Neighbours have asked us to chop down our tree.

[RibbonJar]

We are putting our house on the market soon so told the next door neighbours about our plans. They have asked us to chop down a tree that is just on our side of the fence. It is about 20ft high and the branches extend about 10ft all around. It is one of the few nice features in an otherwise uninteresting garden. The blossom in the Spring is beautiful.

Unfortunately the tree blocks the sun from part of their garden for most of the afternoon. We have offered to get it trimmed but they think it will grow back very quickly and want it removed completely. I can understand their point but don't want to chop down such a beautiful tree even though once we move we'll never see it again. I also think it makes the garden more appealing for sale purposes.

So, I would appreciate some advice on whether we should we chop it down for them or leave the decision with the next owner.

ContentedSidewinder you are spot on! The house has very little going for it so the tree really is one of it's best features. It's going to be tough to sell but I'm starting to see how a possible dispute could make it even harder. Hmmmm, going to have to give this some more thought.

We have been in our house 10 years and asked our neighbour twice to cut down a massive conifer. They refused. Its huge, much taller than the house and wouldn't look out of place in a park. It shades our garden most of the day but doesn't affect them at all. We even offered to pay half. I know trees can be beautiful but remember that they may not affect you or your garden but can adversely affect your neighbour.

The lack of light due to a tree is much more noticeable at this time of year when the sun is lower in the sky.
I should think that your neighbours are grabbing this chance to get the tree removed. As you announced your plans, it galvanised them!
The buyers will know no difference and you will have happy neighbours if it is removed. (A potential dispute if left.)

What is it about trees! Just been to let the guy behind us know we are having some trees lopped and does he have a view on it (neighbourly) and he wants us to take some branches down his side (did say he was allowed to do this but think he wants us to pay instead) and then pointed out that his drive was lifting where he'd had it built. Trees have been there years just next to him before we built the house. Why didn't he think of that and mention it before building a drive on top?

Before we 'bought' the house

We have removed one tree from our garden as requested by our neighbours - I know they'd like us to remove another one but we prefer to keep the cover it provides from the houses at the rear. We try to compromise by keeping it well trimmed and letting them do what they like on their side, to the extent of cutting through the roots to erect a new fence. I think they hoped it would die, but it soldiers on :grin: the trees in our garden really make it (we have six large trees) but they do take a lot of work!

They are chancing it.

I would not do it, a tree provides shelter for birds and wildlife and is much nicer to look at than a bare house.

ribbon if you feel brave you can always put a link on to your house when it does go on the market and get everyone to cast an eye over it for you. I have done it previously, was good to get feedback from people who don't hold back their opinion

I think the thing to do is see it from the neighbour's side, if you moved into a house and had that tree in your neighbour's garden how would you feel?

Like I said above I had a 40ft silver birch removed and I didn't tell the neighbours, I just did it but they thanked me profusely, I think they asked the previous owner who said no. It hadn't even been trimmed and was smack bang on the boundary. It was huge and must have put pretty much all their garden into shade.

Have you been into your neighbour's garden to see it from their side?

Yes, I've been there lots of times and never thought it was an issue but I'm a fair skinned, sunphobe and love shade. Houses aren't selling very quickly around here so we are likely to be neighbours for a while yet. I want to make this better for them without making our house look any worse than it does now.

Thank you again for all replies. It's really helping.

I spoke to the neighbours last night and we have agreed to prune the branches on our side and they are going to cut it back to the fence. Not a complete solution for them but they seem happy enough.

That is good news, I bet they approach the new owners and ask them to remove it or secretly poison it