Question

I need advice please lovely people. The house behind has big trees over hanging most of my garden there now massive. who is responsible for cutting the trees them as they own them or me as it’s over my garden? I really don’t have the budget to be cutting back their trees. And because of this I have pigeon mess on my washing daily How can I stop the pigeons from sitting it the trees over my garden? Any advice would be great thank you  

Answer 1

Have a chat with them. They probably are not aware of the effect they have on you. Legally, you are allowed to cut any branches that are over your property or land, but you have to give them back to the owner.  

Comments

@dyak I said to my partner about sending them a polite letter explaining the problem but not sure if it’s a little old school. I’m to scared to knock on the door  

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Karen, bless you. I'd pop over with some home made cakes or chocolates or wine. Introduce yourselves. but that's in world before bloody covid. .  

Answer 2

I cut there's that are overhanging mine

Answer 3

The trees are too high I would have to get someone in to cut them for me if it was my responsibility

Comments

@justifiable15644 put a picture on maybe give people an idea how big x

Answer 4

My daughter had this problem - a tree surgeon lopped off everything on her side and now no bird poo everywhere - it cost her £80

Answer 5

They won’t have a Preservation order on them, will they? If so you’re very limited what you can do. Might be worth checking if they’re old trees. We didn’t buy a house because of that. I think your local council should be able to tell you.  

Answer 6

I would chat to them if you can, hopefully they won’t be as awful as my next door neighbours were about theirs xx

Answer 7

I went on land registry to find out the owners of mine.  

Answer 8

I have the same problem I have three very large trees over looking my back garden. I got in touch with the drs surgery (they are their trees) told him of the mess blocking light etc. The said well you can cut them down we are not. I got in touch with my housing officer as it's on their property and they came out and the trees were assessed and deemed as diseased and dangerous they were getting In touch with the drs. Two years on I am still waiting so I got a few estimates to cut my side down between £220/275 to cut my side back and remove rubbish. So I am just going to do it.  

Comments

@burlesque I know that you can cut off whatever hangs over your garden but I thought you had to give it back

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@inspiration259 give back yes but you can’t just chuck them over as that counts a fly tipping.  

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@mammiemammiferous so it's ok to carry round what you cut off then chuck it in a pile

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@inspiration259 the branches I would be cutting down would not fit in the little space between their fence on the other side . And tbh he has said I can cut them but hes basically not prepared to pay for it. I have cut them down a bit when I first moved in and just dropped them on his side but these are massive that's why I had to call in a tree surgeon. He is going to do it after the nesting season as we have a load of magpie nest .  

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@mammiemammiferous thanks for that will have read.  

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@burlesque oh re nesting birds it’s also an offence to cut non cultivated hedges under section one of the wildlife and countryside act 1981 if you take damage or destroy the best whilst in use or being built as is an offence to kill injure it take birds chicks or eggs recommendation is not to cut between March and august.  

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@burlesque that’s okay happy to help.  

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@mammiemammiferous yes I know that was the first thing I did check. So although it is effecting my light in my bungalow and garden etc I have told them to leave it till later in the year. Plus I do want to check with the owners first. Tbh I am a bit worried if they are cut my side all the weight will be leaning over their side and it might weaken it more and they already nearly come down in light wind

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@mammiemammiferous just doesn't seem fair though that you would then have to pay to have someone else's rubbish removed

Answer 9

After lock down is over, get the tree officer from the council to inspect. If they are too close to the house they may have to reduce the height(at their expense)

Answer 10

Have the exact same problem here

Answer 11

My neighbor's at back has his trees coming over into my garden but every year he cuts them back and jumps over the wall to remove the branches (he always lets me know first cos ive a rottweiler and a jack Russell in the garden who wouldn't take to kindly to him being there lol) its up to your neighbor or their landlord to remove them from your side if thats what you want xx

Comments

@nataline7472 i was going to do that with my magnolia, nextdoor decided that she couldn't wait for my long arm pruners to arrive, so she hacked it and threw the off cuts at my daughter.  

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@axillary189 ohhh thats horrible, your poor daughter, i imagine it wasnt gonna take to long for your pruners either. she never should have done that though, hope your daughter is ok xx

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@nataline7472 she thought it was funny, especially as the pruners arrived the next morning, and if neighbour had waited, i was going to cut it down further than she did. I've left it now . For years ive been saying that I'll cut it back but her husband was telling me not to bother. turns out he's left, so now im the focus of all her angst

Answer 12

When I moved into my new house, first thing I did was apologize to my neighbours for the mess my trees were making of their property and promise them they'd be removed. I cut off the branches that I could easily get to and I'm waiting for a tree surgeon to come and do the rest. I wouldn't dream of letting the neighbours suffer because of stuff in my garden. I'd send them a letter and see what they say, they might be perfectly reasonable x

Answer 13

Buy a hawk kite on a long springy pole to fly about 12 feet off ground. Works as a scarecrow of sorts. You see them all round the airports.  

Answer 14

I had the same issue, they belonged to an older lady behind me, I offered to half with her to have them cut down, but she ended up paying for it herself, I arranged it. We're now quite friendly. You might find speaking to them and offering to help if you can goes a long way. Good luck, xx

Answer 15

I wouldn’t cut anything currently as birds are nesting but when that’s over you may remove what hangs over your garden but I think that’s about it unless they’re diseased.  

Comments

@bluecoat true! I rely on my washing line to dry my washing though as I don’t have a tumble dryer. With all the pigeons I had to wash something 3 times over. I need my garden back

Answer 16

If on your neighbours land and privately owned they are responsible for their tree management.  

Comments

@holocaine3 yes it’s a privately owned house it’s a big Victorian house I’m in a cheap ugly town house they probably like them massive so they can’t see us peasants  

Answer 17

If they are protruding into your garden you have the right to prune the over hanging branches which are protruding onto your property as they are extending beyond garden barriers unless of course the tree is protected then you need permission to cut the limbs that are extending over boundaries

Answer 18

I have dreams about hacking my neighbours bastard trees down  

Answer 19

@niphablepsia by any chance do your phone lines go anywhere near or into the branches of this tree ?  

Answer 20

If so report interference to your phone internet provider etc and they will deal with it

Answer 21

As someone else had just pointed out, it’s nesting season at the moment -April until August.  

Answer 22

If the branches hang in your garden u can cut them but just check for nests first x

Answer 23

If the council have been out and told them why don't you get your local mp onto the case x

Answer 24

I've just been through all this if there trees hang over your fence your neighbour is responsible for cutting them down and maintaining them and you're also with in your rights to cut it back if you wish