You can cut back anything up to your property line. Join us and benefit from the millions of potential customers who use Checkatrade to find reliable tradespeople. But, take a moment before you rush outside with a step ladder and secateurs to start pruning trees and bushes.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'theukrules_co_uk-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',105,'0','0'])); A recent news item highlights the somewhat conflicting legal protection around the country. The location of its base defines a tree’s ownership. The person who owns the land (your neighbour) on which the tree grows i.e. Tree owners of trees which present a health risk are liable for compensation for any injuries or damage caused by that tree. If the branches and or roots of a neighbouring tree spread into another property, they still belong to the tree-owner. In England and Wales the authorities have powers to act against potential damage-causing trees on private property. Check out top tips and expert advice for boosting your reputation online. If a homeowner were to fell a shared tree without permission, it would be considered an act of trespassing. If branches from a council tree are overhanging your property, you can cut them back yourself, unless the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area. We are not obliged to survey Third Party trees adjacent to our land because we are unable to carry out works to trees that do not belong to us, although we are legally entitled to cut any overhanging branches. Laws on Overhanging Tree Branches. Since the branches are already hanging over your roof, they’re poised to do damage. A landowner has the right to compel his or her neighbor to remove of overhanging branches, or the landowner may use self-help to cut the branches back himself or herself. Instead of researching the issue, the day laborer was turned loose on the trees like Jason in Friday the 13th. Cut trees and bushes near power lines. Therefore, if your property is damaged by one of their overgrowing trees or hedges, it’s on them to fix it. If requested to do so, they can act on 'imminently' dangerous trees if the land owner is unknown.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'theukrules_co_uk-box-4','ezslot_5',139,'0','0'])); What if a neighbour refuses to fix a tree that threatens to cause property damage? Ongoing vegetation management promotes safety and is more cost-effective than reacting to damage and delays caused by a fallen tree. Branch removal is a significant undertaking and can cause severe damage if not completed correctly. 5. It is generally best to discuss your concerns with the tree owner beforehand, but under established ‘common law’, you should be able to prune branches and roots that grow over your boundary, with or without the owner’s consent. In this article, we aim to provide readers with an understanding of UK law relating to trees. Some encroaching trees may be dangerous or may cause damage to property. If that fails you are almost certainly within your rights to clip it or snip it. The owner of a tree which is likely to cause damage can also request the local authority to make the tree safe. Grow your business! The short story, downloadable as an eBook, sees Bram Stoker’s iconic ‘Dracula’ get a dramatic makeover just in time for Halloween. The poor management of greenery can lead to disputes and hostile interactions between neighbours. © 2020 | Wagner, a Pennsylvania Superior Court held that overhanging tree branches constitute a trespass. In this situation, any action on the tree must be jointly agreed on by both parties. PRIVACY | trees etc. Branches of a large tree hang in your yard, but the trunk is planted in your neighbor’s yard. 1. If you think a tree is causing damage to your property then you should contact your property insurer or seek legal advice. The highways authority can ask you to cut back hedges or trees on your property if they’re causing an obstruction in the road. Some trees are poisonous and may cause a health risk, such as yew trees. SITEMAPeval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'theukrules_co_uk-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',107,'0','0'])); Replacing Roof Tiles Building Regulations. ALL RULES | Most citizens expect the law to allow reasonable cutting and trimming of overhanging trees. And if you attempt to DIY it, you need to be up a … If a landlord decides to cut a tree on their property, whether for aesthetic or functional purposes, then there’s little you can do about it. The tree is on my side of the boundary and the branches extend over the boundary line onto his side. Overhanging Branches on Your Property Even if the tree trunk is on your neighbor’s property, you have the responsibility for cutting any branches that extend onto your property line. However, if you’re the owner/occupier of land over which the branches of a tree overhang, you are generally entitled to chop back the branches to the boundary line. My neighbour has requested me to cut down overhanging branches from a tree. What about overhanging branches that reach into my land? But, the property owner is liable for the authority's costs for doing so. In this circumstance, you will need to get permission from next door. How do I report a tree/trees that need cutting near power lines? Have you completed a project recently? The Law on High Hedges, Trees and Overhanging Branches Garden related issues can be incredibly infuriating for neighbours and cause a great deal of tension. There’s evidence of both and remortgaging appears a popular way of funding both options. Check this list of consumer rights and rules on cutting encroaching or overhanging foliage. Please note: you are strongly advised to consult a professional tree surgeon for guidance on how best to cut back overhanging branches, unless you have the … Therefore, if your neighbour chooses to plant a large tree that blocks daylight from entering your property you have a right to appeal the decision. Here’s who’s really responsible for cutting the hedges: The responsibility for boundary hedge cutting is shared. If they decide the tree is likely to cause damage, they can take several courses of action. Note: Another section explains the process for appealing against a high hedges decision, the deadlines, and how long it will take to get a final decision. Overall, 44% confess to believing that ‘cowboys’ are commonplace while more than one in ten (14%) openly admit they’ve stereotyped tradespeople based purely on profession. Again, my own sense of logic says that BT's line is being damaged by my neighbour's trees and BT therefore need to ask my neighbour to trim his trees, or BT needs to trim the trees and bill my neighbour. But is now the best time to remortgage? Contact the nearest council. Shrubs and trees etc overhanging the Public Highway . So what are the rules on trimming overhanging trees? Is it ok to cut off overhanging branches? In this situation, any action on the tree must be jointly agreed on by both parties. If the tree is on private land then the landowner is responsible. You also have a legal duty, however, to take ‘reasonable care’ whilst undertaking the works, and you may be liable if you damage your neighbour’s tree, or cause it to become unstable. 1. You are therefore, technically exercising the self-help remedy of ‘abating a nuisance’ by cutting the offending branches off. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to You can cut back any overhanging branch that comes into your property. Cutting your neighbour's encroaching tree often gets law-abiding consumers in hot water. 2. In fact, you may be breaking the law if you cut your next-door neighbour's overhanging tree. You can change the cookie settings on your browser. The legal reasoning behind this is that the overhanging branches are a ‘nuisance’ and a nuisance is an ‘unlawful interference with the use or enjoyment of your land’. Courts have upheld that a homeowner’s tree rights extend indefinitely upward on his property line, and those rights are protected from invasion by an adjoining landowner. Customers may need this when: Trees are growing close to power lines. Checkatrade has joined forces with award-winning novelist and oral storyteller Sophie Draper to create ‘A Bloody Mess’, an exclusive short story recounting the horrors of DIY gone wrong. The council owns a tree that’s overhanging or causing damage to my property. Again, these laws can differ in each state, so be sure to look up the exact law in your area. Hi Cathy, Many customers ask this question, don't worry it's relatively straightforward. Dog Poop Stick and Flick Method: The latest advice is not to bag up dog poo in woodland areas. If a property has received daylight for the last 20 years, then under the ‘Rights of Light Act’ of 1959 it has a legal entitlement to continue receiving that light. They may serve notice on the land owner of that particular tree and recover costs for their services. You are free to cut back roots or branches that are within your property’s boundaries. 154 Cutting or felling etc. Check this list of consumer rights and rules on cutting encroaching or overhanging foliage. Replacing Roof Tiles Building Regulations: Rules and approvals for replacing damaged roof tiles. Both you and your neighbour should be trimming each other’s respective side of the hedge. Damage to property. We can arrange for overhead power lines to be switched off temporarily whilst tree trimming is being carried out. Find a recommended, reliable and professional tradespeople in your area now. There are some basic steps to take before you start trimming. Your neighbour is responsible for the proper maintenance of hedges and trees on their side of the fence. In a timely response to the Ash Dieback advice being provided by Natural England to landowners and farmers with Environmental Stewardship and SSSIs, PLC has published its comments today on landowners’ responsibilities for trees overhanging the public highway (set out below). Generally, if a tree trunk sits on both you and your neighbor’s property, is owned by both of you, and you are both responsible for the tree. that overhang or are a danger to roads or footpaths. What can I do? Yes. Apparently the leaves have caused him to replace the pool motor on 2 … Written notices to remove overhanging branches. 3. Overhanging branches. CONTACT | The complication is that the trees, despite them hitting the line on the poles in our garden, belong to my neighbour. Whenever possible, we carry out vegetation management while trains continue to run, but where trees are already very close to overhead lines we might need to close the railway line to do this safely. You may prune the branches back to the boundary of your property but no further. And how do you find the best deal? However, landlords only have the right to cut back or prune trees that are on their property. Note that some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPO). Wind fallen fruit technically still belongs to the person who owns the … You are responsible for the cost of cutting any branches you choose to trim. If your neighbour’s tree is causing you problems and you have not been able to come to an agreement by talking to your neighbour, you can give them a notice to remove the problem branches, using a Form 3 - Notice for removal of particular overhanging branches. Your neighbour can cut any branches that are overhanging into their garden as long as they only remove the bits on their side of the boundary. In this case you must contact your local authority. One wrong cut, and the branches could fall, requiring significant repairs to your roof or home. Ask your neighbour to cut the parts that overhang your land. Tree surgeons need the power turned off to work safely. The problem is that the branches are coming over onto my mothers property, blocking light and signal, also allowing rats to climb into the attic. However, if you have spotted a tree growing near to overhead lines that requires trimming or if a tree is affecting your power supply please read more here. The practice of cutting overhanging branches is defined as ‘abating a nuisance’. We carry out an extensive tree management programme. To protect yourself, ensure you choose a trusted tradesperson who is willing to take on the liability for the work before beginning. If your property backs onto a road and has a problem with overhanging trees, it’s possible the Highways Agency might ask you to remove them. If a homeowner were to fell a shared tree without permission, it would be considered an act of trespassing. The same goes for encroaching foliage of on the borders of adjacent residents. Fences Act 1968 as amended by the Fences Amendment Act 2014, which brought in … As a result, it’s not necessary to receive permission before cutting them from your garden. In the 2012 case of Rony v Costa, a property owner hired an unlicensed day laborer to trim limbs that crossed his property line from a neighboring tree. Before you prune a tree you should always check the tree is not covered by viewing the Tree Preservation Order. It’s essential to choose a competent tree surgeon to complete the task. If you’re working on a neighbour’s tree and accidentally cause damage, then you’ll likely you’ll be legally responsible. The neighbours trees are well over the 2 metre threshold and there are several of them. Draper’s retelling is inspired by real... Are people moving house or staying and improving in these coronavirus times? Get Inspired! Find out what to do about a neighbour's tatty fence. Consumer Rights for Cutting Branches. We’ve asked the consumer advice website HomeOwners Alliance what to do next. This will only be necessary if the trees are blocking the road or causing obstruction. The practice of cutting overhanging branches is defined as ‘abating a nuisance’. We spend over £1 million per year managing our trees. Regardless if you need permission or not, it’s often best to have a conversation with your neighbour about the removal of overhanging branches to maintain positive relationships. Therefore, if a base sits directly on the boundary line between two properties then it’s mutually owned by both homes. Contact your local council authority for permission before you attempt to do anything to trees with TPOs. The neighbour is refusing to cut the trees, and if my mother is to cut the trees, this will be in excess of £1000. If you are considering cutting back overhanging branches or tree roots on your land we advise you to get the opinion of a qualified tree specialist first, as you may cause the tree to become unstable or die. Or overhanging foliage a neighbour 's encroaching tree often gets law-abiding consumers in hot water back any branch... Branches overhanging your property line ( TPO ) the land on which it grows Building regulations: rules and for! 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