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I didn't really know where to post this but I was looking for some advice.
I have lived in my property for 5 years and at the end of our garden we have a rather tall tree, we have 6 ft fences and a tree that is around 13ft tall.
I have a neighbour who lives at the back of me who has been hassling me to cut this tree down ever since I moved in. She maybe leaves it 6 months before bugging me about it again.
The issue she has is that the tree blocks out the morning sun from her garden but she gets it in the afternoon and evenings. Around 5 months ago she wrote me a letter about the issues she has with this tree (yawn), the letter was not very pleasant and I pretty much ignored it as I am not having her sending me letters that contain swear words.
I had someone in to give me a quote as to what it would cost to cut this tree down a while ago and the quote was $900!!!!!! I was not paying that especially as the tree doesn't bother me.
Today was a very sunny day here so I sat in my garden in the morning. She came out and she starts asking me questions about this tree and making snide comments about how she wishes she could see the sun and other snide little comments over the fence...... I snapped and told her that if she wants the tree gone then she should pay for it! she outright refuses to pay to have the tree gone and thinks I should be the one too.
I am so sick of her and hearing about this damn tree, everytime I try to have a bit of quiet time in my yard she comes out and basically harasses me about it! I'm not attached to the tree if it needs to go then it needs to go but I refuse to pay for it, I didn't even plant it! it was here when I moved in!
Please could anyone help me on what to do or some advice before I just set the darn tree on fire or worse go insane!
Thank you
You have lots of good advice here. Just one more thought, this lady is a bully but she is your neighbor , so you should be neighborly but still forceful in stating your position. Tell her the tree stays and you don't want to hear another word about it. Tell her any further letters or discussion of the topic you will consider harassment and she will hear from your lawyer. Take pictures of the tree to document it's condition. After this make sure to spend some more time in your back yard. If she talks with you again, then don't respond but pull out your phone and record her; that should stop her.
Do not offer to let her hire out to cut the tree down. The tree stays. You basically gave away your power to a crazy person. She.ll just find something else to crab anout if you or she takes it down. Plus, do you want her staring at you over the fence? At least the tree is a buffer.
Plus IMHO a tree is a blessing. Stand your ground!
I thought i had replied to this thread but there are so many of these tree & crazy neighbor threads, it seems to have been another one.
OP. Your scenario is very similar to what I faced a few years ago from a neighbor who had been after me from the day we moved in to cut a tree out of my front yard. I liked the tree as it provided the only shade on my driveway and the fact that it was probably at least 30 years old. This house is in Albuquerque so shade comes at a premium in the summer months.
Short story is that I never removed the tree so my neighbor resorted to Mexican justice covertly spraying the tree, as well as a second large tree in my front yard, with Roundup. The stumps of the trees are still there but my costs for removal included $300/day for a man-lift rental from Home Depot, a new pole chainsaw, disposal of the tree and my labor. Although we still own that city house next to the crazy person, we plan to sell it after my wife retires and have already purchased a small 20-acre farm in Texas where we have no neighbors closer than 3/4 of a mile.
We hope to sell the Albuquerque house to Mexican drug lords or an angry motorcycle gang.
Last edited by High_Plains_Retired; 04-15-2016 at 05:17 PM..
13 feet is not that tall, so it shouldn't pose a risk.
But here in Oregon, that letter she gave you would have a LOT of merit if it was a tall tree that could do damage if it fell. By law, the neighbor whose property is at risk has to give the owner a certified letter requesting that it be cut down. The reason for it, is that it pins the liability on the owner rather than be written off as an Act of God.
Last edited by Bluesmama; 04-15-2016 at 05:47 PM..
You missed your first big chance, when you should have said, Oh, yes, I got your letter, but I'm going to make much effort to help someone who uses that kind of language toward me.
Your second big chance was to get a price to have it trimmed, and say, Well, I found out that I could have it trimmed for $500, but I don't have that kind of money; would you like to split the cost with me?
I understand that she's a pain, but I'm not sure you helped. At this point, maybe your solution is a higher fence. In the meantime, earplugs or earbuds when you're lying outside.
Why would anyone suggest you offer to split the cost with the neighbor for removing the tree? You've already stated you are not going to pay anyone to remove the tree. Due to the neighbor's attitude, I wouldn't even agree for her to remove it. I would keep it.
I'd have it removed, it's the neighborly thing to do.
What??? How completely absurd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nynraleigh
I just had some trees removed in my backyard...my neighbor was extremely happy that one particular tree is gone, as more sun will enter her yard and improve her gardens. Granted, she never said to me "remove those trees" BUT as a responsible person, I knew the trees were close to my home and hers. It's the right thing to do, I'd rather be pro-active and remove the trees now then after if/when the tree falls on either home.
Dude. The tree is THIRTEEN FEET tall. I think many years will have to pass before there is anything to worry about as far as it falling on anything. And the tree is in the garden.
Her rights are to grow trees on her own property, as long as they are maintained and not a hazard to the property of others. Why would she need Legal Aid to establish her rights?
Well it must be something much more complicated then as to why regardless of her known rights, there's still problems. If she knows her rights, then there shouldn't be any problems.
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And the tree is in the garden.
