Rights with neighbours overhanging trees?

princeofpounds

Sycamores can be a bit of a pain because they grow so fast. But they are usually easy to prune back too. You can cut it right back to the boundary fence if you like, but you'd be better-off trying to manage it jointly to avoid an unbalanced crown. You should have an objective to keep the crown density light and the tree about its current size (assuming you don't want to remove it).

Hope you get some joy from the next door owner.

M00nface

princeofpounds said:

Sycamores can be a bit of a pain because they grow so fast. But they are usually easy to prune back too. You can cut it right back to the boundary fence if you like, but you'd be better-off trying to manage it jointly to avoid an unbalanced crown. You should have an objective to keep the crown density light and the tree about its current size (assuming you don't want to remove it).

Hope you get some joy from the next door owner.

Yeh as long as the size and overhang is reduced with the sycamore it shouldn't be an issue as it does also block a lot of light so even if it wasn't so high it might be OK. The conifer is probably causing lost of the issue sitting on our property. Still no response from the owner. Will drop another message next week maybe. Anyone knows what I can do if I've attempted to come to a solution but no response? I mean as they don't live at the property it doesn't seem like the trees affect them much and maybe in both our best interest to have them removed? Which I will contribute if needed. 

Phil4432

My main concern would be the proximity of the trees to the house.  You really want 10-20 feet distance between even a medium sized tree and a property.  Your neighbor clearly doesn't know this.  I'd just talk to him/her about this and this alone, as it could also affect him in a big way.

Also, if you were to get a subsidence issue as a result of the neighbors trees, it would be very helpful to show that you did everything you could to prevent the issue from occurring.  So start with an informal chat as you have done, hopefully that will resolve it. 

Blocking sunlight gets complicated, you may not be able to get your way there.  The tree being in contact with your roof isn't great, and you could complain about that.  But the main issue here are the roots of the trees and your house.

Phil4432

edgex said:

That conifer needs to go.

If you think the owner could be awkward about getting it done, it may be worth your while to offer a reasonable amount towards the work just to get it done, say £50/100.

I'd advise against this.  By the lack of maintenance of the trees and their careless proximity to their own property, I'd guess the neighbor is an idiot.

If you offer an idiot anything, they tend to want more and blame you if/when it goes wrong.

M00nface

Phil4432 said:

My main concern would be the proximity of the trees to the house.  You really want 10-20 feet distance between even a medium sized tree and a property.  Your neighbor clearly doesn't know this.  I'd just talk to him/her about this and this alone, as it could also affect him in a big way.

Also, if you were to get a subsidence issue as a result of the neighbors trees, it would be very helpful to show that you did everything you could to prevent the issue from occurring.  So start with an informal chat as you have done, hopefully that will resolve it. 

Blocking sunlight gets complicated, you may not be able to get your way there.  The tree being in contact with your roof isn't great, and you could complain about that.  But the main issue here are the roots of the trees and your house.

Thanks so much. I did contact him via whatsapp (so everything is in writing) and will lemail too if needs be, didn't mention anything about the sunlight but Just mentioned kindly about our concerns with the potential damage to roof and gable ends from the conifer. Didn't mention roots either but will do so if needing to contact again, we are concerned about root problem not only to our property but to the sewage manhole cover that is directly next to the trees on our side of the property. Still awaiting a response from yesterday as nothing yet. Does anyone have any advice on what to do if I don't end up getting a response despite trying to contact for a resolution to this?

M00nface

Phil4432 said:

edgex said:

That conifer needs to go.

If you think the owner could be awkward about getting it done, it may be worth your while to offer a reasonable amount towards the work just to get it done, say £50/100.

I'd advise against this.  By the lack of maintenance of the trees and their careless proximity to their own property, I'd guess the neighbor is an idiot.

If you offer an idiot anything, they tend to want more and blame you if/when it goes wrong.

Thankyou, and agree actually. I think I'd only offer to negotiate money involved as a last route in the hope they can sort this out without us having to pay up. Of course we will cut anything overhanging at our own cost. Actually tempted to leave the timings on their side as I know technically we have to give timings back if they wanted, actually read this can count as theft if you don't? But I still have not had a response from them on the matter. Maybe if the trimings we leave in their garden are enough of a nuisance to them they might actually do something? 

M00nface

M00nface said:

Phil4432 said:

edgex said:

That conifer needs to go.

If you think the owner could be awkward about getting it done, it may be worth your while to offer a reasonable amount towards the work just to get it done, say £50/100.

I'd advise against this.  By the lack of maintenance of the trees and their careless proximity to their own property, I'd guess the neighbor is an idiot.

If you offer an idiot anything, they tend to want more and blame you if/when it goes wrong.

Thankyou, and agree actually. I think I'd only offer to negotiate money involved as a last route in the hope they can sort this out without us having to pay up. Of course we will cut anything overhanging at our own cost. Actually tempted to leave the timings on their side as I know technically we have to give timings back if they wanted, actually read this can count as theft if you don't? But I still have not had a response from them on the matter. Maybe if the trimings we leave in their garden are enough of a nuisance to them they might actually do something? 

Trimings* damn auto correct.

Elmer_BeFuddled

M00nface said:

Trimings* damn auto correct.

Try Trimmings         

M00nface

Elmer_BeFuddled said:

M00nface said:

Trimings* damn auto correct.

Try Trimmings         

I'll get there 

Phil4432

Keep it all light at this point, ideally you want to not have to declare a dispute, should you sell your home.

If he feels that the trees could not potentially damage his property or yours, you could suggest that an independent surveyor come and write a written report on the situation.

An independent surveyor is not affiliated to neither of you.

If the report suggests that the trees have to go in order to protect your property, then this is what you then propose to your neighbor.  If he still refuses, this is your evidence in court should it go that far.  A formal letter from yourself followed by a solicitors letter would precede that.

Do your best for it to not go that far though, which it sounds like you are doing.

Ridiculous, to have trees of that size so close to houses.