My neighbour's over hanging pine tree, drops sticky sap over my car, parked on my driveway.
Some years ago I asked them to cut it back and they kept saying they would but fobbed me off for nearly 2 years.
Finally, after continuing to chase my neighbour the surgeon arrived.
When he was obviously tidying up (finished) I went out to clarify and he confirmed he was done.
I explained that it was really being cut on my request (they didn't care) and that I'd been promised, it was being cut back so it would no longer be over hanging my car.
He said there was nothing he could do. The neighbour (mrs) refused for him to do any more, even refusing to come and look from my perspective, as she had a broken arm and couldn't walk.
Surgeon kept saying I don't know what you want me to do, I kept saying please cut off just a little more, before storming indoors.
When he left, I went out with 10 foot extended shears, climbed a step ladder and hacked a load more off.
She called the police, I saw them coming and drove off to the dump before they could stop me.
5 years on the tree continues to drop sap and is getting continually worse as the tree grows.
The neighbour was surprised there was still a problem even though I mention it regularly, was continually washing the car and had now resorted to buying and using a cover.
I asked about a month ago that he have the tree cut back to the boundary (I know I could in theory but the tree is already far heavier on their side, due to my pruning and if I just did my side it would become unsafe).
He said he would get it cut by 30%, which is not sufficient but is better than it is.
The surgeon has failed to arrive 3 consecutive weekends, after I moved my car from the drive in advance as agreed.
The first time no reason was given and the last 2 were cancelled due to the weather (dubious but plausible).
I just asked if he was coming this weekend and was told no. I asked why and was told, "because he had heard about the issues last time".
This was 5 years ago and we're in Bromley, not some small village.
Would tree surgeons have a way of flagging a disputed tree on a shared system ?
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I mean how would one surgeon know that I had had a disagreement with a surgeon from another company 5 years ago?
Is the neighbour bullshitting me like they have numerous times before ?
You can quite legally cut the offending branches back to the boundary line just as long as you pass the cut off branches back over the fence and NOT dispose of them yourself, otherwise you could leave yourself open to a charge of theft.
You say this might leave the tree in an unsafe condition.....well, it will be weighted now on their side so they’ll have the problem if the tree were to topple.
So not your problem at all.
To dot the i’s and cross the t’s send them a solicitors (or recorded delivery) letter informing them of what you are planning to do......you’d be perfectly within your rights.
For good measure you could also ask the courts for any costs involved but take measurements and photos first in order to support your case.
Also, the offending branches are too high for me to reach, so I too would have to involve a surgeon to cut next door's tree and I can see that being hard to achieve.
Also many tree surgeons have extendable hydraulic platforms that go to considerable heights, they also use extendable power saws to reach even further from those platforms.
I worked as a landscape gardener many yrs ago and this sort of case was common but we definately had no previous knowledge of jobs. Try and sort it out sensibly with your neighbour but if that cant be done, like redskin says above, cut it if its in your property(unless its protected). Is the sap white colour or more golden? White sap on your car could mean the tree is infected or dying.
Also why can you neighbour not walk with a broken arm lol
Yes. In law you would be considered negligent. Sometimes branch removal can lead to tree failure due to disease, a change in the balance of the tree, or different wind loading that causes the tree to blow over. For these reasons it is important to employ a competent tree surgeon or arboriculturist who could minimise risk and would take on the liability for the work (check they have public liability insurance prior to engagement of services).
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=1022
special branch just got me.
A friend of mine had a problem with a tree to close to the border.
Beware though, a mate of mine lived in a cul-de-sac that had a small strip of woods next to his house. The trees were a nightmare, leaves, sap and shite everywhere, all year around, the council of course, would do fuck all except take his extortionate council tax payment every month. He spent most of his spare time power hosing down his two cars, the drive, the patio, the whole fucking house actually, I had never seen a bloke so worked up over trees. Being a clever and devious chap he also spent most of his time in the shed concocting all sorts of potions and concoctions, sneaking out stealth like at night and trying to kill a couple of the ones nearest his house, they were over 40 feet tall. In fact he nearly topped himself accidentally from fumes one day in the shed when a particular "treatment" nearly gassed him. As the months and years went on neighbours noticed certain trees, starting to wither and die off. The council suddenly got involved due to their complaints and investigated on public Health and Safety grounds. Clueless about what was happening, and the day before the council tree surgeons were due to finally cut down the fuckers, one of the biggest storms for years swept through the area and two ton of dead tree went flying through, you guessed it, my mates conservatory!
Suffice to say, it kept us highly amused for months in the office.