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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About my neighbours overhanging tree?

72 replies

Treestreestrees · 13/09/2019 08:20

I’m nervous to approach my ndn about this and need advice on how best to handle....

We have detached houses with long drives. At the end of hers, right next to the dividing wall, she has a huge tree. I’d say at least 50% of its branches grow across the wall and hang over my drive.

It’s not been an issue all the time I’ve lived here (annoying when it sheds but I’ve just ignored it) but I’m
Getting the drive done and gates fitted at same time as having garden done.

Gardener cheerfully told me ‘I’ll bring the saw for that tree next week, it’s got to come down’ (because of gate).

I’ve panicked. The treees never been mentioned between us. She seems lovely and is likely v attached to this tree....it’s going to look ridiculous cut back. I mean really ridiculous. Half a tree will be missing Blush

I know I’m in my legal rights, and I’m paying for it, but what on earth do I say to her??

OP posts:
Watchingthyme · 13/09/2019 09:56

Do you realise how damaging it is to have a bad relationship with a neighbour.
Do not just go and cut the tree. That’s crazy.

Can you imagine a reverse

My neighbour has cut half of my tree, it’s now dying. She didn’t tell me. I didn’t know it was a problem and I would have got a proper tree surgeon in Hmm

Original poster
Treestreestrees · 13/09/2019 09:58

@CassianAndor thats the look I’m going for Grin

@OliviaBenson with all due respect if the branches are on my side, I don’t need your permission regarding who cuts them back, it’s up to me who I pay to do it surely? I mean I’m a nice lady and will be neighbourly throughout but you can’t insist on my spending MY money on a tree surgeon, if I couldn’t afford it for example.

OP posts:
Original poster
Treestreestrees · 13/09/2019 09:59

@Watchingthyme rtft 🙄

OP posts:
Watchingthyme · 13/09/2019 10:01

I have read the full thread thanks

You haven’t spoken to your neighbour yet
And you seem to think that even if you do, you’re man with a saw is AOK to just go around lopping off branches

To be honest, you sound like a bit of a combative person.

CTRL · 13/09/2019 10:01

Ask her to trim the tree down as your having gates fitted and if she doesn’t, chop off the side that’s over-hanging into your threshold.

CTRL · 13/09/2019 10:02

@Watchingthyme
Combative person ??

For asking advice ??

My gosh - I’ve heard it all on this site Hmm

CTRL · 13/09/2019 10:04

People need to understand it’s fine to have trees and bushes and such in your garden but you have to be considerate and keep them maintained.

Where I live, if the bushes are too overgrown into the street, the council will tell you to trim it back or you will be issued a fine

Original poster
Treestreestrees · 13/09/2019 10:06

@Watchingthyme you may have read the thread but you clearly haven’t comprehended it. Not combative in the slightest but thanks for your ‘honesty’ 😂

OP posts:
TheAlternativeTentacle · 13/09/2019 10:07

Can you not just walk round there, explain that you are having new gates, and that the tree needs to be cut back and they are doing it on Monday?

OliviaBenson · 13/09/2019 10:28

With due respect, if you lop off half a tree without taking expert advice and it dies your neighbour could sue you. So yes I would be insisting on a competent contractor while respecting the fact that legally you can maintain your side. The fact that your builder hasn't even advised on planning issues with the gates hardly instils confidence in their abilities.

LochJessMonster · 13/09/2019 10:30

I would be unimpressed to be told that half my tree was going to be lopped in a matter of days. Then keep your tree on your side of the boundary. Hmm

OliviaBenson · 13/09/2019 10:32

Yes because nature works that way! HmmConfused

dollydaydream114 · 13/09/2019 10:35

So your chap says she’ll have to cut her tree that’s on her garden so you can fit a gate?

If I were her I wouldn’t agree to that. Sorry.

You wouldn't have a choice, though. Legally, you have to allow your neighbour to cut back branches that are overhanging their property, up to the property boundary. If your branches intrude into your neighbour's garden, they can cut them if they want to whether you like it or not.

We had to do this with our neighbour's conifer, as it was overhanging so badly that the branches had pushed our fence out of place. We had to get a tree surgeon to deal with the overhang before we could replace the fence. We discussed it with our neighbours and they accepted it needed doing but also refused to have anything on their side cut at the same time so it's very lopsided (and to me, looks terrible). But they accepted we were entitled to do it because it was damaging our property and we couldn't secure the boundary without getting it cut. Shortly after we replaced the fence they got a dog, which they wouldn't have been able to do with missing fence panels, so they did benefit in the end.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 13/09/2019 10:41

All these stories with happy ending after a tree is cut to accommodate someone who’s wants something.

And then we complain about air pollution and heatwave.

Well, this is why.

Enjoying your gates OP and next time you read about the rise of asthma in the cities then you will know why.

EntirelyAnonymised · 13/09/2019 10:48

All these stories with happy ending after a tree is cut to accommodate someone who’s want something [sic]

Eh? No one has posted such stories on this thread?

Ohflippineck · 13/09/2019 10:50

Talk to the woman, she might be perfectly happy to have it taken down if it’s that big. If not, you can remove what overhangs your side. Nothing more.
Inform her though.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 13/09/2019 11:01

Just RTFT, Anonymised.

And keep your little PA [sic] to yourself. Commenting on posters spelling and grammar doesn’t make look the way you think it does.

StroppyWoman · 13/09/2019 11:10

If you want to hack at your neighbours tree, you definitely should get a tree surgeon to do it and pay for it yourself. To let a block with a saw hack at it (and very possibly damage it or cause die-back) would be CF in the extreme.

I'd approach your neighbour with "we're having gates installed, and need to remove some branches from the tree to do that. Do you have a tree surgeon you'd prefer I used or am I ok to sort it myself? Do you want any work doing on your side at the same time, to even it up?"

Accept it as part of the cost of the improvements you are making,

Smelborp · 13/09/2019 11:43

People saying about what they would or would not allow as the neighbour - the OP has a right to cut off whatever overhangs. It may not be wise, but she can. You do need to avoid damaging the tree as a whole though.

Best thing to do is have a chat and present it as something to solve together so that you can deal with it in the best way.

I would also speak with the gardener though as that cheerful aside doesn’t necessarily sound very considered. It may be that he thinks it should come down for some other reason (for example, he doesn’t like overhanging trees) but it might not have to.

thecatsthecats · 13/09/2019 11:54

Even with the right to lop off half the canopy, you'd be mad to do so on the say so of a random gardener. The gardener doesn't have to live next to your neighbour!

You can get a free quote from a tree surgeon to explain the problem and see what he suggests as a solution.

MatildaTheCat · 13/09/2019 11:55

First you say this: *
I’ve panicked. The treees never been mentioned between us. She seems lovely and is likely v attached to this tree....it’s going to look ridiculous cut back. I mean really ridiculous. Half a tree will be missing blush*

And then you lay into OliviaBenson in an entirely different tone. Is your gardener qualified to reduce the tree? If so it’s reasonable to suggest her trims it but if not you would be far better off getting a professional opinion. I’ve had tree surgeons here today to reduce a tree and it is skilled work. I had to book up around six weeks ahead.

And whoever said good relations with your neighbour is absolutely correct.

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/09/2019 12:12

This was something you needed to think about a long time back. For now, I’d talk to the neighbour, get the gates fitted and work out between you who will do / pay for what to sort out the tree. If that means you get the gates fitted and they remain open until this happens. At the end of the day, the tree cannot prevent you from enjoying your property. However you also need to reach a compromise.

Original poster
Treestreestrees · 13/09/2019 12:33

@ChardonnaysDistantCousin well now how on earth do you expect me to enjoy my gates, now you’ve highlighted to me my personal responsibility for the asthma sufferers of my local cities?!

Dear lord.

OP posts:
ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 13/09/2019 12:35

Don’t enjoy them then.

Seeline · 13/09/2019 12:36

How tall is this tree?

The gates must be massive to require all the branches to be lopped off one side, unless this tree turns out to be a bush.