Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reported my neighbour

72 replies

Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 21:52

We got new neighbours behind us 2 years ago, the guy approached us to ask if he could have his gardener cut the height of our trees. We purchased our property with one the benefits being the mature trees and we regularly maintained them (compared to the other neighbours beside us, ours aren't as tall). We told him we were happy with our tree surgeon and that we got them cut regularly as it was, we were content with this arrangement and that we valued our privacy (they cover the view into our bedroom windows).

He then approached us again 6 months later asking the same thing and asking my oh to go into his garden, we were not happy with his insistent approach, but politely wrote a letter confirming what we had told him before and attached a photo of our trees from our garden.

He then cut the trees in his garden and at the time probably thinned quite a few of ours within our boundary, but we let it go. Now 2 years later, he has cut the top off one of our trees definitely in our garden and our neighbours behind can now see into our bedroom. If the tree would grow up again, I wouldn't have said anything but I was informed it won't. I felt very angry at what had happened and annoyed he hadnt listened to us, not to cut the trees in our garden so I went to the police. The went round and had a chat with him and he said he didnt do it, it was his gardener, etc.

We then tried to put up a new fence within our garden and he came and threatened our handymen. Nothing has happened since thankfully but our fence was left unfinished and I'm regretting going to the police as I've made our house harder to sell. Is there any way I can solve this? Did I do the wrong thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 22:31

RHRA I had heard the neighbours next door loudly talking to their friend about how we might sell up and that we weren't 'nice' neighbours, despite us giving them xmas cards, gifts when their baby was born, ice cream if I see their kid on the street, saying nothing when their customers park in front of our house daily as they run a business from there and noise from regular building work/diy, it's annoying but not enough to complain about.

The neighbours on the other side immediately went and got their trees pruned (literally within hours) once we discussed our situation with them. Their trees however are still much taller than ours. We trusted them and they cut their trees (which I know they're allowed to, but the timing felt like they were agreeing with the other neighbour) and they went and told the neighbour beside them, who then did the same, all whilst our property has been devalued but theirs wont be, thanks to us trusting them. (Yes I'm a bit bitter now, but know they were only looking out for themselves)

OP posts:
RHRA · 28/08/2020 22:32

In the short term, could you get horizontal blinds in your bedroom ?
Look stop beating yourself up, he’s targeted you both as a soft touch; look at the slippery answers he gave to the police for example.
Get angry and be vigilant.

FrenchBoule · 28/08/2020 22:33

What @FOJN said and cctv.
Don’t back down.
Your property is yours and your bully of a neighbour has no right to enter it.

Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 22:34

Yes we have blinds thankfully, and I'm doing my best to forget about it and move on. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
beethecrackon24995 · 28/08/2020 22:34

OP don't be so hard on yourself. are you thinking of selling your property soon? tbh, if i was interested in buying your house i really don't think it would put me off. you had a bit of a run in with a neighbour who prefers to have your trees lower in height. If i loved your home that much i would still buy the house unless of course i had a particular love of REALLY tall trees.....it's not as if the neighbour invades your homelife on a regular basis, just re the fence/trees. try and let it go

RHRA · 28/08/2020 22:37

Oh fuck the neighbours next door too, they’re probably in cahoots with the back neighbours. Probably been to prison in adjacent cells Smile
Anyway, going forward, I’d consider this a life lesson - don’t get too friendly with neighbours-smile and say hallo, take parcels in & leave it at that. Definitely don’t discuss any disputes with others.

MereDintofPandiculation · 28/08/2020 22:38

We had this problem when our neighbour's trees were so tall they blocked out all the sunlight in our garden. We too went and asked politely. Fortunately in our case they were reasonable people and saw it from our point of view and agreed to trim them. OP was not being unreasonable, despite your implication. Neighbour knew the trees were there when he purchased.

Goosefoot · 28/08/2020 22:43

I am general of the view that it's best to try and rub along with neighbours, but cutting other people's trees seems way out of line, especially after they said no.

It might have been better to complain to him after he thinned two years ago, but that's very much a hindsight thing I think.

With people like that, you can never do the right thing and they will never let it go. You have to keep a firm boundary or they will walk all over you.

TW2013 · 28/08/2020 22:46

We sold our house with a really tall tree which we loved, though it did cast some shade on neighbour's garden when in leaf (not that they ever complained). First thing new neighbours did was cut down tree. Just because you love the tall trees doesn't mean that a prospective buyer will. You can just say that there was a dispute because the tree was cut but when it was investigated you were told it was a mistake by the gardener. That is entirely factual, might make you look a little keen to get the police involved but hardly parties, drinking and drugs until 3am every morning. You can show that since then you have clarified the boundary with a fence and you are confident that the same mistake wouldn't happen again. To be honest it might reassure any buyer as if that is the worst complaint against a neighbour your life is fairly quiet. It is also a rear neighbour so not as important.

Throckmorton · 28/08/2020 22:48

Are the trees evergreen or semi-evergreen, and do they effectively form a close line that resembles a hedge? If so, your neighbour may have a point in that hedges should not be more than 6 foot tall. If you have a line of deciduous trees though, ignore him.

Suzi888 · 28/08/2020 22:49

What type of tree is it?
Are you blocking his sunlight?
How tall are they?
Do you need them higher than 2-4m ?

He can’t cut your trees, it’s criminal damage. The police are very unlikely to get involved....
He is allowed to cut any branch or root that crosses to his side.

What’s the issue?

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 28/08/2020 22:51

Your neighbours is a cunt.

Report his bastarding tree killing arse.

Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 22:51

Thanks for the reassurances guys. I'm just hoping once we sort the fence he won't start another argument. It just creates an awful feeling living here, whereas before we loved it here. We had considered moving because of this situation and how its developed, but now is not a good time and location wise for work and my family it's still perfect, so we probably wont sell soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 22:52

Lol to some of the comments on here, btw. I feel a bit better.

OP posts:
Suzi888 · 28/08/2020 22:53

If you have a legal dispute regarding boundaries and want to sell, this will affect the sale. You have to declare the dispute and legally pass on costs to the buyer - should they wish to pursue.

Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 22:55

Yep they're evergreen, and yep they're close together, however so are other neighbours on our street. I'm not sure what height they are, but they are a fair height from our garden, which is lower down than his. These factors were my worry slightly.

OP posts:
SynchroSwimmer · 28/08/2020 23:06

I think you have handled it well OP
You just want to live a quiet peaceful family life, you didn’t invite this man into your space
He has caused the problem - and it’s good that you have pushed back against him
Sometimes we are all forced to push back at people encroaching like this.
In my eyes you have done well, I would say don’t be concerned with it now and let it lie.

Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 23:07

Also to clarify there is no boundary dispute, there are concrete posts marking the boundary that have been there since the houses were built. All the houses are the same on the street.

OP posts:
Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 23:09

Thank you syncroswimmer, it was an incredibly stressful situation for us, affecting my sleep and eating patterns, flaring my crohns a bit too. Still upsets my sleep a bit it fair to say.

OP posts:
thinkingaboutLangCleg · 28/08/2020 23:12

Gardenlaw.co.uk is a useful site.

Original poster
Babybrain26 · 28/08/2020 23:13

I noticed that site, I tried to join it but kept getting an sql error.

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 28/08/2020 23:15

You went to the police after not even bothering your ease to go see them from his side? You might like the trees for privacy, but why should others suffer?

Who cares what they look like form his side? The trees belong to the OP! He trespassed onto her land and vandalized her property. It was clearly deliberate as he had been being told in writing that the OP did not want to cut them back. I'd be at the small claims court as well.

Throckmorton · 28/08/2020 23:21

If he goes to the council about the trees he may be able to enforce you cutting them. Evergreen hedges are not supposed to be more than 6 foot tall I'm afraid. It's whether he wants that dispute though.

www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/high-hedges-trees-and-boundaries#:~:text=Ask%20your%20council%20for%20a,garden%20because%20it's%20too%20tall

Ariela · 28/08/2020 23:32

@TW2013

We sold our house with a really tall tree which we loved, though it did cast some shade on neighbour's garden when in leaf (not that they ever complained). First thing new neighbours did was cut down tree. Just because you love the tall trees doesn't mean that a prospective buyer will. You can just say that there was a dispute because the tree was cut but when it was investigated you were told it was a mistake by the gardener. That is entirely factual, might make you look a little keen to get the police involved but hardly parties, drinking and drugs until 3am every morning. You can show that since then you have clarified the boundary with a fence and you are confident that the same mistake wouldn't happen again. To be honest it might reassure any buyer as if that is the worst complaint against a neighbour your life is fairly quiet. It is also a rear neighbour so not as important.
This sounds the best plan. I'd be reassured as a potential buyer.
Whitneylilyrose · 28/08/2020 23:36

I been harassed by two neighbour couples for 3 years I feel your pain

Currently seeking an injunction agaisntt them