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?

When we bought our (terraced) house there were 5 40 foot conifers down the bottom of the (very narrow) garden! They were blocking out the sun for all our neighbours either side and the houses behind us as well. I am a big fan of wildlife gardens and trees, but these were so antisocial it was taking the mickey and also a bit dangerous because of the overhang on some of the big branches. We cut them right back within 6 months and the neighbours all chipped in to buy us bottles of wine to say thankyou for the sunlight 🤣 Honestly though I think it would have annoyed me if someone had asked us to do it before we were ready. There's often lots of work to do in a new house and the garden can't always be the priority! So I would suggest you don't mention it, give them time to settle and hopefully they will get around to it soon.

I would have purchased the house specifically for the lovely shade the trees provide. The sun is the enemy as far as I am concerned. There is absolutely no chance I would be cutting them down.

If you asked me, I'd be polite but it would be right down the list of priorities, and frankly, if the cost was going to be £500+ like someone else mentioned, I'd never do it.

If you want it done, and obviously you want it done now, then you offer to pay for it. But otherwise, they've been growing for 30 years, your mother clearly didn't have an issue with them, so you'll just need to put up with it or move if they say no.

you could move

Offer to pay and if they agree cut the conifers down a lot but just trim the deciduous one maybe to half the size as it is a beautiful asset that you'll enjoy watching through the seasons, will house birds, squirrels etc.
If you sort it for them but ensure they agree on height then you could both benefit and they'll be grateful to you for sorting a job and given them some evening sun.

Yabvu about wanting to ask them to cut the trees down. And yabvu about expecting them to get on top the gardening so soon after they have purchased the house. They have barely settled in. How rude. And I am sure that they saw right through your subtleties.

Back right off. After they have lived there for 1-2 years perhaps you could talk to them (respectfully) about your problem with the lack of sunlight and ask them (respectfully) if they could prune the trees.

How are tall trees detrimental to you using the shed as a cinema room? I would have thought the shade would be beneficial.

Also want to add that you have no idea what they were planning to do with the garden. If you had been a bit more patient and waited to see what they would do after settling in, then they may have the trees pruned or even cut down off of their own decision. Your interference (perceived nosiness) might actually get their backs up and work against you.

its their property - they can do what they like with it. They may have bought the house as they liked the garden - mature trees are a selling point. I bought my house for the trees - on day one of moving in the next door neighbours were already making hinting comments like you did to your neighbours about the size of the trees and how they are too big now. I’ll never cut them down - if anything their comments make me want to keep the trees more as my neighbours are awful! Plus surely the trees were there when you moved into your house? If you wanted more sunshine you shouldn’t have moved there- you can’t expect others to modify their property for your needs.
also - you reference the couples age- I don’t see how that is relevant unless you think you can take advantage of them or be overly pushy with them to get your own way?

@PickAChew That’s a valid point. A cinema needs to be dark.

If the people behind us ever cut down the large tree in their garden I'm moving house. It gives us shade all summer and it's a haven for birds and squirrels. A total delight. It makes my house a hundred times nicer. I think you're insane, OP.

They might like that the trees provide privacy.

It's totally personal, but I would much rather look at trees than other people's houses.

This is my childhood home and my Dad's childhood home before me. The houses are around a hundred years old. The trees were planted around 30 years ago, when I was a little girl. We only moved in 8 months ago, as my mother died and we inherited the house.

Next door was a rental property and the landlord did absolutely nothing with the house or garden for the tenant. He left her with a hole in her kitchen for months, until she moved out.

Thank you for everyone's comments, negative and positive. Maybe I did come across as pushy, mentioning the trees as soon as I had met them. I'm known for opening my mouth before my head has engaged, but I'm not a malicious person, I just don't think 🫣

As for mentioning the trees or garden, I won't! I'll just have to live with it.

I love trees, but I also love the sun. Living in Wales, where we don't see the sun often, it's nice to enjoy the sun for as long as possible before it disappears again and it rains. Maybe I'll move abroad someday! 😂

I don't think there's any harm in asking and offering to pay if it means that much to you, but to be done properly is a lot of money so unlikely to be their top priority if they have a lot of work to do. We had a crown reduction on a tree in our garden 2 years ago and it cost £400. Our tree isn't as big as those so reckon you're looking at £800-£1k easy.

We have a neighbour with a really intrusive tree that ruins our view. I mentioned it recently and have agreed to pay for tree surgeons. Neighbour absolutely ok about it.

My new neighbour tackled me about the height of my trees before I got the key in the door of my new house. They form a ‘hedge’ so she followed it up with the threat of an ASBO two days later. I cannot wait to move - and I’m having to pay to remove five established trees so there’s no dispute to declare. She says it blocks her sun from 9am to 10am…

Do the trees block their light too? If the do then maybe they’ll do something with them. I definitely wouldn’t cut the down but would probably take them down a fair bit. Out neighbours have similar trees and t cut the tops off every year.

move then trees have been there longer than you

Will your cinema room be totally sound proofed?

If not, believe me you really will upset your neighbours

I just RTFT expecting to make this point at the end of it - only to find @Lighteningstrikes has done it for me! Will the OP demolish her cinema room if a neighbour complains?

The trees are more precious than your want for sunlight. Please think of the wildlife they support and how important they are for so many reasons. I would feel very bad in asking or hinting to your neighbour that they cut them. It's selfish, to be honest.

We need trees more than you need sunlight. Buy another house. My neighbours wanted me to cut down my trees. I told them in no uncertain terms to bugger off.
Petty tree murderers lets cut them all down and see what happens.

The houses in your photo are not 100 years old!