly they’ve obviously just assumed he was pruning your tree and would want to do a full job.

@Stressedout10 we do have blinds ffs!! I shouldn't have to keep them closed because neighbours keep peering in.

We told them how much the tree surgeon charges per branch etc and if you wanted it done you'd need to hire him separately.

I'm not surprised they weren't happy! Just have your tree trimmed so it isn't annoying them!

The tree branch thing happened about 4 months before the hedge thing. And it's not like it's all been one sided. We had trees alongside the hedge at the front. They asked for them to be trimmed down which we had don't for them. It didn't make a difference to us. Now I'm thinking they were planted there to block out the nosy neighbours lol

I think you might have blown the 'nice neighbour' vibe by being so unreasonable about the overhanging branch. Tree surgeon could have just lopped that off, without them having to rebook separately (and incurring more costs).

Ultimately if it's their hedge, it's up to them how long or short it is.

I have no idea about legalities etc but both my neighbours either side have trees and conifers along the boundary. The one on the left gets all hers trimmed and shaped at the end of summer and sends them round to my side too. The one on the right never cuts his and are now so high I have to pay someone to come out and cut my side as we can no longer do it ourselves. I much prefer my left side neighbour!

Do you think your neighbours stay in their garden just to look into your window?

At the most, it would be a short peak when they leave/arrive home.

You sound hard work.

YABA. The tree in your back garden is yours and if it's overhanging into someone else's garden then it's your responsibility to maintain it. The hedge at the front who does it belong to?

Well there you go, you can't expect others to plant for your privacy, you need to plant your own shrubs etc. for your privacy but maintain them in an appropriate way.

@Iwanttoflyaway then ask them to stop keep peering in? Although I'm not sure that massive drip feed is really true. They may glance.

A tree surgeon that charges by the branch. I've heard it all now 😂

We have a shared hedge. At first next door just cut their half of the top. Then they caught me and asked if I minded if they did the whole top, which they did, but left the bit on my side to me.

This was fair and reasonable and polite. Now, whoever's cutting the hedge on their own side just neatens the top if it needs doing, leaving the other neighbour with slightly less to do.

In your case, with your updates, YWNBtotallyU about the branch, however I would maintain all my trees, and not expect my neighbour to do it for me.

Hedge-wise, find out who's it is. If it's shared, ask them to stop cutting your half of it.

Beware though - hedge wars get nasty - better to just plant some more things than get into a hedge war.

It’s probably impossible to say who “owns” the hedge and if they’ve been maintaining it for as long as you’ve been in the house then it would be pretty ridiculous to try and claim joint ownership. If they want it short (and since that’s how they cut it until you asked, it seems likely) and you want a higher boundary you should just put your own higher boundary in. You can talk to them about it again - along the lines of “I see you’ve cut the hedge down again. We really want a bit more privacy so we’re thinking of planting our hedge/putting up our own fence unless you’d like to share maintenance on the current hedge at a greater height.” (Bigger hedges are more of a pain to trim) And they might say “oh, fine. I’d forgotten you like the hedge taller. Let’s share.”

I see your point on the tree, especially since it wasn’t the one the tree surgeon was working on and legally you were within your rights. But most people don’t find the law to be very just or balanced when it comes to other people’s trees encroaching on their use and enjoyment of their own gardens. So it’s not surprising if it annoyed them and made them petty or just more assertive about the hedge.

Yes, neighbours can chop down branches that over-hang their land, but it's your tree and the right thing to do is have it cut if it bothers them.

As for height of the hedge, if it's their hedge, they can trim it back as hard as they like. If you want more privacy, you need to provide it for yourself.

Oh dear!

I think you’ve posed them off and they are polite to your face but slagging you off in the comfort of their own home.

You really should’ve cut the branch of your tree that was overhanging their garden while your tree surgeon was there.

I think they probably don’t give a shit anymore what you want or prefer as you didn’t give a shit what they wanted.

You sound VERY unaware and self-centred tbh.

Good luck trying to fix this relationship!

A tree surgeon that charges by the branch. I've heard it all now
I thought the same!
Our tree surgeon charges by percentage: i.e. Thinning by approx 15% (this seems to be as I live within a conservation zone, so are given a maximum amount I am allowed to remove)

You are technically correct that they can chop off the branches overhanging onto their side, however they may not do a good job. They could damage the tree, the could unbalance the tree. You really should have just had it done to ensure it was done safely and wouldn’t damage your tree.

The boundary belongs to someone to maintain it. Check your deeds, if it is theirs then they can do what they like. Put a fence up if you don’t like it.

You were going to pass on the cost of cutting a branch from your tree?

Your deeds should show who owns the hedge but they often don't. In which case you generally just apply common sense and try not to fall out with your neighbours.

Out of interest, what are you doing in your front room? I feel sorry for anyone who wants to watch me watch tv!