How to get neighbour to remove massive conifers?
Discussion
Basically I have just bought a new house - a 3 storey townhouse - in the neighbours garden (separated by a access path) are two/three huge conifers - they grow above my roofline so must be 50ft plus. They must have been there since the house was built. They take out quite a lot of sunlight in my garden, as well as dropping crap on my decking.
The owning property is rented out - not even sure what language the tenants speak as I have not really seen them. I shall be approaching the landlord once I find out who he is, although I may not be too popular with him, as I gaumped him on my house, as he was in the middle of buying it when I stepped in.
Do I have a 'right to light' so to speak? Is there any way I can force the landlord to do something about the trees? Previous owners of my house have cut back some foliage above the decking, but only about 10ft up, still massively overshadowing my garden.
The owning property is rented out - not even sure what language the tenants speak as I have not really seen them. I shall be approaching the landlord once I find out who he is, although I may not be too popular with him, as I gaumped him on my house, as he was in the middle of buying it when I stepped in.
Do I have a 'right to light' so to speak? Is there any way I can force the landlord to do something about the trees? Previous owners of my house have cut back some foliage above the decking, but only about 10ft up, still massively overshadowing my garden.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
I'd suggest having a friendly word with the landlord before resorting to official complaints though.
I'd suggest having a friendly word with the landlord before resorting to official complaints though.
DocJock said:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
I'd suggest having a friendly word with the landlord before resorting to official complaints though.
Agreed, also suggest mediation if the Landlord is unwilling to comply. The measurement is quite simple, do that so you have some objective ammo.I'd suggest having a friendly word with the landlord before resorting to official complaints though.
Nextdoor but one have two absolutely massive conifers at the end of their garden - I wish there was a way to make sure they never get cut down, I would rather see that than the houses behind them. Bloke on the other side took down a big conifer when he moved in - that bit of my garden gets a bit more light now, but I liked that tree 
Are you on a slope? If so, think carefully, as the trees have been sucking up water that won't be sucked up if they're not there. In those circumstances, land starts to move.
Bitter experience speaking here....
edit...
Cost me £2300 to get rid of seven, six years ago. They wanted about £4000.
Bitter experience speaking here....
edit...
Cost me £2300 to get rid of seven, six years ago. They wanted about £4000.
Edited by mybrainhurts on Sunday 24th February 20:38
mybrainhurts said:
Are you on a slope? If so, think carefully, as the trees have been sucking up water that won't be sucked up if they're not there. In those circumstances, land starts to move.
Bitter experience speaking here....
Nope - flat on the Fens. The conifers are in a quadrant of houses - overlooked on all sides - removing them will mean my garden is a bit more overlooked, but I want the sunlight (and less dead confier crap on my garden) Bitter experience speaking here....
broken biscuit said:
I have no idea how to measure the things - I had thought about using a 13m fishing pole to gauge the height, but it isnt tall enough. I can say that if I look out of my top floor widows, the conifers are several metres taller than eye level, over the roofline level.
Ask the council to send someone around, they have device that helps them to work out approximate height but it sounds it oppressive. Do read the guide, it is all about how far your window are to the hedge, how big your garden is, orientation ( south facing etc), how long the hedge is etc etc.You bought the house (which the neighbour was in the process of buying) and presumably saw the conifers but still went through with the purchase.
Now you are seeking to have them cut back? Won't the neighbour (or landlord) tell you to f
k off? It's not like they've just been planted.
I can't see this going well.
Now you are seeking to have them cut back? Won't the neighbour (or landlord) tell you to f
k off? It's not like they've just been planted. I can't see this going well.
. el stovey said:
You bought the house (which the neighbour was in the process of buying) and presumably saw the conifers but still went through with the purchase.
Now you are seeking to have them cut back? Won't the neighbour (or landlord) tell you to fk off? It's not like they've just been planted.
I can't see this going well.
Yes, I bought a house knowing the neighbours had large conifers in their garden. Now you are seeking to have them cut back? Won't the neighbour (or landlord) tell you to f
k off? It's not like they've just been planted. I can't see this going well.
Yes, I would like them cutting back, as they are massively high, and block some light from my garden. The landlord of the property can't exactly have missed them, but he has only had the place for 2-3 years, so I doubt anyone has asked him about them, and definitely not recently.
If they aren't cut back, it's not the end of the world - more important things to do at the moment, like fix all the bodges previous owners made, but ultimately I would like them down / gone.
The landlord of the neighbouring house probably couldn't care less about the trees, he doesn't live there and is only interested in getting his rent.
The tenants probably couldn't care less, it's not their house or garden, but ask them what they think.
So it's unlikely you'll get too much resistance to the idea of removing them but who is going to pay? I doubt the landlord or the tenant will cough for the reasons above, will you? Because I think that will be your only option.
The tenants probably couldn't care less, it's not their house or garden, but ask them what they think.
So it's unlikely you'll get too much resistance to the idea of removing them but who is going to pay? I doubt the landlord or the tenant will cough for the reasons above, will you? Because I think that will be your only option.
Edited by megaphone on Monday 25th February 11:31
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