Killing Neighbour's Trees

[hammerman]

Someone on another forum has just been advised to spray his neighbours Laurels with Roundup as they are far too big and he's got into a bit of a dispute about who's paying for them to be cut....they are overhanging his property.
If he kills the trees, could a complaint of criminal damage be made to the police?

[bookbinder]

I'm no law expert, but I would say 'yes', that could be seen as criminal damage to the neighbour's property. It might be better for both sides if the neighbour on the overhanging side were to have the trees cut back, then send the bill to the trees' owner.

[alavahalf]

Weedkiller wont kill large established trees.

[hammerman]

Yes it will with a decent high dosage spray.

[Old_Geezer]

No expert but it sounds like a civil matter to me.

A few years back I had trees I'd planted on the border cut down while I was away, by a neighbour. They altered the angle of the fence to nick some of the land next to my garage too. Some folk are utter scumbags.

[Peter Pedant]

yup sounds like criminal damage to me
even if the trees dont die but scream loudly ( in the Zen Buddhist sense )

The aggrieved neighbour has the right to lop the overhanging branches overhanging his property but NOT to go onto the other property to do it
and should return the detritus ( what he has lopped off) to the to the offending owner

as for asking on the internet
Overhand Road - Little Slopping - is it OK if I pour paraquat into the roots of Quercus Alba - the only one in the village now ? The owner is that awful old bugga with the handlebar moustache

defies credibility

[cassa333]

Criminal damage but depending on how severe the police may not bother.

He is allowed to cut back to the boundary only and no further.
He can offer the cuttings back but the neighbour is obliged to accept them.
He can present the neighbour with the bill but he is not obliged to pay.