What would you do - tree

helenut

We have recently bought our first house - 27th July. On the day we got the keys we had a good look around the garden (me, my mum and bf) pointing out all the lovely trees and berry bushes we had - deciding on what we would do with them etc.

As the house needs doing up - kitchen, bathroom, wall knocking down & rewire we have not yet moved in, the builder started on the 31st August. 24th August I was stripping wallpaper in the house and looking out the window noticed something weird in the garden so I went out and a tree had been cut down! It is 100% on our land as I checked the deeds and it's about 4ft away from the boundary fence. It appears one of our neighbours and jumped the fence and cut it down to the stump. They have also cut down half an oak tree, all our lovely berry bushes and cut down all the boundary hedges to fence-height (they were a lot higher). All of which are on our side of the fence.

All the debris and branches was just strewn all over our lawn. I took date-stamped pictures on the day, it looked like the work had been done the week before.

I still haven't moved in but I don't know what to do really, my mum just said to drop it as it's not worth the hassle of getting the police involved etc. I'm just worried if they jumped the fence to do that, there's nothing to stop them trespassing again! And I'm just pee'd off that someone could do that! I don't like confrontation so I haven't been round, their house is at the back of ours so on a different street, I don't want to get into a fight with them before I've even moved in. I also feel I don't want them to think they got away with it!

Just after opinions really, if you were in this situation, what would you do? And seeing as it happened a while ago now, is it too late to take action?

Generali

I'd report it to the police as a trespass. They've committed criminal damage at the very least. If the police prosecute then you should also be able to claim damages for the amount of your loss if you want.

The down side however is that you may be setting a ball rolling that end with one of those hideous neighbourhood disputes. I don't see that this nasty person has left you with much choice though.

Strapped

If you can find out who did it then you can sue them for a replacement. Unlikely you can prove it though now.

societys_child

Not sure what you should do as it's now "too late" but for starters, I'd stick a security camera up , even a dummy one, might make them think twice about doing it again.

The oak tree may have been protected but it sounds like you've no proof who did it?

If it's your fence, use anti-vandal paint, grease or something nasty . . .

Mojisola

helenut wrote: »

my mum just said to drop it as it's not worth the hassle of getting the police involved etc. I'm just worried if they jumped the fence to do that, there's nothing to stop them trespassing again! And I'm just pee'd off that someone could do that! I don't like confrontation so I haven't been round, their house is at the back of ours so on a different street, I don't want to get into a fight with them before I've even moved in. I also feel I don't want them to think they got away with it!
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It might be worth getting the police to look at what's happened in case you get problems in the future but the chances are they'll say - there's no evidence who did the damage and/or it's a civil problem between neighbours (not true, it is criminal damage but it's the answer given in many neighbour disputes).

It sounds as if there has been an issue with the previous owner and the neighbour took a chance to sort the problem out while the house was empty.

Mrs_Imp

This is what I would do. Take some biscuits/wine round to your immediate neighbours and introduce yourself. You can then apologise for any noise that you make during renovations (always a good idea when you first move in). Mention that your garden has been vandalised, as you wanted them to be aware in case it happens to their garden. Ask if they spotted anything suspicious recently, and would they mind keeping an eye out over the next few days until you've got some better security sorted out.

I would certainly contact the police, in case there's been a spate of it.

helenut

societys_child wrote: »

The oak tree may have been protected but it sounds like you've no proof who did it?

Well all of the trees / bushes that have been cut only neighbour one other property and they very recently put up a new greenhouse and shed near the boundary. So i suspect it might have been them and our tree was cutting out the light for their plants.

helenut

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

This is what I would do. Take some biscuits/wine round to your immediate neighbours and introduce yourself. You can then apologise for any noise that you make during renovations (always a good idea when you first move in). Mention that your garden has been vandalised, as you wanted them to be aware in case it happens to their garden. Ask if they spotted anything suspicious recently, and would they mind keeping an eye out over the next few days until you've got some better security sorted out.

I would certainly contact the police, in case there's been a spate of it.

I spoke to my neighbours on either side and neither of them had seen anything, unfortunately.

Mojisola

helenut wrote: »

Well all of the trees / bushes that have been cut only neighbour one other property and they very recently put up a new greenhouse and shed near the boundary. So i suspect it might have been them and our tree was cutting out the light for their plants.

You're probably right but you don't have proof and that's what counts.

Of course, there's nothing stopping you replanting along the boundary.

dimbo61

sorry to hear about the damage done to your trees and bushes and as others have said its very difficult to prove who did the damage.
The nice neighbours at the back may have lived in shade for years.
They may have asked the old residents to cut back the bushes blocking light from there garden.
If you go to the police and report this you WILL have to tell any buyers when you come to sell the property.
Have a read of Gardenlaw website and consider replaceing any old fencing
Good Luck in your new home

couponqueen123

Get the police and also you are well with in your rights to throw the foliage in there garden (i wouldnt #) but i wuld ring police and sue for damges

are tress protected? Why have they done this i wuld want to know
culd have been an on going dispute with last owners i wuldnt want to get caught up in