Problem neighbour over my trees

anggrrr

Long time no post..

I bought my money pit in April last year and moved in late August. You may remember me from previous posts similar "do I have to chase my solicitors" and "is possessory title a worry". The inside of the house is all done (apart from my recurring roof leak but.. ) but I'm now having a problem with a neighbour.

The house had been empty for a number of years with a garden that was a wilderness. There were many large shrubs and bushes as well as two mature holly, another evergreen tree and approx 15 sycamore trees in different states of maturity. This was mostly cleared by my Dad (I've kept the evergreens) but worked slowed in October this year as the weather was awful and we had two problems:

a) the large asbestos garage taking up half the back of the garden
b) the 6 (approx) sycamores behind the garage one of which is twice the height of the house.

I've had no problems with my near neighbours but there is a neighbour at the back who hates the sycamores. He complained to Dad early on who explained we were going to remove them but we needed to get rid of the garage first.

Before Christmas he knocked at my house on a Sunday evening with a bowl full of sycamore seeds complaining that I should remove the trees. I explained there was nothing I could do about it right then.

Wednesday this week we booked the firm to come and remove the garage (next week) and Dad got a tree surgeon to come and visit and he is removing the sycamores ASAP.

This morning I left the house to find a bag of seeds and a note through my letterbox, not signed, but I assume from the same neighbour saying he wished me to get rid of the trees. The trees do overhang a couple of gardens but, ironically, not his. I'm finding it a bit disturbing.

My question is:
1. I'm right on the legal position, aren't I? I don't have to cut the trees down or have any responsibility for the leaves and seeds they shed.

2. How do I make it clear to him that removing the trees has nothing to do with his actions (which are more likely to have me deliberately leaving one tree) and that his behaviour is unacceptable.

3. As we explained approx. 9 months ago that we were planning to remove the trees (and why we couldn't do it at the same time as everything else) is there a legal time I should do it in as we sort of formed a verbal contract? I'm worried that he is going to move on to something else once this is sorted. I am documenting times and events but am considering telling him if he approaches me on the issue again I will contact the police.

Lokolo

I would write to him with the following words

Hi,

I had originally booked in the garage removers and tree surgeons on X date. However because of your constant rudeness I have decided to cancel this until I recieve a full apology from yourself.

Kind Regards,

Y

-- However it could make things worse, but thats what I would do.

Southend1

Don't mention the police. Just pop round with the letter, hand it to him and say politely "thanks for the reminder but I had already booked the tree surgeon". Then change the subject and try to engage him in a bit of chit chat. Hopefully he will then think you're his mate and won't bother you in future.

Sycamores are so prolific. We have them in the coal alleys behind my terrace and the seedlings grow everywhere including between paving in my garden!

Good luck!

Southend1

Lokolo wrote: »

I would write to him with the following words

Hi,

I had originally booked in the garage removers and tree surgeons on X date. However because of your constant rudeness I have decided to cancel this until I recieve a full apology from yourself.

Kind Regards,

Y

-- However it could make things worse, but thats what I would do.

I'd be tempted to do the same but I think aggravating this kind of neighbour would just cause a whole lot of problems for the OP!

somethingcorporate

Southend1 wrote: »

I'd be tempted to do the same but I think aggravating this kind of neighbour would just cause a whole lot of problems for the OP!

I agree, funny, indeed but they will find something else or turn it into a personal vendetta.

Mojisola

anggrrr wrote: »

My question is:
1. I'm right on the legal position, aren't I? I don't have to cut the trees down or have any responsibility for the leaves and seeds they shed.

You're right.

2. How do I make it clear to him that removing the trees has nothing to do with his actions (which are more likely to have me deliberately leaving one tree) and that his behaviour is unacceptable.

If you feel you have to do this, just write a letter saying that, as you told him previously, the trees would be removed after the garage had been taken down.

3. As we explained approx. 9 months ago that we were planning to remove the trees (and why we couldn't do it at the same time as everything else) is there a legal time I should do it in as we sort of formed a verbal contract? I'm worried that he is going to move on to something else once this is sorted. I am documenting times and events but am considering telling him if he approaches me on the issue again I will contact the police.

There was no contract. You spoke to a neighbour, that's all.

The police wouldn't be interested. Don't threaten something that you can't follow through.

If he moves on to something else, tackle it when it happens. Don't worry about it now.

DannyboyMidlands

Police? Eh?

Ignore him. It sounds like the trees will be gone in a few weeks so no more problem.

tyllwyd

I think it's a case of least said soonest mended - I'd pop round, explain in a friendly way that the garage removal and tree surgeon are booked for this month, and leave it at that. I don't think that he has any grounds to complain just because leaves or seeds are falling in his garden, and I don't think keeping a tree that you don't want just because he's been a bit pushy is a great idea. They've probably been driving him crazy for a while and he's got a bit wound up thinking they would go sooner than they have.

R_P_W

I'd take his letter and his bag of seeds and post them back through his letterbox! Then ignore him and remove the garage and the trees as per your original timescale.

bubblegum1985

I would ignore the letter completely.

But I would pop a note into the neighbours letterboxes who do get the seeds (or whatever in their garden) and tell them that on Y date a tree surgeon is coming so applogies if there is any noise etc. Possibly also mention that they might notice more mess in their gardens the following day but you will do you best to make sure the mess from them coming down is contained in your garden and cleaned up appropriately.

That way come off as a nice neighbour and ignore the petty squabbles, not worth it in the long run.

anggrrr

tyllwyd wrote: »

I don't think keeping a tree that you don't want just because he's been a bit pushy is a great idea.

Heh, no, I wouldn't really do that.

I thought I had explained in a friendly way that I knew it was a problem and that it was going to be fixed as soon as it was practicable. He's either misunderstood there is another problem there.