My Neighbour Has Conifers 35Foot High My Garden Gets No Sun Is There Anything I Can Do Legally To Get Him To Cut Them

[michaelwaters1]

my neighbour has conifers 35 foot high my garden gets no sun is there anything legally I can do to get him to cut them.

[Bobbisox1]

Not unless the roots are going under your foundations and only a survey would know that, good luck, pesky bloody things !

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure. Are the roots causing issues your side of the border ? Is it inadequately maintained such that the branches are a hazard ? If so you can write to ask it's sorted. (Keep copies/evidence.)

May have been better posted in the law forum.

[dannyk13]

If they are interfering with your light then you should ring your local council.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I could tell you what to do but its not technically legal. It involves a drill and Glyphosate.
Unless they are causing damage to your land then I'm afraid there is nothing you can do. Even if they are causing damage and you can prove it it, it could become expensive enforcing your neighbour.
Have you approached the subject with him?

[Atheist]

Local Council is the best place to start; there may be tree regs which cover the issue.

[Ken4155]

How long have you lived next door to him for them to get 35 feet high before you ask this question?

[Atheist]

Are the trees on the boundary, i.e. able to be treated as a hedge? This might have useful info.
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/high-hedges-trees-and-boundaries

[woofgang]

yes there actually is something you can do https://www.leylandii.com/leylandii-law/

[KARL]

As already suggested, if you want the height of the trees reduced then you should approach your neighbour and ask whether he/she would agree for that to be done - if you are the initiator you should be willing to contribute/shoulder the effort/cost. Obviously, if the trees genuinely are a danger/nuisance (i.e. other than you simply objecting to a particular species) then you can argue that. It is incumbent on you to conduct yourself in a balanced/considered/courteous manner - remember that any form of undue pressure/insistence/demand will very likely work against you.

If you have already had such a discussion and not received any encouragement then you need to consider your position - if you realistically believe that you have a genuinely just complaint then you will need to look into advice/backup from the local authority.

Something worth mulling over is why your neighbour might want such tall trees which presumably are several decades old. Are they a good distance from his/her house and yours ? Is there an historical origin to their being planted, a reason such as nuisance/dispute between former owners perhaps so the trees were planted as a screen ? Are they still needed or even wanted ? Discuss it and see if you can find common ground - your neighbour's trees, his/her prerogative. Your bringing this up here may be taken to mean you either have not had the discussion or else it did not go well (why ?).

[michaelwaters1]

I have discussions with him who now rents this property out and lives elsewhere he is not looking to cut them down at all

[Maydup]

How awful. 35ft is ridiculous in anyones bookes. Was it a phone or face to face conversation you had with the neighbour Michael?

If you havent done so already ask the neighbour in writing,but in a calm and friendly tone, to cut the trees down to 3m high.

Wait 14 days for a reply. If no action, send another letter, more formal this time explaining that since there is no response or action, you will be seeking support from the local authority.

Write to the local authority asking for support to remove these trees as they are affecting the light and general enjoyment of your property.

Send a copy of this letter to the neighbour.

Good luck. Let us know how all that goes wont you?

[Maydup]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council/high-hedges-complaining-to-the-council

[KARL]

If the trees are (properly) obstructing light then that is a strong argument for action to rectify. Trees on the north side of you (if that is where they are) cannot seriously be said to do that. If they obstruct your view (of his/her property) then that is not a valid reason either, nor is an objection to the height per se and certainly not on the grounds of the species involved. Make certain you are being objective because you cannot expect assistance/backup from the authorities if you are not. If you risk coming over as being argumentative then that risks getting no sympathy - remember that the authorities will want to be impartial and they don't even want to get involved in this sort of thing in the first place.

[calda49]

If your neighbour is just a tenant, what about the landlord? I would have thought he would be more responsible, unless there is some clause written into the tenancy agreement. Would it be possible to you to find out who the property owner is?

[Ringlet]

Your neighbour is a selfish prat. Drill, glysophate, sit back and watch.

[Atheist]

Ringlet, not everyone wants to sneak into someone's garden with an electric drill and a gallon of plant poison.

[Atheist]

And it's glyphosate.

[Mariner111]

There is no legal right to light according to my local council. Council will only get involved if diseased or dangerous. The conifers at the back of my garden is a paddock, they will not cut them down

[weecalf]

Were the trees there before you moved in ? If it was recent then the estate agents should have been looking this maybe It costs a fortune to get trees cut back so I’m sure the owner would not want the out lay .