Your Guide To Overgrown Neighbouring Trees
Trees can be a beautiful focal point in your garden or the neighbourhood, but only if they get the right kind of care.
At Beechwood Tree Care, we are passionate about trees and aim to provide the best support possible for all. With our professional experience spanning over two decades, we have seen the consequences of poorly managed trees and how this impacts the properties around them.
In this guide, we are sharing everything you need to know about overgrown neighbouring trees, your rights when it comes to managing other’s landscapes, and how you can protect your home from issues.
What Are My Rights For Overgrown Neighbouring Trees?
Firstly, you need to know where you stand when it comes to managing your neighbour’s trees and how you can act if they begin to intrude on your property.
Understanding your legal rights and responsibilities regarding trees makes it easier for you to act. You can protect your property without getting into legal issues and avoid paying fines based on your actions.
In the UK, there are some clear laws regarding trees and boundaries which can inform you of the best decision to make when dealing with overgrown neighbouring trees, including:
Duty Of Care
Duty of Care applies to almost anything you own, including trees, and is in place to ensure you understand your responsibility to safely maintain and manage your property.
If the overgrown neighbouring trees are threatening your property, the owner of the tree has a responsibility to manage this. This means they need to pay for the tree surgery or tree removal to handle the issue.
When dealing with overgrown neighbouring trees, particularly hazardous ones, it is vital that you communicate clearly with your neighbours and ensure they understand what is required. You can get in touch with your local council for property blueprints and planning documents to determine who the tree belongs to and ensure the right homeowner is handling the issue.
The Right To Trim
Homeowners across the UK have a ‘right to trim’ any overhanging branches that cross over their property line. This is part of the Right of Abatement, which means you are legally allowed to put an end to (or abate) a nuisance which is infringing on your home, comfort and lifestyle – including tree branches.
However, if you are going to be trimming any overgrown neighbouring trees, you must be doing so without harming the trees’ health. When cutting someone else’s tree, you also need to return the trimmings to them, unless agreed otherwise.
How To Deal With Overgrown Neighbouring Trees
Now that you understand your rights, it will be easier to manage the issue of overgrown neighbouring trees and hopefully get this resolved with your neighbours easily.
If you are dealing with overgrown neighbouring trees, you should aim to get this issue resolved as soon as possible to prevent damage to your property. This issue can be dealt with through the following:
Open Communication
The first step in dealing with overgrown trees is to communicate with your neighbour. This is the first and often best step to managing this issue, as you are giving your neighbour a chance to act independently and are making them aware of an issue they may not have known about previously.
If you explain your concerns clearly and suggest a mutually beneficial solution for the overgrown neighbouring trees, you may be available to avoid conflict altogether.
Mediation
If direct communication with your neighbour fails or is not even possible for your neighbourhood, you can use a mediation service to deal with overgrown neighbouring trees.
Mediation services are a third party that will help both sides reach an agreement regarding their issues. Compared to legal proceedings, mediation is a more affordable and less adversarial solution for neighbourhood issues, which is why it is recommended following communication.
Professional Assessment
For more complex issues, such as potential tree hazards, a professional assessment by arborists like Beechwood Tree Care is your best option.
We can provide valuable insights into the situation by assessing the health of the tree and recommending the best steps to manage your issue. Following a tree survey or assessment, we can provide supporting documents to help your case should the issue go any further.
When Should I Take Legal Action?
Legal action is required for extreme cases, such as if your neighbour is refusing to manage their trees or the overgrown neighbouring trees are becoming dangerous but nothing has been done to manage them.
Ahead of seeking legal advice, you can try contacting your local council as they may be able to intervene and prevent additional costs.
While it is better to try to resolve issues amicably, there may come a time when nothing else can be done and legal support is needed. This should always be your last resort when it comes to managing overgrown neighbouring trees and used when all other options have been exhausted.
Conclusion
Dealing with your neighbour’s overgrown trees does not have to lead to conflict if you follow these steps. However, we understand that each circumstance is different which is why we are here to help you in any way we can.
As a leading arboricultural company, Beechwood Tree Care can provide the tree surveys, assessments and tree removal needed to safely manage your overgrown trees. We also bring over two decades of experience to every project, helping you make the best decision for your home and supporting your battle with overgrown neighbouring trees.
We are ready to help you safely manage your landscape and believe that your trees deserve the best care possible.
FAQs For Overgrown Neighbouring Trees
- How often should trees be pruned?
The frequency of pruning will vary, depending on the tree species, age, and growth rate which is why regular inspections by a qualified arborist are required. These will determine the optimal pruning schedule for your particular landscape.
- Can I trim my neighbour’s tree without their permission?
You can trim branches that overhang your property without permission, but it’s courteous to inform your neighbour first and that you return all clippings.
- My neighbour refuses to address a dangerous tree, what should I do?
Your local council may also be able to assist before things have to be taken to the courts, so contact them first, as legal action is the final step.
Contact Us Today
If you are having issues with overgrown neighbouring trees or need support with your own landscape, we can help. Contact the team today to learn more or request a quote.
