Are my neighbours tree ‘surgeons’ allowed to jump the fence into my garden?

980233

turnitround said:

1122abc said:

My partner and I have just bought our first house. Therefore, I don’t have a lot of experience with what is and isn’t normal neighbour behaviour. We live in a middle (?high) class area, however I grew up working class. We both have respected professional jobs hence our new location but I still don’t feel like I fit in around here, I’m also British born to 1st gen immigrants in a predominantly English area, so I don’t want to cause a fuss and be “that” neighbour. My partner is also not white. 

Nothing in the above paragraph is relevant to your issue

I’ve just come back from a 13.5 hour night shift. I’m exhausted. I was in the shower and I heard banging at my front door. I ignored it as I wasn’t expecting a delivery. I came out of the downstairs shower in a towel and I walked into the kitchen/diner that opens up to the garden with bifold windows. My intention was to grab paracetamol quickly hence I kept my towel on.

But not too exhausted to post on here? Someone banging on the door could be for anything, just because you were not expecting a parcel.  Surely the reason you ignored the knocking was because you were actually in the shower at the time. 

I saw four men in my garden. One with a very long lopper, all in black hoodies, joggers and one with a puffer jacket. I was really petrified. Long story short, they said that they need to cut my neighbour’s tree. I said I didn’t know this was happening today. They replied “well we knocked”, shrugged their shoulders and set up a ladder. I asked if they needed my permission to be in my garden but they said they don’t, because they are cutting down the tree which is the neighbours property and they’re actually doing my a favour by improving my view. 

Why does it matter that they were wearing hoodies etc? Yes it would be a shock to see men in the garden but why petrified if you could see what they were doing. Presumably by the time yoou had got dressed and approached them it would be obvious they were doing the tree.

I would be so grateful for opinions. Surely the neighbour could just post a quick note to let me know that the tree people are coming and will be in my garden - at least so I know?

Perhaps he did not know they were going to come today.

They are in right now, as the couple were briefly in their garden admiring their slaughtered tree.

Slaughtered?

We moved in in March but have only seen them once but haven’t had the chance to smile or say hello just yet. We work super long hours so barely see each other let alone neighbours. 

If you have been there 9 months then perhaps the neighbours feel you are unapproachable. Why not just pop round and introduce yourselves. Surely at some point in the last 9 months you would have been coming in or out of the house at the same point as them. Do the neighbourly thing and say hello. They could also have made an effort to welcome you of course.

Sorry it’s so long, my questions are
1. Can the tree surgeons legally jump the fence into my garden?
2. Shouldn’t your neighbour inform you if their workmen will be working on your property?

thanks!

Bad communication on both sides here but if you intend to stay in this house then its far better to get along with the neighbours and you really dont want a dispute when you come to sell.

How so bad communication from the OP to the neighbour?

Scotbot

I am going to get a tree cut down next year and have no idea if the guys will need to access the neighbours garden.  Unless they told your neighbour I am not sure how they would know. Sounds like the tree guys could have been politer but that is about it. They did try to obtain your permission

I am not sure why you were terrified. If I saw guys in my garden lopping next doors tree shortly after a knock on the door I would assume it was them knocking, go outside say hello and ask them to make sure they clear any mess. That would be it. As you work nights it would have been nice if your neighbour let you know about the noise in advance but it sounds like they don't know you are a shift worker. 

[Deleted User]

They were very lucky, I'd have just called 999 and not tried to confront them.

elsien

gwynlas said:

It is the done thing to answer the door whether or not you are expecting a delivery. Some neighbour might gave been in need of urgent assistance and knocked on several other doors. The beighbour in question might have assumed knowlegeable tree surgeons could have completed their work inside their garden.

Not in this house it isn't.   If I'm working from home, in the middle of a call, just don't hear the door, or occasionally am really  not in the mood to talk to anyone then I ignore anyone knocking.   Happy for a neighbour to text me about requests, but would be very miffed to see strangers in my garden without my knowledge.

Really not sure why the OP is getting a hard time from some people when all they've done is ask a perfectly reasonable question to checking the legalities of the situation before deciding what (if anything) to do next. 

turnitround

980233 said:

turnitround said:

1122abc said:

My partner and I have just bought our first house. Therefore, I don’t have a lot of experience with what is and isn’t normal neighbour behaviour. We live in a middle (?high) class area, however I grew up working class. We both have respected professional jobs hence our new location but I still don’t feel like I fit in around here, I’m also British born to 1st gen immigrants in a predominantly English area, so I don’t want to cause a fuss and be “that” neighbour. My partner is also not white. 

Nothing in the above paragraph is relevant to your issue

I’ve just come back from a 13.5 hour night shift. I’m exhausted. I was in the shower and I heard banging at my front door. I ignored it as I wasn’t expecting a delivery. I came out of the downstairs shower in a towel and I walked into the kitchen/diner that opens up to the garden with bifold windows. My intention was to grab paracetamol quickly hence I kept my towel on.

But not too exhausted to post on here? Someone banging on the door could be for anything, just because you were not expecting a parcel.  Surely the reason you ignored the knocking was because you were actually in the shower at the time. 

I saw four men in my garden. One with a very long lopper, all in black hoodies, joggers and one with a puffer jacket. I was really petrified. Long story short, they said that they need to cut my neighbour’s tree. I said I didn’t know this was happening today. They replied “well we knocked”, shrugged their shoulders and set up a ladder. I asked if they needed my permission to be in my garden but they said they don’t, because they are cutting down the tree which is the neighbours property and they’re actually doing my a favour by improving my view. 

Why does it matter that they were wearing hoodies etc? Yes it would be a shock to see men in the garden but why petrified if you could see what they were doing. Presumably by the time yoou had got dressed and approached them it would be obvious they were doing the tree.

I would be so grateful for opinions. Surely the neighbour could just post a quick note to let me know that the tree people are coming and will be in my garden - at least so I know?

Perhaps he did not know they were going to come today.

They are in right now, as the couple were briefly in their garden admiring their slaughtered tree.

Slaughtered?

We moved in in March but have only seen them once but haven’t had the chance to smile or say hello just yet. We work super long hours so barely see each other let alone neighbours. 

If you have been there 9 months then perhaps the neighbours feel you are unapproachable. Why not just pop round and introduce yourselves. Surely at some point in the last 9 months you would have been coming in or out of the house at the same point as them. Do the neighbourly thing and say hello. They could also have made an effort to welcome you of course.

Sorry it’s so long, my questions are
1. Can the tree surgeons legally jump the fence into my garden?
2. Shouldn’t your neighbour inform you if their workmen will be working on your property?

thanks!

Bad communication on both sides here but if you intend to stay in this house then its far better to get along with the neighbours and you really dont want a dispute when you come to sell.

How so bad communication from the OP to the neighbour?

Having lived in the house for 9 months and not having had a minute to say hello to the neighbours. Really!

980233

turnitround said:

980233 said:

turnitround said:

1122abc said:

My partner and I have just bought our first house. Therefore, I don’t have a lot of experience with what is and isn’t normal neighbour behaviour. We live in a middle (?high) class area, however I grew up working class. We both have respected professional jobs hence our new location but I still don’t feel like I fit in around here, I’m also British born to 1st gen immigrants in a predominantly English area, so I don’t want to cause a fuss and be “that” neighbour. My partner is also not white. 

Nothing in the above paragraph is relevant to your issue

I’ve just come back from a 13.5 hour night shift. I’m exhausted. I was in the shower and I heard banging at my front door. I ignored it as I wasn’t expecting a delivery. I came out of the downstairs shower in a towel and I walked into the kitchen/diner that opens up to the garden with bifold windows. My intention was to grab paracetamol quickly hence I kept my towel on.

But not too exhausted to post on here? Someone banging on the door could be for anything, just because you were not expecting a parcel.  Surely the reason you ignored the knocking was because you were actually in the shower at the time. 

I saw four men in my garden. One with a very long lopper, all in black hoodies, joggers and one with a puffer jacket. I was really petrified. Long story short, they said that they need to cut my neighbour’s tree. I said I didn’t know this was happening today. They replied “well we knocked”, shrugged their shoulders and set up a ladder. I asked if they needed my permission to be in my garden but they said they don’t, because they are cutting down the tree which is the neighbours property and they’re actually doing my a favour by improving my view. 

Why does it matter that they were wearing hoodies etc? Yes it would be a shock to see men in the garden but why petrified if you could see what they were doing. Presumably by the time yoou had got dressed and approached them it would be obvious they were doing the tree.

I would be so grateful for opinions. Surely the neighbour could just post a quick note to let me know that the tree people are coming and will be in my garden - at least so I know?

Perhaps he did not know they were going to come today.

They are in right now, as the couple were briefly in their garden admiring their slaughtered tree.

Slaughtered?

We moved in in March but have only seen them once but haven’t had the chance to smile or say hello just yet. We work super long hours so barely see each other let alone neighbours. 

If you have been there 9 months then perhaps the neighbours feel you are unapproachable. Why not just pop round and introduce yourselves. Surely at some point in the last 9 months you would have been coming in or out of the house at the same point as them. Do the neighbourly thing and say hello. They could also have made an effort to welcome you of course.

Sorry it’s so long, my questions are
1. Can the tree surgeons legally jump the fence into my garden?
2. Shouldn’t your neighbour inform you if their workmen will be working on your property?

thanks!

Bad communication on both sides here but if you intend to stay in this house then its far better to get along with the neighbours and you really dont want a dispute when you come to sell.

How so bad communication from the OP to the neighbour?

Having lived in the house for 9 months and not having had a minute to say hello to the neighbours. Really!

This is about cowboy tree guys jumping their fence without permission and not tea and cake in last 9 months. 

Slinky

I've had a tree surgeon round today to quote for removal of a tree next to a fence in my garden. I asked him when they could do it, they say they're booked up til April but could perhaps fit me in on a Saturday as we (hopefully) have building work starting in March. I'll take whatever date they can give me which could be at short notice if they finish early on another job nearby. I wouldn't know in advance to be able to advise other than a general 'we're getting a tree removed but don't have a definite  date yet'. It may be your neighbour didn't know they were coming today and was just grateful to get the job done. Yes it's annoying that you weren't consulted, but I was dancing down the garden when our neighbour on the other side cut down their trees earlier this year and opened up my garden to the sunshine.

lookstraightahead

I would just be really grateful that the neighbours look after their garden.
the alternative could be they did their side and left yours, with you then having to pay if you wanted it cutting.

turnitround

980233 said:

turnitround said:

980233 said:

turnitround said:

1122abc said:

My partner and I have just bought our first house. Therefore, I don’t have a lot of experience with what is and isn’t normal neighbour behaviour. We live in a middle (?high) class area, however I grew up working class. We both have respected professional jobs hence our new location but I still don’t feel like I fit in around here, I’m also British born to 1st gen immigrants in a predominantly English area, so I don’t want to cause a fuss and be “that” neighbour. My partner is also not white. 

Nothing in the above paragraph is relevant to your issue

I’ve just come back from a 13.5 hour night shift. I’m exhausted. I was in the shower and I heard banging at my front door. I ignored it as I wasn’t expecting a delivery. I came out of the downstairs shower in a towel and I walked into the kitchen/diner that opens up to the garden with bifold windows. My intention was to grab paracetamol quickly hence I kept my towel on.

But not too exhausted to post on here? Someone banging on the door could be for anything, just because you were not expecting a parcel.  Surely the reason you ignored the knocking was because you were actually in the shower at the time. 

I saw four men in my garden. One with a very long lopper, all in black hoodies, joggers and one with a puffer jacket. I was really petrified. Long story short, they said that they need to cut my neighbour’s tree. I said I didn’t know this was happening today. They replied “well we knocked”, shrugged their shoulders and set up a ladder. I asked if they needed my permission to be in my garden but they said they don’t, because they are cutting down the tree which is the neighbours property and they’re actually doing my a favour by improving my view. 

Why does it matter that they were wearing hoodies etc? Yes it would be a shock to see men in the garden but why petrified if you could see what they were doing. Presumably by the time yoou had got dressed and approached them it would be obvious they were doing the tree.

I would be so grateful for opinions. Surely the neighbour could just post a quick note to let me know that the tree people are coming and will be in my garden - at least so I know?

Perhaps he did not know they were going to come today.

They are in right now, as the couple were briefly in their garden admiring their slaughtered tree.

Slaughtered?

We moved in in March but have only seen them once but haven’t had the chance to smile or say hello just yet. We work super long hours so barely see each other let alone neighbours. 

If you have been there 9 months then perhaps the neighbours feel you are unapproachable. Why not just pop round and introduce yourselves. Surely at some point in the last 9 months you would have been coming in or out of the house at the same point as them. Do the neighbourly thing and say hello. They could also have made an effort to welcome you of course.

Sorry it’s so long, my questions are
1. Can the tree surgeons legally jump the fence into my garden?
2. Shouldn’t your neighbour inform you if their workmen will be working on your property?

thanks!

Bad communication on both sides here but if you intend to stay in this house then its far better to get along with the neighbours and you really dont want a dispute when you come to sell.

How so bad communication from the OP to the neighbour?

Having lived in the house for 9 months and not having had a minute to say hello to the neighbours. Really!

This is about cowboy tree guys jumping their fence without permission and not tea and cake in last 9 months. 

Quite agree, but you asked why I thought it was bad communication from both sides.  Perhaps if there had been more communication from both sides over the previous months the OP would not be in the position she was.

TheJP

980233 said:

turnitround said:

980233 said:

turnitround said:

1122abc said:

My partner and I have just bought our first house. Therefore, I don’t have a lot of experience with what is and isn’t normal neighbour behaviour. We live in a middle (?high) class area, however I grew up working class. We both have respected professional jobs hence our new location but I still don’t feel like I fit in around here, I’m also British born to 1st gen immigrants in a predominantly English area, so I don’t want to cause a fuss and be “that” neighbour. My partner is also not white. 

Nothing in the above paragraph is relevant to your issue

I’ve just come back from a 13.5 hour night shift. I’m exhausted. I was in the shower and I heard banging at my front door. I ignored it as I wasn’t expecting a delivery. I came out of the downstairs shower in a towel and I walked into the kitchen/diner that opens up to the garden with bifold windows. My intention was to grab paracetamol quickly hence I kept my towel on.

But not too exhausted to post on here? Someone banging on the door could be for anything, just because you were not expecting a parcel.  Surely the reason you ignored the knocking was because you were actually in the shower at the time. 

I saw four men in my garden. One with a very long lopper, all in black hoodies, joggers and one with a puffer jacket. I was really petrified. Long story short, they said that they need to cut my neighbour’s tree. I said I didn’t know this was happening today. They replied “well we knocked”, shrugged their shoulders and set up a ladder. I asked if they needed my permission to be in my garden but they said they don’t, because they are cutting down the tree which is the neighbours property and they’re actually doing my a favour by improving my view. 

Why does it matter that they were wearing hoodies etc? Yes it would be a shock to see men in the garden but why petrified if you could see what they were doing. Presumably by the time yoou had got dressed and approached them it would be obvious they were doing the tree.

I would be so grateful for opinions. Surely the neighbour could just post a quick note to let me know that the tree people are coming and will be in my garden - at least so I know?

Perhaps he did not know they were going to come today.

They are in right now, as the couple were briefly in their garden admiring their slaughtered tree.

Slaughtered?

We moved in in March but have only seen them once but haven’t had the chance to smile or say hello just yet. We work super long hours so barely see each other let alone neighbours. 

If you have been there 9 months then perhaps the neighbours feel you are unapproachable. Why not just pop round and introduce yourselves. Surely at some point in the last 9 months you would have been coming in or out of the house at the same point as them. Do the neighbourly thing and say hello. They could also have made an effort to welcome you of course.

Sorry it’s so long, my questions are
1. Can the tree surgeons legally jump the fence into my garden?
2. Shouldn’t your neighbour inform you if their workmen will be working on your property?

thanks!

Bad communication on both sides here but if you intend to stay in this house then its far better to get along with the neighbours and you really dont want a dispute when you come to sell.

How so bad communication from the OP to the neighbour?

Having lived in the house for 9 months and not having had a minute to say hello to the neighbours. Really!

This is about cowboy tree guys jumping their fence without permission and not tea and cake in last 9 months. 

What about this situation makes them cowboys? 

Yes id be a little perplexed if anyone was in my garden but once clarified id just move on. Tomorrow is another day.