Is this my responsibility?

[Saju1]

I am currently renting a house, and it has of greenery. The homeowner mentions on the contract we should maintain the greenery, which is fine with me and my DH.

We recently had a gardener in to do some garden work, and the neighbours told him it is fine if he cuts some of the tree which is on their side.

This tree is big and planted on our side of the home, but it's nearly planted halfway, meaning the branches are growing on to their side of their home.

AIBU to think this is their responsibility to cut down? I think it's quite rude of me to just go on their property and start to cut down their side, and essentially changing how the house is being viewed.

The gardener didn't do it (doesn't speak English properly and was confused by the request).

Should I be paying to have his side of the tree trimmed?

I believe it is your responsibility, but if you don't do it your neighbour has the right to do it to anything overhanging their boundary

If the tree is on your property, it's your responsibility to maintain/prune it. I'd say your neighbour was dropping some heavy hints, so I'd try to arrange for some pruning to take place. It's better if you arrange pruning to take place all at once on both sides, as you'll achieve a balanced look that way.

They can cut it themselves and offer the offcuts back to you to dispose of. They obviously don't think it's rude to go in their garden to cut if if they asked you to do it. You don't have to oblige but I suppose it depends on how important a good relationship with the neighbour is to you.

It’s your responsibility to maintain your tree (or the tree growing on the property you’re renting). That’s because it’s up to you to make sure your tree isn’t a nuisance. It’s your neighbour’s right to cut back the tree if they want to provided they only cut the part overhanging their land. It is your neighbour’s responsibility to return any cut branches back to you because that is your tree. So, in essence, yes, that’s your responsibility. This is all covered under tort nuisance.

It is your neighbour’s responsibility to return any cut branches back to you because that is your tree To offer to return any cut branches - you don't have to accept them, and they have no right simply to heave them over the fence into your garden.