Neighbours cut down trees before completion

[Annemum6]

I've just had an ail from our solicitor saying the neighbour has cut down some trees on the property we are buying. It will be in a small 'wooded' area of the garden which we loved. We've exchanged and were due to complete next week.

I can only assume that they haven't been removed by a proper tree surgeon and that stumps are left. What would you do? Any idea on our options?

I'd have been in the car that evening to check out the damage for myself. I'd then be talking to a solicitor who specialises in this area and find out what you can, and can't do. It would be a shame to lose a house on these grounds, but the cost of replacing the trees could be high and you'll have already fallen out with the ndn.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Bastards.

I’d be putting out. They clearly cannot be trusted, and you need to live with them as neighbours for years to come.

Surely having sex with them won't help resolve the situation?

You've exchanged contracts. You should now have home insurance to cover anything like this already. However, if they are on the neighbours land and they don't have protection orders then they are allowed, sorry.

My guess is that the neighbours have wanted those trees gone for some time (maybe blocking sun from their garden). I reckon they have asked the vendors if they can be cut back/removed, and the vendors have said yes now because they're leaving anyway - and because you've exchanged, meaning there's little you can do.

My friends moved in to a house and on moving day noticed ALL the mature trees/shrubs had been removed, just leaving giant craters... the was no legal recourse for them :0(

What awful people.
Once you have exchanged, you are the legal owners of the property, so if they are making irrevocable changes I would imagine you could pull out or receive compensation.
I’m sure your solicitor will advise.
But seriously, why are there so many tree hating people around?
It’s soul destroying.

Any chance of any update ?@Annemum6

Hope you're getting it sorted OP

We had a problem with a neighbour's tree- it kept suckering into our garden (it was a sumac- they are real thugs for that). When he got a job at a distance, we looked after this garden, doing his lawn etc. and it suckered like mad in there too, we were forever taking them out. When he decided to move, we agreed with him we'd take the tree out before he went on sale. We did it straight away in a day, carefully replanting the area. He thought it was great as when he next visited, he could hardly work out where it had been. Point being, it was all done and dusted before the house went on the market.

I'd be upset too. Hopefully its not as bad as you think and you haven't got crazy new neighbours!

It is possible to rectify, as mature trees can be purchased. They are costly but it's the vendor's responsibility. They may well be covered by their home insurance, worth them checking.

The neighbours however are a cause for concern. If they did in fact trespass and commit criminal damage, the vendor should be involving the police.

In your place, I would be explaining the situation to the police and asking for their advice on the neighbour. They may have more experience with the neighbour and offer some insight before you make any decision about your next move.

This sounds sketchy as hell and someone is not telling the truth. I would be double checking past history with the neighbour and if there has been any disputes with them. You could save yourself walking into the unknown of a neighbour from hell

I would ask seller about the neighbours eg if their a problem. That way you can sue if lie about shitty behaviour. Sounds like they have wanted them down for a while and took the opportunity. May be innocent and just wanted the light or to stop damage. Ir may be just nasty crap bad feeling between them

@Ddot

I would ask seller about the neighbours eg if their a problem. That way you can sue if lie about shitty behaviour. Sounds like they have wanted them down for a while and took the opportunity. May be innocent and just wanted the light or to stop damage. Ir may be just nasty crap bad feeling between them

going into someone else's garden while the house is empty and cutting down trees.....on what planet is that "innocent"?

We had exactly the same problem. Viewed our house, beautiful garden with mature, established trees along the end of the garden. Totally private and not overlooked, it was ideal. The day we moved in we saw one of the neighbours driving away with loads of tree branches in the back of a van, unlocked the door to our new house, looked out into the garden and....nothing! He'd cut down the trees while the house was empty. The were obviously blocking his light and he took the opportunity when it arose. We phoned the solicitor, their solicitor, the police! Lovely moving in day, NOT. No one was really interested, the police went round and warned him, and logged the incident, but nothing else they could do. I was upset and fuming in equal measures. We've had years of problems with him over the years (20+ now) and had to call out the police on many occasions. We now have CCTV all over the house (suggested by the police) and I'm now willing him to do something else because once we have him on camera the police will do something. It wouldn't bother me if I had to spend a fortune in solicitors fees, I'd do it for the sheer satisfaction of it.

@pollymere The whole point of this thread is that they are not on the neighbour's land. They are on the land attached to the house that the OP is intending to purchase.

@Annemum6 Can we have an update on the situation?

They've obviously done it underhandedly thinking once gone, there's little you can do about it. Even to plant saplings you're going to waiting for them to grow and become mature to the level of those removed.

If the abscence of the trees makes the privacy or the appeal of the property less likely you can withdraw.

Hoping op is on dash to
See for herself and/ or busy liaising with her conveyancing solicitor ?

I'm reading and running so apologies if this has been raised already.
Did you insure the property after exchange? Who is responsible between exchange and completion is a grey area so solicitors will always advise you to insure.
This issue may well be covered by your insurance if the neighbours did it without consent.
If they did it with consent then your vendors are responsible and your claim is against them.
You must get an answer about this before you complete.
If the vendors won't give you an unequivocal answer I'd have thought they must give you some sort of indemnity.

Are you sure these the sort of people you’d want to live next door to? I’d run a mile…

How awful. I don’t know what to advise apart from the fact that if you can legally pull out without having to pay any further - I would do so. This has completely tainted what should be an exciting time. How can you trust the vendor or neighbours? Personally I couldn’t go through with completion - although it may not seem like it at the moment, and I know you have already exchanged but this happening now before completion maybe a blessing in disguise.

I would be insisting on mature trees being craned in and in situ before you complete. Your seller and neighbour can argue between themselves who pays.

Also I’m worried about birds nesting. Any reputable tree surgeon or person who gives a s**t knows March- April is no go for hedge tree removal - I’ll bet they didn’t check for nests etc. Makes my blood boil.

Oops meant March- august !!

Presumably they brought someone in to fell the trees, which is an expensive business. I paid £300 for just one dying tree to be removed. There must be more to this than you’ve been told. Investigate urgently!