[Closed] Neighbour trouble - what would you do?

Contact Police - criminal damage.

You mean someone came into your own garden and cut one of your trees down? Wow - lunatic behaviour, approach with caution.

Did they take the black arrow as well?

Is this your way of telling us that you've bought a nice big house?

Garry - that's the way it looks. Either some random person wandered in and cut it down, or he did it! He doesn't look like a lunatic, but I'm guessing he's a bit of an arse!

EDIT: KING-TUT - is a 3 bed semi a big house??

Contact Police - criminal damage.

And what prey tell do you expect them to do? Forensics?

woody2000 - Member

EDIT: KING-TUT - is a 3 bed semi a big house??

My mistake, I thought yours was the one to the bottom left.

s a 3 bed semi a big house

You Tory you....

Gotta tell the police and let them handle it. Or chop down two of his in a revenge attack?

🙂 - that's the "offenders" house! Mines the one with the car parked outside.

Ask around, someone should have seen/heard a chainsaw being used.

You could go round to his garden, naked, with a chainsaw,* and cut one of his trees down. That would let him know where he stands in the 'man don't give a f_ck' stakes. Personally, though, I'd probably avoid escalating things.

* Don't do this if inexperienced handling a chainsaw.

let the police know.

let matey know that youve let the police know (in a "ooh there's some nutters about, ive called the fuzz" kinda way)

plant another tree.

Ask around, someone should have seen/heard a chainsaw being used.

Chainsaw?! A decent penknife saw would get through that.

woody2000 - Member

- that's the "offenders" house! Mines the one with the car parked outside.

Ah he has more money than you - suck it up peasant. 😉

Seriously though, is the land to the rear, side and front of your property all yours?

My gut feeling is to tell the police, but obviously it's my word against his and not really the sort of thing I'd want to have the police dealing with.

tiger - green/liberal with slight right-wing tendencies 😀

Buy a whole row of leylandii (or however you spell it) and let nature and revenge take its course.

Chainsaw?! A decent penknife saw would get through that.

I was kind of thinking that, it isn't really a tree, more of a slightly developed sapling.

Shit through his letterbox. That'll learn him.

Buy a whole row of leylandii (or however you spell it) and let nature and revenge take its course.

K-T - yep, that's why we bought it. We previously had no garden, but had an allotment. So we're hoping for a bit of self suffiency!

Garry - should I smear myself in sh*t too? 🙂

It was an 18/20 foot Eucalyptus btw, so slim and tall.

Have you any real proof as to who cut it down?

Otherwise I think you might be stuffed.

My brother had just the same done to him, but had proof and took his neighbour to court, they cut down 6 20 foot trees, cost his neighbour £7k in the end.

Trees that size cost mega money to replace!

Good luck

Criminal damage. Its obvious who it was interfering with. I mean a neigbhour 3 doors down wouldnt have done it and the price of wood hasnt gone higher than gold now.

Speak to your local Officer, ask if this could be recorded however you do not want to pursue the matter at the moment.

Why? You don't need agro and this could blow out of total proportion. Little trees gone, move on (but have it recorded incase of any future dispute).

However, why not plant something else slightly further in?

K-T - yep, that's why we bought it. We previously had no garden, but had an allotment. So we're hoping for a bit of self suffiency!

In that case, stop worrying about that little tree (deceased) that is surrounded by loads of other bigger trees and go milk a hen.

Life is too short, that said if you catch him in the act in future then go rotovate is lawn.

leylandii - IMO cutting your nose of to spite your face unfortunately. I'd far rather have a fence than my leylandii hedge as it take so much looking after.

ski - no proof sadly, just balance of probability - no-one else [i][b]really[/i][/b] could have done it.

DId he clear up the mess? Tree surgeons cost a fortune, might have saved you a packet there

I'd inform the police just in case whoever it was does it again and let it go (did you have a massive attachment to this tree). Stay in "the right". Revenge seems good in your mind but usually esculates things, will bring on a load of stess and life is too short.

No, just cut it down and left it. You can see it to the left in the first picture.

Can't quite see what his problem with the tree was really - any idea?

K-T - yep, that's why we bought it. We previously had no garden, but had an allotment. So we're hoping for a bit of self suffiency!

In that case get some pigs and put the sty next to that fence!!

Sneak in during the night Jase and cut the middle out of his trampoline. That'll learn him...

PS - Sunday 23rd, fancy a ride?

the neighbour has obviously been p*ssed off for a long time and the previous owners had given him the finger when asked about the tree... so he's thought "mmmm somebody new is moving in i'll cut it down before they notice"

i'd do nothing other than make it obvious you know it was him and mess with his head the entire time you live there!

also plant a blossom, every spring it will cover his end of the garden, just make sure you trim it level with the fence as it grows, the wind will take care of the rest!

Eucalyptus are a pain when they get older IME. He has done you a slightly creepy favour. Plant some fruit trees at put it all behind you.

What time of the day did it happen? Surely someone must have seen it being chopped down.

No idea. I'm going to speak to the people we bought the house from to see if there was some ongoing issue, but as far as I can tell it blocked no sunlight, wasn't dangerous and wasn't really interfering at all. We've only had the place a couple of weeks so I hadn't really studied everything TBH. If he'd have asked, I'd have sorted out whatever issue he had, it's the just doing it then denying it that's the issue.

Can't quite see what his problem with the tree was really - any idea?

Looking at the overhead shot the neighbour appears to prefer lawn rather than a garden!!

Inform the Police. The go round, ask the neighbour and family round for a BBQ, beer etc. At some point in the evening, let slip how upset you were that the tree has been destroyed. How you thought it was too tall and were going to ask you neighbour if it would have been OK to prune it. Tell them how concerned you are that there may be some unscrupulous folk in the neighbourhood. Do they have any ideas who it might be, because the Police might be interested.

Do it properly and you'll have a very good neighbour.

Shit through his letterbox. That'll learn him.

Not yours though. DNA.

Buy another tree from the garden centre,

somehow attach it to the old stump!!!

That will DO the perpetrators HEAD RIGHT IN and maybe force is hand, at which point you could have some video surveillance going on...(webcam/pc)

let the babilon know before hand so if you do catch the **** you can present your findings without looking like a mentalist.

nick - all the trees in that part of the garden are fruit trees already (except the now ex-eucalyptus!).

I've no idea when it happened, I spotted it missing when my parents came to see the house a couple of days ago.

Sadly the Police will want proof as to who cut it down, my brother was lucky, caught them in the act and had other witnesses, otherwise it would not have got to court.

Or you could have some fun and stick this waving over the fence at him 😉

[img] [/img]

Unless it was an attractive blossom tree or fruit tree. Just leave it.

For all you know he could have had an ongoing argument with the old owner with either side in the wrong. The roots could have been upsetting his wall etc etc.

Nothing came up about a dispute BTW?

I'd leave it, its not worth the hassle. The cutting off of the tree isn't symbollic of him castrating you.

For what its worth I've never had a bad relationship with any neighbours (bar one unsociable noise-type).

Mark - we asked when we bought the house if there were any neighbour issues and were told not. The wall's mine, or at the very least a party wall.

I know it's not the end of the world i.e. a small tree being cut down, but I'm slightly worried that some people think it's kinda ok to have someone pop in to your back garden and chop a tree down because he or she doesn't like it being there? Seriously?

I'd at least call the cops about it - not so much for the grievous loss of a tree but just to let him know you're not going to be messed with in future.

I would advise you to report it to the police.
However I doubt very much you will get a response from them as it will just logged.
I would think he climbed over your fence and I dont think he was seen doing it.
I know this wont help but look on the bright side no other scrot will climb down this tree to nick your bikes.

Sorry chum its just one of those things.

You could get matey with him and say you were thinking of cutting down some of the others and which ones would he like done.

How long are you planning on living there for?

You could have an informal chat with your community Police officer. Get it off your chest then leave it for now.

I don't think its worth the hassle, stress and thinking 'everytime I go into the garden is he watching me etc'

In those 5days he doesnt know you from Eve. He probably didnt know when you moved in exactly and just saw it as his opportunity before you did.

If you call the Police, and report this?

Do you have to declare this, when you come to sell the proprerty?

Do you have to declare this, when you come to sell the proprerty?

Depends if you implicate the neighbour at all, otherwise it's just a bit of criminal damage.

Mark - we'll be there for a long time (that's the plan anyway).

ski - I guess we'll be obliged to mention it when (if) we sell, yes. 🙁

He did you a favour, Eucalyptus trees are shyte, nothing grows underneath them. And by the looks of it you have more than enough trees.

I doubt that it will affect selling the property but I think your house insurance company may wish to know about this.
Also find out if this tree is listed on your deeds because if it is someone could be in trouble.

Maybe his grass did not grow underneath it whilst it was up hence he cut it down.

They attract koalas too.

Sputnik - that's not really the point though, is it? I have more than one bike, but I wouldn't want someone to come and take one of them, would I.

report to the police

tell you new neighbour to stay off your land in future and the police have noted that past criminal damage has been recorded

replace the tree with these

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Let is slide. Seriously. I know online I have a rep for confrontation and provoking however in at home I thrive on somewhere I can come home to and relax.

Saying that half (literally) our area knows us- constantly stopped when out and about and asked how bingo is, the missus, the little un etc etc so Im wondering do they have phone taps etc on our house 😕 😐

Seriously though, if it happened when you'd been living there a while- its out of order. In a way, you can see his thinking 'take the opportunity to get rid of the problem whilst no one is living there'.

i.e. It wasnt malicious damage. In a way, imagine you had a problem tree in a neighbours garden. They had their house up for sale (and they were ****s to you)- noticed they'd moved out and thought 'right, nows my chance'.

When he goes out, hop over the fence and pour weedkiller over his lawn in a pattern that spells out 'w@nker'.

That'll teach him.

The point is - it was trespass and criminal damage and whether or not he wanted the tree is a moot point - if the neighbour had a problem with it, he should have done the right thing and ASK.

I would be seriously u****ed off if someone cut down my one and only tree. Forget shitting in their letterbox, I would shit in their mouth.

When he goes out, hop over the fence and pour weedkiller over his lawn in a pattern that spells out 'w@nker'.

Best suggestion so far! I like it.

When he goes out, hop over the fence and pour weedkiller over his lawn in a pattern that spells out 'w@nker'.

That'll teach him.

Sage advice that and perfectly reasonable. If the future you'll both probably share a beer and laugh about it.

The point is - it was trespass and criminal damage and whether or not he wanted the tree is a moot point - if the neighbour had a problem with it, he should have done the right thing and ASK.

I would be seriously u****ed off if someone cut down my one and only tree. Forget shitting in their letterbox, I would shit in their mouth.

Yep, +1 for that.

It's easy to say "suck it up" but it's no way to be treated all the same.

On a more sensible note though. Kill him. Use death (as its best for killing) to kill him

or

stand in the garden in full lycra wearing Rudy Project glasses making menacing gang signs towards him.

As mentioned above Eucalyptus trees are vile, so he might have done you a favor, I would leave it tbh & if you do want a tree in its place, stick a family apple tree there in its place 😉

My brother went through hell for over a year with his neighbour, nearly moved because of it!

What was wrong with your previous house? It looked nice (and in a good location).

Did he remove the tree or leave it sitting on your lawn?

o_k_s - left it there. Just cut it and left it where it was.

Mark - we had no garden, and choice of schools was poor. New house has 3 good schools in walking distance, and a garden for Jnrs to run around in 🙂

Boz is winning so far BTW! 🙂

got a mate in a nice tree lined avenue in chester who, upon moving into this new house started tidying up the large garden, at the end was huge hedge (in poor condition) about 5m high but it is on his land

started pruning it (take the top 1m off) and the neighbour promptly threatened him with beating if he continued any further!

now this bloke is a fairly good natured teacher and his wifey a copper; so was a little taken back at he first contact with a neighbour whose garden simply backs on to his

lets just say the hedge has been pruned and contact not kept 🙂

some people can be c**ts - when all that is needed is a polite chat

[url= http://www.****/news/article-1210874/Neighbour-builds-6ft-wall-half-inch-familys-windows-stop-trespassing-land-opening-them.html ]Good story..[/url]

I cannot beleive people say just leave it, its tresspass and criminal damage, regardless of if you were in the house or not, its no better than stealing ... if someone disliked your wheels on your bike would it be ok for them to take them off?, would it be ok to steal orniments from someones garden??? no.... if he had a problem he should have spoken to you

But getting into a turf war is not a good idea if you have to live next to them, imho I would plant the same tree and see what happens, report to the police so if it happens again you have a record of it happening twice. Oh and leave a note by the new tree saying "your on camcorder, try it!"

Ok, the rational part of my brain seems to have temporarily taken over so I'm going to do as suggested, report it to the Police then pop and see the neighbours and say "just to let you know, we had a tree damaged by vandals, so I've reported it to the Police. Keep your eyes open etc etc" or similar.

Then maybe write w*nker with weedkiller! 👿

rootes - that is utterly mad. How someone could get away with it is stunning.

some people can be c**ts - when all that is needed is a polite chat

Agreed, why didn't your mate have a chat first before starting the pruning. I know you don't need to if it's overhanging, but it is good manners...

woody - that sounds a good compromise and I am sure you will get a good feel as to whether they did it as soon as you mention the police.

"just to let you know, we had a tree damaged by vandals, so I've reported it to the Police. Keep your eyes open etc etc" or similar.

Look him hard in the eye when you tell him though, so he knows that you know.

I cannot beleive people say just leave it, its tresspass and criminal damage, regardless of if you were in the house or not, its no better than stealing ... if someone disliked your wheels on your bike would it be ok for them to take them off?, would it be ok to steal orniments from someones garden??? no.... if he had a problem he should have spoken to you

Sure you can report it to the Police & they will investigate, but without witnesses or evidence that scummy neighbour did it, where does that leave you?

Then maybe write w*nker with weedkiller!

Just make sure there are no witnesses 😉

Sure you can report it to the Police & they will investigate, but without witnesses or evidence that scummy neighbour did it, where does that leave you?

I'm sure the Police would just mark it down as 'neighbour dispute'.

Heres a tip for the future. If you ever have a problem with a neighbour/dispute. Get your missus to call up and say she is worried/they have threatened you etc.

Watch the difference in how its handled.

You could also apply this to your neighbour. Send your missus round, he'll be polite. If hes rude you have ample grounds to go round then to [s]speak[/s] hurt him.