Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Neighbours tall tree blocking house

75 replies

Wudgy · 03/04/2021 22:13

Looking for some advice, found a potentially great house to buy and all going great until we have realised that the neighbours very very tall tree casts shadow into garden all day and by 4 pm the back of the house sunroom, kitchen, even upstairs bedrooms are all in shade due to this tree. It’s hard to decide what neighbour is responsible for this tree as it looks in middle of two different houses. We queried on viewing the tree and estate agent said something like owner has had no reason to have had a conversation about the tree- so has clearly sat in shade for years without doing anything about it. Apart from this the house is perfect but making me uneasy now , we would like the tree trimmed down ( 20 ft) , doesn’t have to be removed. Should we go and approach the two possible neighbours to suss out who’s responsible and how they feel to let us trim it down or go back to owner via agent and get her to? Feel like she definitely won’t and then potential discard us as awkward buyers and go onto another buyer who might not notice / be bother ( has been plenty of interest).
Any advice? There no protection order on tree btw, high hedges order might not cover it as it’s a single tree.

OP posts:
PenguinBarnotBird · 04/04/2021 08:10

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

I wouldn’t talk to the neighbours/ I would demand that the tree be trimmed back before purchase, it’s up to the current owner to have the convo. Don’t buy on a promise that a neighbour may cut it etc. Also tree cutting is extortionate so don’t bear the cost if you can avoid it.
This.

The neighbour might say yes now (to move the crazy from her front door Wink) and conveniently have no recall of the conversation at a later date.

In that scenario you’re stuck with a house with a shady garden and a tree nobody will cut back.

Kerberos · 04/04/2021 08:15

I have a leylandii at the end of my garden. Could almost believe this could be about me if my neighbours were moving!

We've had quotes and it'll be around £2k to have it removed. It's on my list of things to do, somewhere near the top but I don't have £2k spare right now so it stays until I do.

It's definitely a conversation for your sellers to handle with the house owner, not for you.

Overdueanamechange · 04/04/2021 08:15

Asking a neighbour of a home for sale to cut down a tree is being a CF. Even a non native will be full of wildlife with birds starting to nest this time of year. I know how much they can impact a small garden though, my relative's previously sunny garden has a huge conifer at the bottom of their garden, completely blocking the light in the garden and home. The neighbour chopped the top off at my relative's request but now it just looks ugly.

DinosaurDiana · 04/04/2021 08:17

My neighbour had a massive tree that upset the people behind for years, and that’s why he kept it so long. Just to be a twat.
If these people say they will trim it, I’d get it in writing.

Mirrorxx · 04/04/2021 08:25

We’ve just moved into a new house and are having a tree at the end of our gardne removed this week after our neighbour behind mentioned the roots were impacting their garden. We would have done it at some point but didn’t plan on doing it so soon as it is expensive.

Original poster
Wudgy · 04/04/2021 08:27

Thanks everyone, we were not asking for the tree to be cut down - just trimmed!
Also we are sale agreed for this house so more than just looking at it- the conveyance process has started.
Absolutely agree that we should have noticed this earlier but when you view house in winter with no sunlight it is difficult to imagine.
Interesting how many different responses to ask neighbour / don’t ask neighbours/ demand of seller/ leave it. Great to get all opinions and I certainly wouldn’t want to offend/ upset anyone but equally feel that if someone came to me and asked me if they could pay to trim a tree in my garden that affects their light but said tree doesn’t have any impact on light in my own garden or offer any less privacy when trimmed then I’d definitely agree, but that’s not everyone.
Thanks will keep you updated next week!

OP posts:
Happytentoes · 04/04/2021 08:30

Trees and boundaries can be a nightmare. We asked neighbour to trim his beech - he refused- we had the overhang trimmed back - professionally - to the boundary - he kicked off big time.

Don’t waste time on the house, unless the tree is removed entirely, it will remain a problem for years.

Mintjulia · 04/04/2021 08:35

Talk to the neighbours. I have lots of trees and wouldn't object to lopping them as long as you offered to pay the bill.
If they say no, choose another house.

TiddleTaddleTat · 04/04/2021 08:35

Leylandi, eugh. Worth asking if they will remove it.

Pinotpleasure · 04/04/2021 08:36

Lots of info and advice on the forums here:

www.gardenlaw.co.uk

TiddleTaddleTat · 04/04/2021 08:37

Thing is with leylandi is trimming it will only last a season or two then it'll need it again. They grow so fast. I'd probably avoid the house if the neighbour didn't agree to remove it completely.
Other viewers will feel the same...

CrazyNeighbour · 04/04/2021 08:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JE17 · 04/04/2021 08:48

I think you should ask, the worst that could happen is that they say no and you have the chance to walk away. Our neighbours asked us to reduce some large trees at the bottom of our garden so that they got more afternoon sun and we did it.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 04/04/2021 08:53

Move on.
Even if tree owner says yes, you can't hold them to it. Who would spend hundreds of thousands based on a 2 minute chat with a random?
We found a perfect house. Stunning views. House behind, further down the hill had a conifer planted. I assume it blocked their view of the for sale house. Within 3 years it would have totally blocked the premium price view.

Midlifelady · 04/04/2021 09:06

There's a very large tree, half dead, a few houses over. It doesn't block my light and it is a haven for birds, but I did occasionally worry about the dead half in high winds (would not have fallen on my house though). The new neighbour has butchered it - he told is he only wanted to make it safe, not prepared to go further. It now looks awful.

Lampzade · 04/04/2021 09:17

The house is not for you Op
Look elsewhere

CellophaneFlower · 04/04/2021 09:18

@Panicmode1

If it IS a Leylandii and it is affecting the 'enjoyment' of your property, then the Council do have powers to enforce them being cut to a reasonable height.....
Well no, as a leylandii is a tree. The council do not have a special law just for them.

I get why people think it's cheeky to ask the neighbour. However, if you're going to reject the house otherwise it would be silly to not enquire - tactfully. I do think you should go through the vendor though.

Lampzade · 04/04/2021 09:19

Sorry Op
Did not realise that you have actually got so far in the process

OneEpisode · 04/04/2021 10:05

Hi Op Leylandii can be trimmed. If you offered to contribute to the cost (and as pp have said, every year or every other year) it might happen. Not now though, as birds will be nesting. Won’t be till autumn.

Original poster
Wudgy · 04/04/2021 10:27

@OneEpisode absolutely happy to wait until autumn if it’s an option. As others say we think it’s worth asking than walking away without knowing- as next person could ask and get it trimmed and we’d kick ourselves for walking away!

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 04/04/2021 10:32

I thought Leylandi trees were covered by some special law as there has been so much dispute about them?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 04/04/2021 10:33

Here it is.

It’s covered under the Anti Socual Behaviour laws!

www.leylandii.com/leylandii-law/

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 04/04/2021 10:34

On the RHS too

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=408

Bluntness100 · 04/04/2021 10:36

I think it’s fine to ask also. But in a way where they don’t feel pressurised.

Just say you’re in thr process of buying x house but wish to ask if they would be willing to let you cut the tree back to twenty foot and have the hedges trimmed by x feet, and you’ll pay, if not then it’s totally fine.

I’ve quite a lot of very large trees, if a neighbour asked me, I’d be very much, sure crack on.

ChippyDucks150 · 04/04/2021 10:41

OP I bought a house last year that has 20 fucking massive cypress trees lining the back garden. By massive, I mean about 50 feet high. They'll be getting ripped out as soon as nesting season is over, they are so imposing and I want to start again with the entire garden. My immediate neighbours were delighted when I told them they were getting cut down - I think they've been causing issues for years.
Just knock and ask, if you're told where to go then ditch the house.