I've got a bit of a situation with my neighbor! They have these massive trees in their yard that hang over my space, almost reaching my gazebo that's permanently set up. There's no alley between us, just a six-foot fence separating our properties. I've learned from city regulations that it's her responsibility to manage them, but she hasn't done a thing. I filed a complaint with the city, but I'm looking for solid advice on how to get this resolved without it costing me a fortune. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
If you want this resolved quickly, either pressure the city to enforce the rules or just handle it yourself. I’d recommend getting a few estimates for the work and then presenting those to her, especially since the city has already confirmed it's her responsibility. If the cost isn’t too high, you might want to just take care of it so you don’t have to deal with the hassle anymore.
You have a couple of options! One way is to consider trimming the branches yourself after giving your neighbor a heads up. However, you’ll need to check local laws to make sure you’re in the right to do so. Just be cautious about depending on the city to act quickly on your complaint; sometimes it can take a while.
What if you propose splitting the cost with your neighbor? It might seem unlikely, especially if it’s not bothering her as much. But if she’s not taking action and the city isn’t helping either, it could be worth a shot—just be prepared for some resistance. In my experience, negotiating costs can sometimes lead to better solutions, though it sounds like you’ve had trouble with her before.
That’s really kind of you. But based on my experience, she’s been really stubborn about sharing costs; it took me a whole year to get her to agree to split a fence. Plus, I have a major tree removal I’m dealing with, so I was hoping for her cooperation on this as well. Any other thoughts?