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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour and tree

29 replies

wouldthatbeworse · 15/03/2021 19:48

Massive tree in garden needs cutting back. 70% on house A’s side, 30% on house B’s side but drops loads of cr4p ruining all ground underneath it in both gardens (both tiny london gardens).

Owners of B offered to pay 50:50 on cutting it back. Owner of A v politely says she can’t afford it at the moment . Owner of B rents out property so prob isn’t bothered by ugly tree and tree crap dropping everywhere.

Evidently we own B. AIBU to just have the tree cut back over our property? Alternatively should we just feel grateful we have kept our jobs through covid and pay to cut it back fully. This will need doing every 2-4 years and I don’t want to set a precedent for who pays. Thanks.

OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 15/03/2021 20:24

Owner of B rents out property so prob isn’t bothered by ugly tree and tree crap dropping everywhere.

Do you mean A here?

Back to the point- just pay to have the branches cut right back to your property line, don't worry what they do with their side (but not now, it's nesting season). Theoretically you must offer the chopped branches back to A but they won't want them.

Saz12 · 15/03/2021 20:50

Speak to neighbour again and say yours going to get your side done, but would do the whole tree this time as a one-off if they’ll do it next time? You’ll not be able to hold them to it, though.

Original poster
wouldthatbeworse · 15/03/2021 20:55

@donquixotedelamancha amazing attention to detail. I did of course mean A is rented out.

OP posts:
Betsyboopy · 15/03/2021 20:57

If you do only one side, it may change the balance of the tree and damage it. If so, you're liable. A treesurgeon told me but do check.

DinosaurDiana · 15/03/2021 21:02

If it’s annoying you, and you can afford it, give it a good chop. Tell the other people that it’s a one off though.

SeasonFinale · 15/03/2021 21:12

We were the other way round. All of trunk was in the neighbours but about 60% of crown over our side and bothering us more than them (even though trunk all on their side so they should be liable). They jumped at the chance to take us up on 50% to have it done. Looks great now (sssh don't tell them we would have paid 100% just to get it done!)

StoneofDestiny · 15/03/2021 22:04

If the other property is rented, isn't it the landlord you need to talk to?

fivelemons · 15/03/2021 22:16

Whose tree is it? Which side of the boundary is the trunk?

minniemoocher · 15/03/2021 22:17

Whose tree is it though, if it's in A's garden I'm not sure b can simply cut it back

Bluntness100 · 15/03/2021 22:19

Sorry who is a? The owner or the tennant? Who exactly did you ask?

DinosaurDiana · 16/03/2021 06:44

@minniemoocher

Whose tree is it though, if it's in A's garden I'm not sure b can simply cut it back
You can cut it back to the boundary.
Flamingolingo · 16/03/2021 06:53

If it’s a big established tree you need a tree surgeon to come and advise. Whilst you can legally cut back to your boundary, it’s sometimes not so simple, and can result in damage to the tree.

DrDreReturns · 16/03/2021 07:01

We had the same situation, a neighbours tree was overhanging our property. We got a tree surgeon to cut it back on our side of the fence. That's fine as long as it hasn't got a tree protection order on it. The neighbours had a strop but we were legally allowed to do it.

Roystonv · 16/03/2021 07:10

Check if conservation area as permission from council for work needed too. You can cut back just your side, yes will spoil line of tree, yes check with tree surgeon. If you cut back all will need permission from owners but would give a good point to start from next time it needs doing but don't set a precedent.

Raindancer411 · 16/03/2021 07:15

@Betsyboopy

If you do only one side, it may change the balance of the tree and damage it. If so, you're liable. A treesurgeon told me but do check.
This
Ifailed · 16/03/2021 07:18

You can cut it back to the boundary.

True, but you must give back the branches to the owner! You can also cut back the roots on your side. However, in both cases, if that leaves the tree in a dangerous state it's your fault.

In any case, you cannot cut it back during nesting time

SuperSange · 16/03/2021 07:19

You need to ask the landlord, not the tenant.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 16/03/2021 07:26

If you can afford do to the whole tree properly then do so, cutting back structural branches from one side of a large tree can make it dangerous and unstable (not to mention condemn it to a slow death). How much impact it would have on the tree depends on the species. You need a proper arborist not just a gardener willing to chop branches off. Notwithstanding all the other points like nesting birds, tpo, conservation area etc

AlwaysLatte · 16/03/2021 07:26

Yes, do get advice from a tree surgeon as others have said. We cut turn some conifers and the lovely old apple tree we had next to them also had to go as its stability was gone. Also when we last had a load off a willow one of the enormous sticky our branches that we wanted gone had to stay as it was providing balance.

AndIquote · 16/03/2021 07:46

You can offer the tree branches back once cut, whatever you do don't pile them up next door without asking or you can be prosecuted for fly tipping.

LookItsMeAgain · 16/03/2021 08:13

Where are the roots and trunk of the tree located - on the land of A or B?
They get to call the shots on the bulk of the work needed. You can cut back to the boundary any thing that overhangs onto your land but you must give it back to the owner of the tree.
If the tree and the trunk is on your land, you can cut the whole tree down as far as I know (provided there are no protection orders on it).

LemonRoses · 16/03/2021 08:26

We have a neighbour’s trees overhanging our boundary wall. It makes a fifteen foot side border very dark and difficult to grow things in. He likes his property being screened, despite the line of trees being over 200yds from his front door.

Whilst we could just cut off the branches, the trees are too high to do so safely. We also don’t want disputes with neighbours. It’s best to agree shared costs with the neighbours and get them done properly.

Original poster
wouldthatbeworse · 16/03/2021 08:30

Thanks for all the replies. We are talking to the landlord of A not the tenants. Both trunk and crown are on border (fence has been built around it). No TPO not in a conservation area but all good points.

Based on some good advice above I think this time we’ll just pay for the full job (with permission from owner A). While the tree surgeon is here I can quiz them on the risks of doing a one sided cut next time If owner A is still unable to contribute. Keen to avoid disputes with neighbours but dint want to be a mug.

Thanks for your help. Not the most fun AIBU?

OP posts:
PlanetPuddle · 16/03/2021 08:41

I like a neighbour boundary aibu personally. I learn a lot.

skirk64 · 16/03/2021 08:46

Google tree-killing pellets. You drill a hole in the tree and it kills them from the inside. It will take a while and obviously you need to be careful because the tree might fall down, especially in strong winds, but it should solve the problem.

Ideally drill the holes after dark on the neighbour's side if you can get access. This makes it less likely it will come back on you - hopefully the people who rent will move before the tree comes crashing down, then it can be argued it must have been the previous tenant.

It's not an instant solution but in the long run the tree will come down anyway, you are just giving nature a helping hand.