is my neigbour being unreasonable

[lbmking]

My neighbour is complaining that she has no light in her garden anymore due to the trees in our garden, last year she complained that one of our mock orange bushes was banging on her garage roof and keeping her awake at night, she lives in a bungalow and we live in a house. I cut the bush back almost to the ground. She then complained about our conifers and said they were blocking the light and also overhanging her garden, we had the two trees cut right back and agreed with her that her gardener could trim her side back, however, he has now thinned the trees out so much right back to the trunk and there is no green on her side at all. He has also lent over our fence and trimmed another bush which was nowhere near the fence and not at fence hight. She is adiment that she is right and will continue to cut back the trees, as they stop the light. However it is not the trees that block her morning sun but the shadow of our house, she gets plenty of sun once it has moved around. We need to have some screening as she has built an extension to her home that allows her to see right into our bedrooms. How do I deal with this.

[Postdog]

Your neighbour has no right to lean over and trim YOUR stuff - she can only cut stuff overhanging into her garden, and even then she has to give you the clippings.

This site might help
http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/trees.html

[Gormless]

I have a similar problem, but it is a lazy inconsiderate neighbour on the South side of my garden whose trees are getting out of control. Last summer I had a complete failure of bedding and tomatoes because the poor things were growing in the shade. I am doing something about it. I have a tree surgeon coming round and he is going to climb over and take about 20ft off her trees. He has done this before, and she grudgingly agrees, but I don't care whether she does or not. It will cost me at least �100 extra for him to clip her trees - and will she offer to contribute? - will she heck! It's simple, I want summer sun in my garden, and once they've been cut back, you can't stick the branches back on.

[Twenty20]

>she grudgingly agrees, but I don't care whether she does or not

Could be a lot, lot more expensive for you if she didn't agree and you went ahead with it!

[Gormless]

I'm not bothered, and it will be to her advantage as well, her garden will be opened up hugely to the summer sun. She's too damn slothful to shift off her ar$e and do anything except scrape the occasional potato.

[carlton23]

I sympathise with you, as I have much the same problem, but you can complain and have her dismantle the extension if it invades your privacy especially if she can see into your bedroom. Go to your council and complain.

[Nosha123]

Nightmare neighbours.. I sympathise! It would seem that she is the kind of person who always wants something to moan about so no mater how much you bend over backwards or bow down to her to keep her happy she'll find something else to whinge about! Sounds like she needs to get a life! I have two next door to us like this!!!
Personally - I would stop giving in to her demands... and explain that the shade is due to the house. If she has planning permission for her extension there is not much you can do - but she shouldnt be able to look right into your bedroom.. Make her fit obscured glass so she cant see out of it into yours! You may have to do this thru the right channels (ie Council). I would also write a letter telling her she does not have your permission to cut your trees on your land and you will prosecute her if she continues to do so

[Nosha123]

As for Gormless.... I would say you should grow your tomatoes somewhere else!!!!!

[craft1948]

If your neighbour lives in a bungalow how can she see into your upstairs bedrooms?

[LoftyLottie2]

Sounds like a neighbour of mine! Everything in their garden is not allowed to grow taller than 2' and they spend their time moaning about something or another. Apparently our pampas grass seeds have blown onto their conservatory roof and make it look messy!!! They too have cut our bushes back by leaning over the fence and cutting them our side as well!!

It's got something to do with living in a neat little bungalow!! They all seem to be tarred with the same brush!!

[craft1948]

Excuse Lottie!! I live in a 'neat little bungalow' and have no problems with my neighbours...

[Nosha123]

Hi Loftie!!! I think you and I have had this conversation before!!! Funny eh. Whats even funnier is - our nightmare neighbours ARE ALSO in a 'neat little bungalow'!!!!!
What is wrong with some people!!!!!

Latest on ours... a builder leaving ours regretably chucked a fag packet out his van window into the road... the poxy neighbour picked it up and saved it to give to me.. like I was responsible for the builders actions or something!!!

[lbmking]

Many thanks for those who replied, except for gormless, who sounds just like my winging neighbour. Hope that person gets prosicuted if they do cut down the neighbours trees. Then again maybe the neigbour will return the favour and cut down the tomatoe plants (poor things). I feel sorry for that woman as obviously she has an obnoxious neigbour who is verbally abusive. thanks again to the sensible replies.

[craft1948]

Where is all this 'bungalow hating' coming from? I wasn't born in a bl00dy bungalow - I moved to one when my mobility problems became too great - when did my mentality change?

[LoftyLottie2]

Sorry craft!!! :o(


I don't manage stairs too well myself now, so will probably have to give in to a bungalow one day.

I just have an aversion to neat little bungalows with pristine immaculate gardens.

Mine will be in the middle of a jungle of plants!!!

I better go >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[craft1948]

Lottie - lol .Mine would be a jungle but I'll own up to employing a gardener!!

[lbmking]

Can I just point out to the person who thinks that my neighbour cant see into my bedrooms because she lives in a bungalow, looking out of a window does not just allow you to see straight in front, but also upwards, even those who live in houses can see into bedrooms of houses opposite if they stand in their downstairs rooms. What might be confusing you is that my neighbour is not a side neighbour but her bungalow is side on to my back garden, when she had the extension built she had windows put in facing my house. does that clear that matter up.

[MrP'sTrees]

My neighbour has a hedge in front of some land he owns across the road from my house.My wife and I would trim bits off it while he wasnt looking but he must have seen us cos he called the police.They came round and said if we carried on it would constitute criminal dammage and we could be done for it.So call the fuzz on your neighbour and get them to warn her off.I'm a tree surgeon and I am only allowed to trim trees and bushes that are owned by the client unless I have permission from the people next door.Hope this helps.