trees against house

willferrell

There are 3 conifers growing in my neighbours garden, they are about 2m from my house and the tallest tree is between 25-30m high. The branches bash on my roof, they tap my velux windows all night and they've damaged my aerial. I have trimmed off the tips of branches through the velux, as they are within my boundary, but actually the lower limbs need to be removed.

Neighbour wont engage at all. I have to write notes as she is rarely in. I have offered to prune some of the branches myself and remove them but she ignored that.

Aside from the branches, I am so worried the trees will just topple in the wind, and I also worry about what damage the roots might be doing. I cant have a look as neighbour wont allow me access. The only way I can see into her garden is by hanging out of my roof window - there are high walls and fences otherwise that mean I cant see anything of the roots against my stone wall.This neighbour has historically said no to other neighbours who wanted access to clean their windows.

I am in a Conservation Area so anything that happens to the tree needs permission from the council, and obviously the neighbour as the tree owner.

How do I even start to make some headway here? If she won't talk to me, or carry out works to prevent damage to my house, what can I do? And who is liable for any serious damage either from the roots or of the trees fall?

Fire_Fox

Read your buildings insurance paperwork. With some problems they may intervene: say appoint experts or contact the other party's insurer. No idea if that applies here.

Discuss the situation with a tree surgeon. They may be able to examine and report on the tree without entering the neighbour's garden, and will have the expertise to calm or back up your fears. They will likely be familiar with dealing with the local Council and challenging neighbours!

Consider keeping a record of contact by sending messages via Royal Mail 'Signed For'.

moneyistooshorttomention

It may indeed be the best (possibly only) thing one can do with an intransigent neighbour like that - ie make a "paper trail" of proof in writing that you've tried your best to get the neighbour to deal with the situation they have created.

That way - I'm guessing your worst case analysis situation would be that if their tree roots did damage your house at some point - you'd have the written proof to supply to your insurance company for them to "fight it out" with the insurance company the neighbour has presumably got.

You will be able to prove that you have "tried to resolve the situation" - and so, hopefully, any/all costs of rectifying any problems these trees cause ever will fall on the correct shoulders (ie the neighbours and/or their insurance company).

"There is no cure for stupid" sometimes - ie those neighbours - so it may be that the best you can do is supply yourself with all written proof possible that you have tried to get them to rectify the situation they have caused just in case.

sevenhills

You have to give your local planning authority six weeks’ notice before carrying out work on trees which are located in a conservation area but are not yet the subject of a tree preservation order. This gives the authority an opportunity to consider whether an order should be made to protect the trees.


High hedges, trees and boundaries

You must try to settle a dispute about a high hedge informally before the council can intervene.
Ask your council for a complaint form if the hedge is all of these:

• 2 or more mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs
• over 2 metres tall
• affecting your enjoyment of your home or garden because it’s too tall

You might have to pay the council a fee to consider your complaint.
Read more about complaining to your council about a high hedge.
You can trim branches or roots that cross into your property from a nProperty damage from hedges

Your neighbour is responsible for maintaining their hedges so they do not, for example, damage your property or grow too high. If they do damage your property, your neighbour may be liable.


https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/high-hedges-trees-and-boundaries