Neighbors who do stuff without asking the owner first

[Burt]

My neighbor had a fast growing tree that he planted right next to our common fence. It grew to be thirty feet tall and with limbs lying on my garage roof and all the grass died from lack of sunshine and I just had mud and roots back there. So over a months' time, I cut off the limbs and removed the offending roots. One day I came home and noticed that the tree was gone. Thought he got the hint and removed the tree. Then I went upstairs and looked out the window and saw that the tree had fallen into his swimming pool! Guess I destabilized the tree when I removed the roots. He never said anything to me and had the fallen tree cut up and promptly removed.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted by Burt
My neighbor had a fast growing tree that he planted right next to our common fence. It grew to be thirty feet tall and with limbs lying on my garage roof and all the grass died from lack of sunshine and I just had mud and roots back there. So over a months' time, I cut off the limbs and removed the offending roots. One day I came home and noticed that the tree was gone. Thought he got the hint and removed the tree. Then I went upstairs and looked out the window and saw that the tree had fallen into his swimming pool! Guess I destabilized the tree when I removed the roots. He never said anything to me and had the fallen tree cut up and promptly removed.



You got lucky on that one. I suppose you took pictures before removing the branches/roots to prove you were in the right?

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted by JHZR2
Originally Posted by motor_oil_madman
I know this is small potatoes, but what does everyone think about people who do things like this?


I don't think you've posted a cohesive picture. You mention townhouse living - if so, then I'd check what is actually yours; you likely don't own any land, except maybe the square below the townhouse, if that. You own what's inside the walls. If that's the case, you and she may be in the wrong - should check the codes.

But let's assume you own the property, it's not clear from the OP if you cut down the tree on your property (my assumption), or did it as a favor on her property. If she is trespassing on your property, it's just that. I'd probably just tell her that you're worried about liability if she gets injured, and request she doesn't do that.



Yes it was on my property. Supposedly we have a certain number of feet we can build out to although I never looked into it. I know the balcony extends out over the grass about 7ft. That's kind of the issue with the tree and why I cut it down. It grew too big and was hitting the underside of the balcony. That's also why I don't want people doing stuff with that little flower bed such as digging up roots then leaving a pile of dirt with roots sticking out for who knows how long. Next thing you know I'll have a letter from the hoa. No telling when she started doing that as it's been like 3 weeks since the last time I walked back there.

 

[JLTD]

Originally Posted by motor_oil_madman
I cut down this small tree that was only like 8ft tall to keep my neighbor happy because it was blocking her view, then about a month later the little suckers started growing back, not tall at all only like 5'' but anyways, a couple months later I walk back there and see that she's been trying to dig up the stump, but I find it a bit annoying that she did all this without asking. I mean what's her plan now? Is she going to go at it with a chain saw? That's about all you can use at this point to cut the roots out. I think she thought she could transplant it somewhere else. Maybe she'll hire a tree company and have them grind the stump down on her dime? Btw it's a small tree and the stump is only like 5'' in diameter, but I assure it's not going to be able to be pulled out, at least not without some extensive digging. Gotta love that townhouse living. smh. I think I'll just leave it and see what she comes up with. lol


Sounds like trespassing to me.

In many places, you can cut plants back that intrude from the neighbor's property to yours, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.