Enormous tree in neighbour's garden

[treewoes]

I live in a small terraced house. At the bottom of my next door neighbour's garden there's a huge tree. I'd say it's at least three times taller than the surrounding houses... probably about 100ft if I had to guess?

Every day the tree blocks the sunlight in my garden for about 3 hours solid in the early afternoon, before the sun swings back round again in the late afternoon/early evening.

I would really love to get the tree either significantly reduced in height or removed altogether, but obviously it's on my neighbour's land so it's not my call.

I don't know the neighbours at all well (we only moved in six months ago and have barely seen them) and am really nervous to ask them, in case they're annoyed or think I'm interfering.

I'd be willing to pay for some or all of the work if the neighbours weren't happy to do so. DH thinks we should go halves but since we're the ones who have an issue with it, I think it's only fair that we cover the full cost if need be.

Does anyone have any advice on how they would deal with this situation? Do you think it's worth exploring getting the tree cut since I do get sunlight in my garden for about 6 hours a day (but none at all from 12-3)?

And does anyone know how much it would cost to get such an enormous tree cut back or chopped down? Logistically it could be a challenge as the tree is located between two rows of terraces.

Thank you!

“Then they can get it cut back.”

It may be that they don’t like the tree but don’t have the spare cash, I don’t know.

I don’t understand why people are being so hostile. All OP is doing is asking and will pay for it
Neighbours can say no

Because it is unbelievably cheeky to view a house, see something you don't like of the neighbours, buy the house anyway, then think your entitled to ask the neighbour to get rid of the offensive item with the assumption that it's totally very reasonable because you'll pay?!

As I said, I would be polite but I would be really annoyed, think you unbelievably rude and make a mental note not to ever help you out with anything and stick to bare minimum neighbourly politeness

You do realise that removing a tree of that size will cost you thousands or even tens of thousands of pounds

That's simply not true. I've had loads of big trees cut down and live in an expensive area. I've always used proper tree surgeons. I like to pay day rates.

The tree surgeon I use is about £450 a day including his assistant and removal of all waste but not stump removal.

You've called me rude, another poster rude, and a third poster nasty. Why don't you get a grip? Yes, there are people on here who believe pre existing natural life should where possible be kept in tact if the payoff is only a very small increase in human comfort. A tree trumps your right to an extra three hours of light. If it was about a tree threatening the safety of your home, my response would be different.cYou started a post in AIBU and people are responding. Get over it.

I'll leave you to it but for what it's worth you dnt know your neighbours. If you were my neighbour and you asked me this I would politely refuse but I would also make a mental note of you as an entitled person who I wouldnt want to get to know better.

“As I said, I would be polite but I would be really annoyed, think you unbelievably rude and make a mental note not to ever help you out with anything and stick to bare minimum neighbourly politeness”

So thankful that you’re not my neighbour!

I think it's worth asking if they'll cut it back- especially if you are willing to pay. Big trees can be really dominant in closely built-up areas. Our neighbour paid to have the trees at the back of our houses cut back and it made a real difference to the light levels.

Oh sorry update you've now called a fourth poster rude. I'm out. Enjoy the daylight

Treewoes I'm so sorry about the nature of some of the comments. It doesn't surprise me at all that you didn't think the tree wd be an issue when u bought the house. Not one of us has thought of everything when we move house! Our neighb has let their tree sprawl up and out shapelessly over the last 23 yrs and altho we have a south facing garden, we now get virtually no sun. It's planted in the back right corner of their garden and shades ours and 2 others, but not much of their own. I totally understand how you feel and yes, just go ahead and ask if they'd mind. If there's no TPO then yr entitled to cut any overhanging branches, but I'd ask first. Good luck!

Frosted you sound like the arrogant one - not to mention rude and inconsiderate to boot

Luckily there are many posters on the thread who sound like they’d be perfectly prepared to have a civilized conversation with their neighbours about such things, so thankfully not everyone is of your mindset!

How can you not see how what you are proposing is rude?!

I would have a perfectly civilised, polite conversation with you.
As I have said.

But I would feel supremely annoyed and think you extremely rude, entitled, arrogant etc.
I wouldn't tell you that.

I would stick to a very polite 'I am so sorry you feel that way but unfortunately I really like the tree and won't be having it thinned out or cut down. Sorry again, take care and see you soon'

@gwackywacky I'm the nasty one but to be fair I did tell her not to be an idiot

You've called me rude, another poster rude, and a third poster nasty. Why don't you get a grip?

I think you’re the one who needs to get a grip, Gwacky. I asked you to leave me alone earlier in the thread - please respect my wishes and stop being so aggressive.

I have wished for a good ten years for my neighbour to fell the most hideous Lleylandii. It is taller than both our houses and last year its roots caused a massive sewer back up. It is way to big and seriously deprives is of light. It isn't even deciduous! I would ask them! What kind of tree is it? That is a crucial question. Could it be crowned?

Depends on the tree I think... hideous Leylandi that my neighbours have stealing all moisture (but thankfully not light) I'd be glad to see the back of and would consider offering to pay to have them trimmed or removed if they did block our light.

An ancient oak definitely leave it there.

BUT trees do need maintaining which people don't often do.

We have two massive Scots pines with tpo on them. They'd been neglected for many years and needed trimming as they weren't safe. We had to get permission from council and it cost over a grand to do but was worth it and our neighbours were pleased we did as they'd been worried about them for years but previous owners refused to touch them. We're now having to deal with the back garden, no tpo and beautiful holy trees with berries on but so overgrown the need to be pruned to be in keeping with suburban gardens.

To be fair to the OP, I didn't notice the massive trees around my garden when I viewed my house. I was a ftb and was quite overwhelmed with everything. The trees don't actually bother me, I like them but things like possible shade problems never even crossed my mind.

Flamingo I must say, I am seriously envious of your garden.

Haven't managed to read all of the posts but has anyone suggested there might be a protection order on the tree - particularly one as big and old as this one must be. If there is then the only way it will be even lightly pruned is if the council agrees a branch constitutes a danger.

My outlaws had a huge oak in the front garden of where they had a first floor flat. They hated the fact that the tree blocked the sun and so did the people beneath them who owned the property. The tree was protected and so it stayed. Personally I thought it was a grand thing and loved the fact that it was lovely to look at and gave the flat a lot of needed shade when summers were hot. (lived there for 7 years so I know!)

@treewoes honest I tried to tell you. Everyone on Mumsnet loves trees 🤦‍♀️ I absolutely love living in the country but the tree is so big and so close I wanted them to prune it a bit - just to say I did approach them , I thought if we offered to help sort it but no the neighbour was really rude to me and needless to say nothing has been done nor will it be to the huge overhanging tree🙄

“But I would feel supremely annoyed and think you extremely rude, entitled, arrogant etc. I wouldn't tell you that.”

Like I said - so happy that you’re not my neighbour!

It's fine to reduce a tree, it's the responsibility of the person who owns the property. Write them a note saying it's causing a problem and offer to pay

Relax I love trees too, I love all the smaller ones in my garden and neighbours gardens. I also love the bigger ones in the parks, countryside and forests, where they belong!

I will never understand people who think it's OK to just ask anyone for anything, no matter how insane, and they think it's 'not rude' because the person being asked can just say no. There's another thread where a woman asked a neighbour for a crazy amount of free childcare along the same vein (though that poster is actually receptive to the people telling her exactly how inappropriate she's been).

Yes, I can 'just say no' to anything I'm asked, but if the thing being asked is unreasonable, it makes me uncomfortable and may forever taint that relationship and how I see the asker. The selfishness and lack of self-awareness displayed by OP is pretty astounding.

It could go any way to be honest, they may not care that much about it and be happy for it to go but they may equally enjoy it and in that case even if you're polite it's likely to leave a slightly sour taste. I'd think it was cheeky if any of our neighbours asked about our trees as the trees have been there since before they all moved in - I wouldn't take anything down unless it had a disease.

If one of my trees was causing a big problem to one of my nieghbours I'd want them to tell me. That way I could
see if there was a way to resolve the problem. My garden is surrounded by six other gardens and I like the fact I get on with everyone and that includes one neighbour that's an arsey git.

If you live alongside other people it's nice to be on good terms and to be considerate. I think it's obnoxious to not give a shit if your tree impacts on someone else. That's not nice.

Some of the posters on this thread are coming across as unpleasant and rude.

What’s sort of tree is it?

No Hearts - not all of them. I’m calling you and one or two others rude. And of course I can answer why I bought my own house, what a strange thing to say.

If that’s true, why aren’t you answering that exact question from those you don’t think of as rude?

I just don’t see why I owe you a response!

Then perhaps posting on a forum asking if you’re being unreasonable (when you aren’t prepared to accept that you are) isn’t for you.

Like I said - so happy that you’re not my neighbour!

I bet you are.

It's just SO rage inducing when neighbours are perfectly friendly and polite but refuse to bow down to your unreasonable requests and change/get rid of things they like but you don't isn't it?!

You haven't even spoken to them yet, there's a very good chance they will feel the same way I (and lots of others posters) do!