Neighbours' conifers are brushing against my house. Should I offer to pay to cut them down?

Wolff

I have two neighbouring houses to the left of my house, both with large conifer trees which have overgrown and are brushing against my house. I want to remove them completely, rather than just cut back the branches to the boundary. They're hideous as they are so close to the house, and I'd also have to continually pay for them to be cut back every couple of years.

I've lived here a year and haven't met either of those neighbours yet. I have social anxiety and have been putting off going round to introduce myself and ask for permission to cut them down. Absolutely dreading it. But I really need to do it.

I'm also not sure what is the appropriate approach here. Should I offer to pay for the full cost of removing them right off the bat? Or should I ask if it's something they'd be interested in and offer to pay half?

Obviously I don't want to be throwing money away if it's something they want to do anyway, but I also don't want to be cheeky and cause any rifts with the neighbours, expecting them to pay for it.

Any thoughts? I'm planning to get another conifer (which is on my own property) cut down, so it would hopefully be getting all three cut down at the same time, if the neighbours are happy with it.

Davesnave

I would approach the neighbours individually, explain that the trees are keeping you awake in high winds by brushing against your house and take it from there. You have no idea how reasonable they might be at this stage, but the odds aren't good that the owners will be agreeable to have them completely removed. Presumably the trees offer some privacy and the neighbours may well know that you bought into the situation with your eyes open.

You appear to know about the law regarding regarding cutting back to the boundary, which is what's most likely to be your option at this stage when you have your own tree removed. At that time, you could speak to the neighbours again, so they know what will be happening. You could then explain you have a good deal with the tree surgeon and see if they bite, but the simple fact remains that most Brits don't want others 'advising' them what to do on their own property.

I recently persuaded a neighbour to have 5 poplar trees removed and agreed to pay for two more on communal ground to be taken down at the same time. She and the owners of the communal area became agreeable, not through me being extra persuasive, but because the trees were causing damage to their property and likely to cause much more. All I did was point that out. They don't really care that the trees are also inconveniencing me!

tacpot12

I can understand your concern about speaking to your neighbours. Your reason for suggesting that the trees should be cut down rather than trimmed seems a bit flimsy. I would have thought that if the branches were touching your house, then the roots would be affecting the foundations, and this would be a much better reason to require that the trees were cut down. 

I think you need some professional advice. You might start with your insurance company, but you may need a tree surgeon to put in writing that the trees are now of a size and in a position that damage to your foundations is inevitable. You can then go around to the neighbours with a real problem, rather than just an issue of unsightliness. 

You need to be friendly, but explain that you have become concerned about the trees and have sought professional advice, and that the advice is that the trees need to come down. Remember that this will be coming as a shock to the neighbours - you will have had time to worry about speaking to them - they won't be ready for it, so just say silent for a few moments to wait for them to absorb the news, I would then offer to pay half the cost of their removal - "I would be happy to share to share the cost with you". The neighbours are actually liable for the full cost, but it would be more friendly to offer to share the cost. 

If they don't want to pay half, but are not unfriendly, you could ask if they would give permission for a contractor to come onto their property to cut the trees down at your expense. If they will not agree to this, I would tell them that now they are aware of the potential for damage, if they do nothing, they are being negligent and their insurers will not cover them for damage that the trees do to your house. If this doesn't change their mind, I would send them a letter confirming the details of the tree surgeon's assessment of the potential for damage, re-offer to have the trees cut down at your own expense, and remind them that their insurers will not cover them once they see that they have been warned about the potential for damage. Send the letters using the Post Office and get two proofs of posting (one per neighbour). Photograph these proofs and store the photos online somewhere for safety.

The key to such issues is to remain friendly. Listen to their points of view, and if they become angry, show that you understand why they are frustrated. Let them blow some steam if they need to. If they won't calm down, thank them for their time and the opportunity to discuss it, and retreat. Don't get upset or worried if they won't co-operate, doing the above is all you can do. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. 

Davesnave

Without specific details about distances, species, heights and the age of the house, it's hard to know whether foundations would be threatened by a neighbour's conifers, which usually aren't so likely to damage foundations as broad leaved trees. For that reason it would be best not to raise your hopes too much in that direction.

There's also the possibility that foundations could be impacted by sudden removal on clay soils, where something called 'heave' might result. Again, it depends on the size of tree. All these things need considering, so you'd need a properly qualified person to report, not just a 'tree bloke.'

Farway

All the above, but you may be pleasantly surprised once you speak to your neighbours

My neighbour's conifer was growing away, more width than height and gradually excluding the light into my front room although all on his property but close to boundary

I explained the situation and asked if he'd mind if I lopped some of the branches off to give me more light

Blow me down, he said he'd been thinking of chopping it down any way and that was just what he did.

Moral of story is you never know until you ask

PS, that was a few years ago, last weekend he chopped down the other one which was not did not affecting me at all

prowla

I had a similar experience during the summer whilst having my fence repaired.

There was a neighbour's holly tree in the way and I asked if they'd mind if we removed it; they said they'd been wanting to do it anyway, as the pointy leaves were a hazard to their young child.

So I took care off it and everyone's happy!

Apodemus

Two observations:

Positive outcomes with neighbours are much more likely if you have spoken to them on a social basis before going round to ask them to spend money for your convenience!

I wouldn't give any more weight to a tree surgeon's assessment of my house foundations than I would to a civil engineer's assessment of the health of my tree!   

theoretica

From the neighbours' point of view, the trees have been there longer than you, and if you had kept them trimmed to the boundary as you are entitled to then they wouldn't be such an issue now.  I would tell them that you are having someone round to remove your tree and trim theirs back to the boundary and if they might be interested in more extensive trimming while the worker was here with the tools you would be interested as it might save you future pruning to the boundary.  An opportunity, not a demand!

MalMonroe

I'm always amazed when people move to new properties and never introduce themselves to the neighbours. This is something I've always done. It makes for very good relationships with others and nurturing good relationships with neighbours always has great outcomes in my experience.

I understand your social anxiety because it's something I've suffered from for years, too. And I've had to work very hard not to let it interfere with my interactions with others.

You need to speak to your neighbours. How you have managed to avoid them until now is a complete mystery to me. 

Get chatting, tell them how their conifers affect you. After all, they're only people.  

By law you are allowed to cut off any branches that overhang your property but you are supposed to hand them back to your neighbour, if they want them.

But my advice, get talking to all your neighbours! (Observing social distancing and wearing masks, obviously.)

shinytop

MalMonroe said:

I'm always amazed when people move to new properties and never introduce themselves to the neighbours. This is something I've always done. It makes for very good relationships with others and nurturing good relationships with neighbours always has great outcomes in my experience.

I understand your social anxiety because it's something I've suffered from for years, too. And I've had to work very hard not to let it interfere with my interactions with others.

You need to speak to your neighbours. How you have managed to avoid them until now is a complete mystery to me. 

Get chatting, tell them how their conifers affect you. After all, they're only people.  

By law you are allowed to cut off any branches that overhang your property but you are supposed to hand them back to your neighbour, if they want them.

But my advice, get talking to all your neighbours! (Observing social distancing and wearing masks, obviously.)

In my current place the neighbour at the bottom of our garden introduced himself when we moved and almost in the same sentence asked me to cut some trees back that had branches overhanging his roof.  I said I'd have a look and after a month or two I did. I cut them back so that they didn't overhang his roof but they are still over his property.  I think he is in a bit of a huff with me because although I did what he asked, it probably was less than he wanted. He passes my house a lot walking his dog; before he was quite chatty but now just mumbles at me when I say hello.  I now think he's a bit of an arrogant twit, partly for not speaking but also because asking me to cut back the trees was just about the first thing he said to me. 

My point to the OP is just ask them, but maybe don't do it in the first conversation you have with them.  Is there any other reason you could think of to go and break the ice?  I do appreciate it's difficult for you. 

suejb2

I agree with so much of these posts. 

Anecdotal but whenever a new neighbour moves in I always post a welcome card. Gets us both off on a nice start.
  With my attached neighbour, without fail I knock on before any party/gathering to tell them (have two teenagers)  and the following day pop round with a bottle of wine, cake, chocolates or flowers. They reciprocate. Anyway previous neighbour many years back planted trees which obviously grew. Over lockdown I offered my OH would chop a foot or two off, no need . The very next day neighbour cut the trees down completely. Apparently  his wife wanted them gone anyway. Win win.