Neighbours tree overhangs my car parking space causing a lot of bird poop

LisaAC89

I own a flat with an allocated space (marked on my title deeds) which backs on to land owned by a house on the same estate (under the same management company)
On this land is a large, and protected Elm tree. Due to the size several branches over hang mine, and two other parking spaces. Not only does it cause small twigs and leaves to reguarly fall on my car, but the amount of bird droppings is getting increasingly worse. My car paintwork is permanently damaged, and it is costing a fortune to have the car washed as its near on impossible to remove the poop without a jet wash. 

I have spoken with the owner of the tree, who just said its protected he cant do anything. I await a response from the management company of our estate.
But who's responsibility is it to cut back when over hanging my space, and can i charge the neighbour my expenses if he refuses? 

leonj

If its an allocated space then it's not your property, rather the lanlords so you can't do anything

tboo

You are entitled to cut back any overhanging branches but you have to give them back and also the neighbour has to maintain them.

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

You may get better advice on a different board, I suggest https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling.

but someone else may suggest a better board

eta

To see if the tree is indeed protected look on your local authorities web page.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/07/protected-trees/

theoretica

tboo said:

You are entitled to cut back any overhanging branches but you have to give them back and also the neighbour has to maintain them.

If it has a tree protection order on it you need to apply for permission first - similar to planning permission. Considering Elm Disease I would not be surprised for a healthy elm tree to be given protection and priority.

Have you considered a car cover?

greyteam1959

If it is birds roosting overnight the is causing the 'poop' then get a powerful torch & shine it into the tree during the night the birds will soon get the message.

bargainbetty

Buy a car cover? 

Floss

OP, have a look at this:

"Apply to work on a tree that's protected - GOV.UK" https://www.gov.uk/apply-work-on-protected-tree

VJsmum

We have a beech tree with a TPO at the bottom of our garden that overhangs the neighbours' drive causing similar problems.

It causes us no problems.  Neighbours asked us if we objected to their obtaining planning permission and getting the tree trimmed.  this duly happened - although we split the cost with them cos we're nice! 😁

Rosa_Damascena

I get the attraction to particular trees, but why do birds get attracted to particular roofs I wonder? I've noticed on a couple of occasions birds setting on a single domestic roof and avoiding those next door. I am assuming that no one is so nature-loving as to sprinkle their pitch roof with food.

theoretica

Rosa_Damascena said:

I get the attraction to particular trees, but why do birds get attracted to particular roofs I wonder? I've noticed on a couple of occasions birds setting on a single domestic roof and avoiding those next door. I am assuming that no one is so nature-loving as to sprinkle their pitch roof with food.

Sometimes it is to do with loft insulation.  Also my neighbours across the way have a very popular bit of gutter - it dips and forms a puddle rather than all draining.

zaxdog

Be grateful there is a healthy bird population in a built up area and buy a car cover?