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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Next door neighbours bushes.

29 replies

fatboyslimschin · 11/08/2021 08:06

Im fully prepared to be told I am.

I get on 'ok' with next-door neighbour. We are polite to each other and occasionally take in packages.

Their bushes on their side of the fence are massive and actually too high for what is stated on the deeds. Its a mix of conifer and a big flat leafy thing, which I think is actually a plant (?) that has massively over grown. Our fence is about 6ft, maybe more.

They have grown over our fence by about 2 meters (at their biggest point) I spoke to my gardener this week about trimming them back.

I woke up this morning to find they had trimmed them their side and have dropped loads of cut branches on my garden. So I've still got my side of over hang/bulge plus loads of shit in my garden. It looks a mess on my side. My house is a town house so my living room window looks directly on to the hacked bushes, I can't not see them.

I was going to get my gardener to trim them back but I feel this is just really rude as its actually their bushes and they have made a mess for me to clean up and now I have to get my gardener to sort it out my hacked side.

Please bear in mind I still haven't finished my morning coffee.

OP posts:
Montauklighthouse · 11/08/2021 08:07

I’d chuck it all back over 😜

Penistoe · 11/08/2021 08:09

You are legally allowed to trim bushes that fall on your side.

LIZS · 11/08/2021 08:10

Ask them if they will dispose of cuttings if you collect them up. You are entitled to trim overhanging branches.

Aprilx · 11/08/2021 08:11

My neighbour has a creeping plant thing that has overgrown and invaded my garden. I got my hedge cutter to it yesterday and cut off every bit that was over my wall. I know that I can technically throw all the trimmings back over the wall, but I decided that was not a neighbourly thing to do, so will dispose of with my garden waste.

I don’t understand why you feel it is rude to ask your gardener to cut back what is in your garden?

Catcatcat1 · 11/08/2021 08:15

You can trim it up to your property line, and offer the trimmings back to them.

NoSquirrels · 11/08/2021 08:17

Get your gardener to do it and clear up.

Go round and offer to have your gardener keep it under control permanently- say it will cost £X but you can split it. Remind them that cuttings really ought to be cleared up by them but you’ve sorted it on this occasion. Whatever you do be nice about it - it’s not worth falling out!

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 11/08/2021 08:20

@Aprilx - you can't, that's technically fly tipping. The law is that you must offer them back to the owner and if they decline the onus is on you to dispose.

Cattitudes · 11/08/2021 08:28

Being generous to them could it be that when cutting some just fell onto your side? You are entitled to cut back any branches up to your boundary. In future I would just try to make sure that you keep your side trimmed back.

Original poster
fatboyslimschin · 11/08/2021 08:36

So it not just me precaffined mind then Grin

I know I can trim them back on my side but really should I have to either do it myself or pay some one when they actually start behind their fence? Its their bush/trees so they should really keep the maintenance up. I didn't realise how thick it was. Its about two metres their side and they have literately cut up to where the fence would be underneath.

I keep going to the window and looking out. One of my kids have just said 'mum why do you keep going to the window fuming?' Grin

My gardener is not due back for another week but I think ill give him a ring and suggest that they pay half for the upkeep going forward.

OP posts:
WeAreTheHeroes · 11/08/2021 08:40

The law on this means you can cut back whatever overhangs onto your side. They are not obliged to do it.

NoSquirrels · 11/08/2021 08:41

I do sympathise - my garden has a row of neighbours’ Leylandii along one side and due to the set up it’s actually 3 separate properties who all cut their side of the damn things at different times and to different heights. None of the trees are on my land, doesn’t mean I can get away with not maintaining my side myself. Ideally and morally and perhaps even legally they’re all liable to cut my side too - but practically it’s easier, quicker and less hassle to just do it myself/pay myself.

Your neighbours don’t sound much like gardeners so I expect they’d probably be happy to pay 50-50 for someone to take the job off their hands! And if not just pay to do your side properly and don’t worry about their side.

Original poster
fatboyslimschin · 11/08/2021 08:42

@WeAreTheHeroes

The law on this means you can cut back whatever overhangs onto your side. They are not obliged to do it.
Then I think ill save the cuttings and have fire and burn them the next time they are in their garden on their nice recliners Grin
OP posts:
OoglyMoogly · 11/08/2021 08:45

As has already been said, you're entitled to cut back to the boundary line and you must offer the bits you cut off back to the neighbour.

They don't have to accept. You can't just dump them over the fence. If they don't accept, you're free to compost, put on your bonfire, council green waste bin as you choose.

Don't let it get to 2 meters inside your land next time! Grin

PheasantsNest · 11/08/2021 08:45

I have the same problem. My CF got a tree surgeon in to cut his leylandii. They asked to access my garden. The CF asked them to only cut his side. We haven't spoken to him since. My husband borrowed the chain saw from work and cut it right back to the boundary. If you have a tree/bush you should maintain it. It shouldn't be up to the poor neighbours to deal with it.

WeAreTheHeroes · 11/08/2021 08:48

@fatboyslimschin - just make sure you aren't infringing any local restrictions on fires when you do Wink

MrsClatterbuck · 11/08/2021 08:48

When my neighbours cut and trimmed their hedge of conifers any branches etc that fell on my side which was inevitable they came and removed from my property. They were higher up than me as we lived on a hill. So the trimmings that they cut from their side surely they should be dealing with.

TootTootTootToot · 11/08/2021 08:53

How about going to talk to them and asking them if they can take the cutting back as you have no room in your garden waste bin. Tell them your gardener is away etc. - basically have a polite moan! It might prompt them to bring a bit more considerate.

People that have leylandii or similar that they let overhang neighbours gardens are really selfish CFs. I understand the law doesn't require them to keep check of their OWN stupid ugly trees if they are overhanging other people properties but it should!

SMabbutt · 11/08/2021 08:54

Did they cut the bushes themselves or pay someone to do it? I only ask because neighbours had leylandii at the bottom of our garden and paid to have them lopped and the branches etc taken away. The cowboys who did it dropping half of it into our garden as it was very hard to get the branches overhanging our side down into the neighbours garden. They actually asked if they could and collect from our side when they were finished but they left without taking the mess and as they were a cash in hand bunch there was no paperwork to chase them. The neighbours had no idea what they'd done until we told them.

Hadenoughofbloodycovid · 11/08/2021 08:56

We have leylandii hedging, when my husband cuts it he always does the neighbours side as well and clears up the trimmings. It’s our hedge so we are responsible for it. I thought everybody did this.

NoSquirrels · 11/08/2021 08:58

@Hadenoughofbloodycovid

We have leylandii hedging, when my husband cuts it he always does the neighbours side as well and clears up the trimmings. It’s our hedge so we are responsible for it. I thought everybody did this.
I bloody wish!

It was even on our survey when we bought the house as an ‘issue to consider’- that’s how much of a PITA Leylandii are. You sound like lovely neighbours.

Original poster
fatboyslimschin · 11/08/2021 09:00

@SMabbutt

Did they cut the bushes themselves or pay someone to do it? I only ask because neighbours had leylandii at the bottom of our garden and paid to have them lopped and the branches etc taken away. The cowboys who did it dropping half of it into our garden as it was very hard to get the branches overhanging our side down into the neighbours garden. They actually asked if they could and collect from our side when they were finished but they left without taking the mess and as they were a cash in hand bunch there was no paperwork to chase them. The neighbours had no idea what they'd done until we told them.
I imagine they got some one in as I can't see them having the tools to cut such wide bushes/trees. They probably don't even know they are there. However they will be able to see they have only cut what's on their side. Which I think is the piss take as its their plant/tree ect
OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 11/08/2021 09:04

OP, you're confusing what you believe is morally right with what the law is, and you've been told that several times now.
Your neighbours are under no obligation whatsoever to keep their plants from encroaching on your land.

Original poster
fatboyslimschin · 11/08/2021 09:06

@mineofuselessinformation

OP, you're confusing what you believe is morally right with what the law is, and you've been told that several times now. Your neighbours are under no obligation whatsoever to keep their plants from encroaching on your land.
Well, that me told then. Should I stop posting now I've been told Grin

coffee Brew

OP posts:
Original poster
fatboyslimschin · 11/08/2021 09:07

@Hadenoughofbloodycovid

We have leylandii hedging, when my husband cuts it he always does the neighbours side as well and clears up the trimmings. It’s our hedge so we are responsible for it. I thought everybody did this.
You sound like really considerate neighbours!
OP posts:
stonebrambleboy · 11/08/2021 09:15

mineofuselessinformation
I like your no nonsense post 😁