Massive trees next door, blocking the evening sunlight

[Tahlbias]

Next door was previously a rented house. It has now been sold and a lovely young couple is going to be moving in. When I saw them, I briefly mentioned about them having a lot of work to do in the garden, with all the massive trees there. They just nodded and said "I know, we have loads to do"

My problem is, now the evenings are lighter l, I want to enjoy my garden in the sunshine. But I can't! I will add pictures to this post to show you how big the trees are and the sunshine we don't get compared to my other neighbors.

Would I be unreasonable to ask them to cut their trees down when they do move in?

Sorry, forgot to post the picture of the jungle next door and the trees blocking the sun.

I think you risk coming across as pushy and unwelcoming if that's pretty much the first thing you bring up, and before they've even moved in.

And what happens if they don't want to cut them down?

What beautiful trees.

Not unreasonable at all. But we paid for it when we wanted our neighbours trees cut back. Best 600 quid we have spent though.

How long have the trees been there and been quite big? Did they shoot up after you bought your house? Or did you buy a house next to tall trees and now want them removed? Because no. What did you think you were buying other than a house next to tall trees?

Well yes you would, it doesn't mean I don't sympathise. It's their garden they can do what they like.

I'm surprised by the number of posts about large trees is small gardens. When I renew my house insurance I'm always asked if I have any trees in excess of 5 metres within 7 metres of the property. I'm wondering how much it increases premiums if so many people large trees close to their house.

No harm in asking. But be prepared, they may love the trees.

Is that your flagpole?

Edit- actually it looks like a washing line.

But you have a trampoline, do the neighbours like that? Would you get rid if someone complained?

What's that at the end of your garden?

Looks like a bungalow?

You can ask and they can say no, you've no automatic right to the sunlight.

Sounds like this is a great opportunity for you. The trees must have been blocking your view for a few years now, but it’s difficult to communicate with a landlord you don’t know.

Next tine you speak to them offer to pay for the removal. Sounds like this will have enormous benefit for you and you say they’re a young couple so may not be able to afford it, and if they could it wouldn’t be too of the list if there is work to do in the house.

And your house will be a lot hotter without that shade in the summer

I love my big trees and it would be very expensive to have them removed or cut back
If it really mattered to one of my neighbours who I know well and they were prepared to pay - I would allow them to reduce the size to what they were when I moved in over 30 years ago

Buying a house is so expensive, I honestly can’t say that spending money to benefit my neighbours would have been anywhere near the top of the list when we moved. I know others have suggested it, but can you offer to pay?

Edited to add, it might not even be an option. A few of the houses on our street have TPOs on the trees in their gardens.

Presumably they were there when you bought the house. Trees that big take decades to grow. Why did you buy the house if you don’t like the trees?

Clearly the trees have been there for years.

What did the previous landlord say when you asked them to cut them down? Surely you asked them- didn't you?

If you bought the house with then there then it’s a bit cheeky to be honest.

Is the biggest one a horse chestnut? Trees of that size near me have TPOs on them.

Yeah. They were being polite.

Trees are an asset (that actually increase property values) and a valuable source of oxygen and temperature control, let alone critical for biodiversity. When we have regular 40C summers you might miss them shading your house. Shortsighted.

Our neighbour wanted some of our trees cut back as they were causing some issues for them. We weren’t aware of the issues, the boundary isn’t close to our house and we quite like the trees.

They asked if we’d mind if they were cut back (and we didn’t of course once we knew why), they sorted the reputable tree surgeon, got the council’s permission, paid for the work, and ensured it was done on a convenient day for us.

This is the route I’d go down in your case.

My next door neighbour planted trees in their garden that have now grown to the point where they block my light. It's frustrating but not much I can do. I just cut them back as much as I can - i.e the bits that come over the fence.

We moved back into my childhood home when my mother died end of last year. Obviously, we didn't realise the extent, of the lack of sunlight. There is a shed at the end of the garden that we are planning to change into a cinema room. The gardens are massive, can't really see from the pictures.

Obviously, I'm not going to straight into, "can you cut down your trees" I am a friendly person but I'm really fed up of the lack of sunshine compared to my other neighbors 😞

It wouldn't be a priority for me if zi had work to do in a new home, you can ask but did you ask the previous tenants or their agent when the trees were smaller. You have to wait until the birds have gone from their nests,

We moved in two years ago and our over grown trees are still way down the list.

If you’re desperate, offer to contribute to getting them done quickly.

We moved into our house a few months ago and the huge trees were a huge selling point for us. I have always wanted a garden with big trees. There are houses directly behind us that they block the view of for us too. But yes it probably does give them a lot of shade. I won’t be cutting them down though. I love them.

Us too