Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Jan 24, 2016 7:34 am We have now been "in" for almost 3 years. Hard to believe. Over that time we've had some issues with our neighbours. He tends to be the bulldozer type - what he wants is what "we" all want. If you stand up he becomes quite aggressive. So we've had a few skirmishes ... The latest involved a tree. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 2Jan 24, 2016 7:40 am Sorry - my page doesn't work every time - not sure why. Anyway. The tree is on our side of the border but on the nature strip. Like all trees it can drop stuff. It was there before he built. I love the tree. In our Estate it is a bit barren in parts and having a tree is almost a status symbol ... I look after it and use it for shade. Our neighbour decided to plant lawn right up to it in a tiny strip of land on our side of his driveway (but it is on his side of the borderline). About 1/2 metre by 1.5 metres. He uses a "real' mower to cut his lawn. His big complaint - should I say the latest complaint - is that the tree drops stuff that clog his mower when he cuts this tiny piece of grass. I was informed by his wife the other day he intends cutting the tree down !!! Not once has this been raised with us. I repeat - the tree is on our side and is metres from his lawn. It does not affect the main part of his lawn - which is on the other side of his driveway. I've got a few suggestions - replace little area with stones etc. His garden now is all cement, lawn, drive, white painted planter style boxes - with green pointy things in them. Reminds me of a cemetery. I'm open to ideas on how to deal with him ? Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 3Jan 24, 2016 9:38 am Our council requires a permit to cut down any tree with a trunk circumference greater than 1m. Is it established and that big? You might then be able to get him on a legal loophole..... Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 4Jan 24, 2016 9:39 am PS, I had to reply seeing that we are related in our Saint-hood Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 5Jan 24, 2016 9:47 am Saint Girl Our council requires a permit to cut down any tree with a trunk circumference greater than 1m. Is it established and that big? You might then be able to get him on a legal loophole..... Saint Girl PS, I had to reply seeing that we are related in our Saint-hood No - its a younger (4 years ?) - very healthy tree. Lucky to be .5 metre in circumference at this time. Just the idea makes me angry. I'm no greenie - but there are so few trees - and this guy wants to cut down a perfectly healthy one - for the sake of a metre of grass. Or rather - ease of mowing that metre. Good to see another Saint ... Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 6Jan 24, 2016 9:53 am Pity.....Sounds like you lucked out on neighbours. We decided on a knockdown rebuild because we love where we live but also because we like all our neighbours. Although the whole KDR thing is super stressful, it seemed less of a drama than risking living next door to annoying new neighbours!! No ones going anywhere in a hurry here, so we should be safe for a while...... Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 7Jan 24, 2016 11:32 am If the tree was put there by the council, cutting it down could result I a fine at the least. Perhaps inform the council of the neighbours plan to cut it down so that if it is, there's some record of the intention. Creator of superduperonium, expert at expert things, nobel laureate, can hold my breath for 10 minutes. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 8Jan 24, 2016 11:34 am Clowns like this, you will always have a beef with. I've had run-ins with these " I'm always right" types before. Forget about being nice and neighbourly as he clearly doesn't want to do the right thing anyway and just tell him straight. If not this issue, he will find something else in the future. One thing I learned a long time ago is that you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family or neighbours. Stewie Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 9Jan 24, 2016 11:41 am Stewie D Clowns like this, you will always have a beef with. I've had run-ins with these " I'm always right" types before. Forget about being nice and neighbourly as he clearly doesn't want to do the right thing anyway and just tell him straight. If not this issue, he will find something else in the future. One thing I learned a long time ago is that you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family or neighbours. Stewie So true Stewie. On all counts. Mrs SM always says I just don't like him - but how can you like someone who behaves this way ? I try to get on with neighbours - you don't have to be best buddies - but its handy to get along. At some point you find you'll need each other - for whatever reason. But - he's such an arrogant pr*ck its hard. I agree though - I just have to make sure he understands. He's the sort you can't use nice words with. All our other neighbours are good. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 10Jan 24, 2016 11:42 am Ponzu If the tree was put there by the council, cutting it down could result I a fine at the least. Perhaps inform the council of the neighbours plan to cut it down so that if it is, there's some record of the intention. Thanks. Yeah - I was thinking of this. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 11Jan 24, 2016 4:19 pm We had a neighbour like this! He used to mow our lawn because we didn't do it to his liking?! He was an old angry turd and used a ride on and left our lawn all ratty. He would argue with pretty much all of us in the street and would forbid anyone parking on the road near his house. Many times visitors were yelled at and arguments and insults would fly. We were directly next door so copped the brunt of him.He used to tell us to go inside when we were entertaining out the back as he found our laughter,music and chatter annoying....you know, people actually enjoying life...He did this one Christmas Day...hanging over our back fence yelling at us. We tried to be calm but the Christmas calm was lost pretty quick and I told him to drop dead. Not my proudest moment. He actually passed away about a month after...I felt awful. Anyway we tried reasoning with him but it never worked. He was unreasonable. If he hadn't of passed away we would've sold a lot sooner. Good luck with the tree. Just be wary though as he may poison it to avoid the wrath of a legality. Old mate did that..he asked us to chop it but we refused. A few months later we saw a hole in the trunk and it was dead not long after. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 12Jan 24, 2016 4:24 pm deejay08 We had a neighbour like this! He used to mow our lawn because we didn't do it to his liking?! He was an old angry turd and used a ride on and left our lawn all ratty. He would argue with pretty much all of us in the street and would forbid anyone parking on the road near his house. Many times visitors were yelled at and arguments and insults would fly. We were directly next door so copped the brunt of him.He used to tell us to go inside when we were entertaining out the back as he found our laughter,music and chatter annoying....you know, people actually enjoying life...He did this one Christmas Day...hanging over our back fence yelling at us. We tried to be calm but the Christmas calm was lost pretty quick and I told him to drop dead. Not my proudest moment. He actually passed away about a month after...I felt awful. Anyway we tried reasoning with him but it never worked. He was unreasonable. If he hadn't of passed away we would've sold a lot sooner. Good luck with the tree. Just be wary though as he may poison it to avoid the wrath of a legality. Old mate did that..he asked us to chop it but we refused. A few months later we saw a hole in the trunk and it was dead not long after. Funny thing is this guy is younger than us. Talks like he's very cool etc but behaves/acts the opposite. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 15Jan 24, 2016 5:51 pm I would give the heads-up to council by seeking their advice in the form of, " my next door neighbour at xx is complaining about a tree on my property and is threatening to cut it down." You could say that as he has signalled his intention that he does not like the tree you are concerned if he poisoned the treat because this may leach into the ground or worse kill animals. Not sure as it is not your field of expertise. They will more than likely explain the rules that any leaves or branches overhanging on his property he can trim to the boundary and pass the branches and leaves back to you. Not neighbourly but allowed. Good suggestion on cleaning the leaves but would not go out of my way. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 16Jan 24, 2016 6:13 pm deejay08 A young arrogant turd...even worse! YES Huggy_B Have you considered raking up the leaves your tree is dropping on his lawn? Well - to tell the truth - 99.9% of any thing falls on my garden. I hadn't noticed any on his "lawn". It is only 1/2 metre by 2 metres. Apparently whatever it is gets down in between the grass - and hides. I think he just doesn't like the tree - it spoils his "sterile" look. But - in all honesty - we all have these issues. He has bamboo all along the fence line - which is a nuisance. It drops crap on my path and in my pool. But I see this as just one of those things. And clean it up myself. I don't ask him to cut the bamboo down. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 17Jan 24, 2016 6:17 pm AussieMark I would give the heads-up to council by seeking their advice in the form of, " my next door neighbour at xx is complaining about a tree on my property and is threatening to cut it down." You could say that as he has signalled his intention that he does not like the tree you are concerned if he poisoned the treat because this may leach into the ground or worse kill animals. Not sure as it is not your field of expertise. They will more than likely explain the rules that any leaves or branches overhanging on his property he can trim to the boundary and pass the branches and leaves back to you. Not neighbourly but allowed. Good suggestion on cleaning the leaves but would not go out of my way. Yes - Mark - thinking of this. The funny thing is I don't think anything does protrude. Leaves blow either way - so not sure I can even identify if they are "my" leaves ... We get some awesome breezes and stuff can come from over the road - the wind comes from the south. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 18Jan 24, 2016 6:19 pm I originally came from an area where we all had deciduous trees. In winter they'd drop their leaves and you'd be covered in them. Just part of life. Unfortunately my place copped quite a lot. I could hardly go to my neighbours and complain. Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 19Jan 24, 2016 6:39 pm Gawd...we put up with a huge gum next door that dropped leaves constantly on our patio...and huge branches when it stormed would fall on the roof. I never expected the neighbour to clean it...it's just what happens....like birds pooing on your car. Trees lose leaves, grass and weeds grow, spiders weave webs everywhere, bugs splatter on the widows and birds poo on everything. If he doesn't like it maybe he can place his home in an airtight bubble? Re: Trees and Neighbours ! 20Jan 24, 2016 8:37 pm deejay08 Gawd...we put up with a huge gum next door that dropped leaves constantly on our patio...and huge branches when it stormed would fall on the roof. I never expected the neighbour to clean it...it's just what happens....like birds pooing on your car. Trees lose leaves, grass and weeds grow, spiders weave webs everywhere, bugs splatter on the widows and birds poo on everything. If he doesn't like it maybe he can place his home in an airtight bubble? Yes - It does make you wonder about people - luckily - just a few. it depends on the natural ground level, if they excavated their boundary wall needed to be built as a retaining wall. If you filled, which sounds like the case then you… 1 7554 The only thing to add to these comments is that where possible it's always good to try and work with people than just say "no" because you can. Having someone… 4 18044 Good on you for having a go I am the opposite of DIY (so will pay a builder) - our vibe is industrial/simple so current thinking is 150mm concrete and then internally is… 3 3133 |