Finding out whose tree?

[slipperywhensparticus]

There is a tree at the bottom of my neighbour's garden she has a fence a hedge then the tree then the other neighbour's fence but no 9ne knows if its their tree or the other neighbour's and its dropping branches it's just broke my trampoline how do I find out whose tree it is? My neighbour is asking her landlord but he is unlikely to admit even if it is his 🤷‍♀️

Is there anything I can do?

You can do a search at the land registry to find out who the legal owner is.

Bear in mind that their plans are approximate - you May be able to tell from landmarks/the shape of the buildings exactly who owns the tree but it may not be possible.

If you look on their website you can order copies of the register - you’ll need to order the title plans for each of the houses the tree might belong to.

If I can find out who owns it could they be forced to maintain it? I know its windy but it shouldn't be dropping branches like that

Yes in theory - although in practice going to court to get a court order that they maintain it is likely to cost more than hiring a tree surgeon would.

But most landowners will take action without being forced to if they realise their tree is becoming dangerous.

So your first step is definitely find out who owns it and contact them.

You're legally allowed to cut down anything over hanging your property. You're supposed to hand back any clippings, but in this case I doubt that's relevant. So basically you can maintain it yourself, in as far as it over hangs your property,

It's as tall as the house possibly as wide it's a massive sycamore

No one will agree to chop it for me it's not in my garden

But if branches are overhanging you have every legal right to cut them. Tree surgeons will know that.

They arnt exactly overhanging more above and there

What is the legal definition of overhanging anyway? Stand by your fence and look up if you see it you can chop it? The branches dont even start till maybe 18 feet up?

Imagine your fence went up higher, as high as the tree. Anything that would stick through the fence is overhanging.

Sycamores are thugs and are field trees. Not suitable at all for gardens. Try and get the plans of the neighbouring land from the Land Registry. Someone must own the land it sits on. Failing that, dig deep and get a tree surgeon to trim overhanging branches as described above.

We have a patch of land next to our garden. A bloody great tree. Nobody can find who it belongs to.