Large tree in neighbours garden blocks light to lounge

spaceraiders

I live in a ground door flat with a communal garden, neighbouring other flats with communal gardens. In the garden next door, a large tree that reaches to about 2nd/3rd floor blocks almost all light to my lounge window. This means my lounge is very dark and depressing and requires me to have the lights on there always (although I've switched to energy saving bulbs!). I'd like to do something about this but not sure on the best path to take.

I've checked with some officials and the tree doesn't have a preservation order so it would be OK to cut down or trim. I don't think there's much point in trimming the tree as it'll just grow back fairly quick I'd think. None of the gardens have been looked after as far as I can see (so I don't think people will mind me tampering with the tree) and the tree blocks light to others windows so will benefit more people than just me.

I haven't had a quote yet, but I've been told by friends that the cost would be around £500-1000 to get people in to take the tree down. It obviously would be great if I could get my neighbours to chip in if this was the case. I'm not sure how realistic a DIY option is as I wouldn't want to damage someones building taking the tree down.

My plan was to gather some options and then propose the best plan to my neighbours to 1) get permission and 2) ask for help. I'm cautious about the best way to go about this though for the best result.

Has anyone had a similar situation? Does anyone have any advice for the best approach and how to do this cheaply?

Ionkontrol

You have no legal right to light.

If your neighbours own the tree and don't want to cut it down, there is nothing you can do I'm afraid..

Joto_2

You don't have any right, but most neighbours will be willing to consider the options.
I'd get a tree surgeon in first to advise, if it can't be taken down then maybe it could be 'thinned' out which can make a difference to your light.
You may find your neighbours hate this tree as much as you do and haven't done anything about it due to costs etc.
Your main problem if it's communal gardens will be you need to approach all the residents. If it's council run you may be able to approach them.
Either way I'd get some advice and then ask, they can only say no

tealady

Hi Anything that overhangs your fence can be cut off, you do not have to ask permission however anything in their garden you cannot touch.
If the tree is considered to be dangerous (eg dead or dying or branches fall off) then you can speak to your local Council to see if they can order the owner to make it safe.
Hope this helps.

spaceraiders

Thanks, but most of the tree is within their garden. I'd need to get permission to trim it.

spaceraiders

Joto wrote: »

You don't have any right, but most neighbours will be willing to consider the options.
I'd get a tree surgeon in first to advise, if it can't be taken down then maybe it could be 'thinned' out which can make a difference to your light.
You may find your neighbours hate this tree as much as you do and haven't done anything about it due to costs etc.
Your main problem if it's communal gardens will be you need to approach all the residents. If it's council run you may be able to approach them.
Either way I'd get some advice and then ask, they can only say no

I think from the state of the gardens that most people wouldn't care about getting rid of the tree. It bothers me that I have to ask so many people though. I assume if people are renting I'll need to contact landlords too. I'm cautious about becoming an annoying neighbour if I have to talk to people several times.

nick.simpson19

If the tree is an evergreen or semi evergreen the High Hedge Law will apply .

If someone cannot settle their hedge dispute amicably, they will be able to take their complaint to their local authority provided that:

• the hedge in question is comprised wholly or predominantly of a line of two or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs;
• it is over 2 metres high;
• the hedge acts, to some degree, as a barrier to light or access; and
• because of its height, it is adversely affecting the complainant's reasonable enjoyment of his domestic property (that is their home or garden)

andrew-b

Is it just me or does anyone else get annoyed when people want to chop down perfectly healthy trees that are doing no one any real harm? It often happens just after people move in i've noticed. If they didn't like the tree why move there in the first place?! As already pointed out you don't have a right to light. If the roots are causing damage to your property or it's dead and at risk of falling that's a somewhat different story (i've been trying since december 2007 to get our council to remove a dead tree at risk of falling and causing damage outside our house and have finally got a date for them to fell it in two weeks time- i requested they plant a new one but i'll be surprised if they do).

I bet the tree was there long before you moved there and i bet it would be there for many years longer if it weren't at threat from you trying to get it the chop!

You will more than likely upset neighbours. If someone came knocking on my door asking i chop down a healthy tree in my garden and it wasn't overhanging the boundary i would tell them where to go in no uncertain terms! But then again your neighbours might all want to remove it anyway.

That the gardens are communal makes things much more complicated. Who is responsible for the upkeep of the gardens (even if it isn't being looked after well)? Is this council rented or housing association property or privately rented or are you a leaseholder of your flat?

In my opinion more should be done to protect healthy trees and i'd like to see permission required to remove every tree (if government are serious about lowering carbon dioxide levels then preserving our trees that consume carbon dioxide in photosynthesis is surely something that would help?). Just because a tree doesn't have a preservation order on it doesn't make it ok to chop it down!

Andy

G42

andrew-b wrote: »

Is it just me or does anyone else get annoyed when people want to chop down perfectly healthy trees that are doing no one any real harm? ............
Andy

I bet you vote for the "Green" party as well. I can't believe that people like you put trees before human beings but I suspect that your attitude would change if your light was blocked.

Becles

andrew-b wrote: »

Is it just me or does anyone else get annoyed when people want to chop down perfectly healthy trees that are doing no one any real harm?

When I moved in here 11 years ago, next door had a small tree that I never really noticed.

It's a north facing garden so only the bottom end gets any sunshine. I've got a lovely patio and furniture down there, and I like sunbathing and love laying in my hammock on sunny days. The bairns have a paddling pool and they prefer it when the water has been warmed by the sun.

11 years later and the tree is about 6 metres wide and taller than the house. We get no sunlight whatsoever in the garden now. The overhanging branches (which are higher than my stepladder so I can't cut them off) mean my patio is in shade all of the time, and I've got nowhere to sunbathe and no sun to put the paddling pool in. Many of my plants have died and I'm fighting a problem with moss on the lawn.

My neighbour couldn't care less about his garden as it's untidy, and he works away during the week. I love my garden yet I cannot enjoy it anymore as he refuses to do anything with the tree.

While it is a nice tree in it's own right, it's a tree that should be in a wood, not in the back garden of someone who can't be bothered to have it pruned.

andrew-b

G42 wrote: »

I bet you vote for the "Green" party as well. I can't believe that people like you put trees before human beings but I suspect that your attitude would change if your light was blocked.

nope i don't actually. And no i don't put trees before human beings so i'm not sure where you got that from! Despite your complete disrespect of my views if i were your neighbour (i'm glad to say i'm not!) and you asked me to remove a tree because it was at risk of falling on you i'd actually remove it (even if i were tempted to batter you round the head with the logs after!). I wouldn't remove it just because you didn't like it though!
As someone who appreciates the countryside i have a respect for nature and the environment in which we live in. However i also respect the views of others - whether or not i agree with them is irrelevant. Unfortunately these values seem to be lost on many of today's younger generation. Often i see youngsters pulling other peoples plants to pieces whilst sat on walls even with their parents watching - so is it any wonder that people go around chopping trees down for no reason without any respect of others.

My attitude wouldn't change if my light were blocked by a tree either so your also wrong there. If a tree is causing damage to property or is at risk of falling on property or someone then removing it i have no problem about.

And yes there are cases like the post before me where trees require maintenance by trimming back to a manageable size. Maybe i should qualify my view with "well maintained" though in my view that goes hand in hand with "healthy".

But before you start categorising me as "swampy" get your facts straight!

Andy