Tall trees and neighbours?

nudepcguy

Can anyone advise me please.

My sister and her husband bought their house approx 15 years ago. The gardens have a hedge which have mature beech trees growing in it ( I would guess 100-150 years old - they are big) Approximately 5 years after moving in a housing development was built the other side of this hedge. Three houses were built directly along the hedge. The owners of the houses are now complaining to my sister that these trees are blocking their light and want them cut, which the owners are willing to pay for.

However, one of the neighbours is getting quite up himself over the whole thing . My sister and her husband whilst understanding their neighbours' plight do not want the trees to lose their shape or even die as a result of being cut back, as the mature grounds was one of the things that attracted them to the house in the first place.

Am I right in thinking that as the trees were already mature when these houses were built, and the people bought them knowing that there were great big trees behind them then really the neighbours cannot make my sister do anything with the trees.

TIA

Ddad

It's been covered before in other forums but the basics are that the neighbours have no rights to alter the trees or hedge beyond cutting back the vegetation that overhangs their property. In addition as you state the hedge and trees preexisted their homes so it musn't have been too much of a suprise to them that these palnts are a bit overbearing.

However, The trees will not die from judicious pruning and if their privacy is assured by the hedge why not allow some pruning (as specified by them) and paid for by the neighbours. On second thoughts though they might think they have a leg to stand on in getting the trees removed and be even more annoying. If they bought with the trees in place they should just have to live with it.

nudepcguy

Thanks Ddad.