Tree on front lawn.

adele9365

Hi,

Our small front lawn connects directly with next doors between the two driveways and where I assume the boundary would be sits a tree. The tree seems much bigger now in the Summer all leafy-like and overhangs our driveway and I would like to get it cut back (or if I'm very honest removed altogether!)

We did ask our solicitor when buying the house to find out who it belonged to but I guess with the madness that accompanies a first time house purchase this fell by the wayside.

I'm just wondering what would be the best way to approach the situation. Do I have a friendly word with the neighbour, get back in touch with a solicitor or something else?

go_cat

I would speak to your neighbour.

We have just had to cut down a large tree on our front whose roots had grown almost under the house

cattie

Really it was something you perhaps should have asked the former owners of your house.

The best course is to ask the neighbours whether they planted the tree or know who's boundary it sits upon.. If they know nothing about it & it was done by one of the owners of either house long since gone, then providing you are not in a conservation area, you can arrange, singly or jointly with next door, to have it cut back/down.

Probably having it removed all together would be the best way to go as if you alone pay to have it cut back, then you will be taken to have assumed responsibility for it, so are likely to always have to maintain it.

sirmosh

You can cut it back to the boundary without asking any one (unless it's protected). Chat to your neighbour about it, they may be happy to get rid of it to then it's easy enough to split the cost or even cover it yourself if they don't want to pay but don't mind it going.