Tree Damage Situation

swarden13510 · 2025-09-09T11:53:02+00:00

Hi everyone,

A bit of a long story. Our neighbour has a huge tree in his garden that overhangs ours. He got it trimmed back in April and we provided access to our garden for the tree cutters. We were there when they first arrived and witnessed them letting the branches just free fall into our garden. This tree is massive so we're talking 6 foot trunks of wood. But our garden is pretty large and the branches seemed to be just falling on the lawn -- plus they're professionals -- so we gave them the benefit of the doubt, didn't say anything and left the house as we had plans. My husband did have to speak to one of the guys though as he kept walking over a little sapling we had recently planted. Looking back, they were pretty disrespectful of our garden but... hindsight.

Anyway, when we got back, we realised one of the paving slabs in the garden was cracked and there was damage to our shed roof from the falling branches. My husband managed to get the phone number and the owner came over to look at the damage, admitted fault and said he'd be in touch about repairs. Then it was crickets. My husband followed up in June and the tree guy ignored him. We probably should have been more on the ball about it but we were planning a wedding and we had a lot on our plates.

Anyway, it got to August and I contacted the tree guy as he kept ignoring my husband. He gave me the number of his builder mate and I contacted him at the beginning of August - no reply. We then went on honeymoon for 3 weeks and, when we got back last week, I texted the builder again. No reply. I then had to go back to the tree guy to ask him to please ask his friend to respond (which I find pretty ridiculous). Finally the builder replies to say his waiting list is 6-7 weeks and he can't do anything before then.

I went back to the tree guy to say that's too much time (we're already 5 months down the line and winter is coming so I don't want extra damage to the shed from rainwater). I asked if there was any other solution and suggested maybe we could get someone in and send him the invoice. The tree guy says he refuses to pay for this and basically it's either his builder in 2 months or nothing. I'm losing my patience a bit here and I just want this done. I just want to know whether I can go ahead and get the work done and invoice him? Is he legally obligated to pay it or is he entitled to demand I use his builder? If we do wait for his builder and we get rain damage in the shed, would he be liable for this?

I know we dropped the ball a bit here by not following up but I'm struggling to understand why I need to micromanage two grown men as if I'm their mum. We're not trying to make money or pull a fast one -- I just want my shed and paving slab fixed!

Thanks for your help/advice!

Eldi_Dos · 2025-09-09T12:19:25+00:00

My thoughts are your neighbour employed them so it is up to them to chase up.Approach your neighbour again and state if work is not completed to your satisfaction by a certain date you will employ a company to put right and you will be presenting them with the bill.

Mark_d · 2025-09-09T12:29:22+00:00

The tree cutters are responsible. They should have public liability insurance.

I would get a few quotes to get the damage repaired. Get the work done and then sue the tree cutters for negligence.

Eldi_Dos · 2025-09-09T12:40:38+00:00

Mark_d said:

The tree cutters are responsible. They should have public liability insurance.
I would get a few quotes to get the damage repaired. Get the work done and then sue the tree cutters for negligence.

It is the main contract holder who is ultimately responsible and approach like I suggested above often gets them to make sure their contractors make good.
Personally myself I would not be wasting anymore of my time chasing up someone else's tree surgeon or builder when they have had plenty of time to make good.

Slinky · 2025-09-09T12:53:17+00:00

This is a problem of your neighbour's making. I would be pursuing them to get it put right. It shouldn't be down to you to be chasing their contractor. Get onto the neighbour and tell them to either get it sorted or you will and will be presenting them with the bill.