My turn to rant (numpty neighbour)

wozzizname

wozzizname

wozzizname

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29 Jun 2004
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Rainham, Kent
My parents received a letter yesterday from the people living in the house backing on to the end of their garden. They are threatening legal action against the parents if they don't have several trees felled (at the parents expense too) as apparently the trees are ruining their enjoyment of their garden.

Never mind these mature trees are protected by a tree preservation order, and are over 150 yrs old, whereas the numpties house was built in close proximity to said trees about 25 yrs ago.

Nuisances listed by the numpties are leaves falling in their garden, and acorns dropping on their shed roof keeping them awake at night - oh, and birds in the trees droppings getting on their washing when it's drying.

What most gets my goat is the threatening nature of it all - my parents are elderly now and things like this come as a genuine fright to them, not nice particularly as my Mum's due for an operation this week.
 
Send them a copy of the tree preservation order, if you really want to put the wind up them, then have a solicitor do it.

Was their letter from a solicitor or just from them threating action?
 
sorry to hear this,

they sound like nutters.

oh, they haven't got a hope in hell.. but that doesn't help your parents.
 
Indeed, Preservation order you need a Planning permission from the Council even to give them a quick trim!

If they have touched the tree's they could be fined them selves.
 
If they are mature Oaks covered by a TPO then the numpties can pretty much forget about getting them removed unless a) they are rotten/dangerous or b) they are causing actual damage to the numpties' property in some way (e.g. root incursion into foundations) - unlikely since it sounds like the trees are right at the end of their garden.

Unfortunately, if they do decide to take legal action you may have to be prepared to fight it. I'd suggest getting in touch with whoever at the local authority is responsible for TPOs and ask them for advice first.
 
wozzizname said:
these mature trees are protected by a tree preservation order
Click to expand...
If you want to do any work to a tree covered by a TPO you need to make a formal application to the council - similar to planning permission.

I think this application has to be done by the tree owners - i.e. your parents. Just warning if you the neighbours start hassling your parents to make the application to the council.

If the trees aren't covered by a TPO (simple phone call to the council will confirm either way), one can usualy be granted asap :)

Edit: I need to type faster!
 
Forward a copy of the letter through to the department in your Local Council that deals with Tree Preservation Orders, together with an explainatory letter from your parents. Sit back and watch the Council savage neighbours.
 
Hire a solicitor to write the neighbours a letter regarding the distress they have caused to your parents and telling them to stop it, particularly since your parents aren't allowed to fell the trees anyway.

The neighbours want legal action? Give it to them.

Or let them hack at the trees and report them for breaching a tree preservation order, but that's a bit much. I've just looked - it carries a fine of up to £20,000.
 
And if they weren't covered by such an order then any branches overhanging the neighbours property could simply be cut back by the neighbours (if the branches were causing problems for them). No need for legal action at all re: this issue - tis a bit sad that some neighbours have felt they need to do something like that instead of simply going round and discussing an issue.
 
Be careful and keep an eye on the tree's, its not unknown for people to at night go whack a bunch of copper nails into a tree(i think its copper?) which will kill the tree.

Can't stand people who get all uppity over stuff like that. Bird droppings getting on washing, move the washing line to not directly under a tree, buy or build a house with a garden that only has tree's overhanging out, don't buy the house or don't complain years later its ridiculous.

Stuff dropping on a shed, put a soft felt cover on the shed to prevent noise, sounds like BS anyway.

Threatening letters rather than a polite conversation to see if theres anything your parents would be willing to do to help is just the usual non polite people that litter this country these days.

If our neighbours had a problem with a tree, they'd ask if they could trim part of it thats overhanging and we'd have no issue. Infact we got together with them to cut a bay tree WAY down in size as it was so big it was blocking a lot of sun and view in both our gardens. No threats, just a conversation and a good solution for both.
 
I'd go around and speak to them saying more or less what you've said here. Give them your contact details and say should they have anymore stupid (maybe omit stupid) letters to write, then address them to you and that they should not contact your parents regarding the matter again.
 
What frustrates me about situations like this is the immediate use of formal channels instead of having a chat with your neighbour.
 
slightly o/t but this TPO. If the tree is in your own garden. You actually have to ask the council? if you want to prune it, cut it etc?

I didnt know this.

It is a shock, that you could own you own home and you could possibly have trees in your garden that you are not legally allowed to cut.

But back to OP, hope your/your parents get this sorted. Some peope (ie your neighbours) have nothing better to do at times.

Hope it works out for your parents easily.
 
Sounds to me like you should be talking to whoever deals with preservation orders in the council and probably a solicitor if they can’t help.
 
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