Bill from neighbours for tree damage

PandorasJar

cabriolean wrote: »

So he trespassed onto your property, vandalised your trees and stole your wood......I wouldn't pay him anything..

^This.

My OH is a tree surgeon. He would charge £300-£400 for a take down of four trees similar to OP. This includes logging (95% of people keep it to burn on wood burner or friends burners. It may burn quick, but it's hot and free) and clearing away the waste.

Neither of us would pay up if someone else had done it. How do they know that you couldn't have called someone in for nothing? My OH cleared an elderly neighbours 15ft tree which landed in our garden in the storms for £25 token charge.
How do you know the company/worker is insured?

If you have to I'd state that the take-down would have cost you £300 and the logs are £75 per tree.
However, I personally would write a letter stating that you are unhappy that they have trespassed, caused damage and removed your wood off your property which has monetary value. I would also express concern that the tree surgeon in question would not be insured as he did not have permission to be there and ask that all future correspondence be in writing addressed to you. I'd file this away and ignore him after that. I doubt he'd bother with court, but if he did, you have a letter stating your concerns rationally.
I'd also get a couple of current quotes as back up for if it went to court, to pay reasonable cost, not inflated cost.

PandorasJar

Mojisola wrote: »

Must be offered to the neighbour. If the neighbour doesn't want it, you have to dispose of it.

^This

Although I don't believe any wood was overhanging (bar the tree that fell and should be offered) as far as I understand it was foliage which I'd let them have, but doubt they'd want!

Tiptaker

I'd take a trip to your local Citizens Advice Centre and ask their advice which I guess they would give to you in writing.

chriswedge

Don't pay. Have you considered that they might have cut the trees down themselves using the storm as an ellaborate excuse? Seems a win/win for your neighbour if you pay - those pesky trees stop blocking sunlight into their garden and £700!

funkyT1972

We had 8 of these trees cut down to a 1 foot stump last August (2013, North West region), at a total cost of £600. The trees were well above the height of our two story house. They cleaned the street when they'd finished and took away the debris too.

We had a 15 foot branch fall from one of them about 5 years previously. It luckily just missed the neighbour's car. The council came to take that away and charged us £90 +VAT.

bexhill

The neighbours will have to talk to their insurers who no doubt will contact your insurers to establish liability, on no account pay the neighbours yourself. They will have to prove to the insurers that the work was necessary by giving evidence of the damage and the amount of work required. They will also be responsible for the damage done to your trees and for leaving unsightly stumps. If you have access to free legal help, possibly on your house insurance speak to them now, these neighbours need to be taken to task.

florere

betsie wrote: »

The wood is in his garden, he said a family member is having it.

He can't the wood is yours, your neighbours have the right to prune your trees back to the boundary, but they have to offer the prunings back to you.

Are you insured, if so you should be able to claim of your insurance company, phone them up and tell them what has happened, They should be able to advise you about how to proceed. I did read somewhere that a dispute with a neighbour can knock £20,000 of the value of your house. Good Luck.

heygringo

Wow! what a posting. I agree with all the contributors that say not to pay etc etc etc., We have to know the outcome of this dispute. Keep us posted.

kittenofwoe

The OP has already stated that they have by now paid what *they* were quoted. Incredibly reasonable behaviour on their part, I think. I wouldn't wish to offend by putting into words how I'd react in their same situation.....

SVW

I agree with other posts. Your neighbours should have spoken to you first. You should have had the opportunity to speak to your insurers to find out if they would cover the costs. You should also have had the opportunity to get a couple of quotes for the work. If your neighbours expected you to pay for the work then you should have been able to select the company and agree the price. If it turns out that you are liable to pay, get some quotes and offer to pay the neighbours a reasonable figure.