Another WWYD Neighbor situation

[jeepgirl30]

On one side of us our neighbors are very to themselves. We've lived in our house for 10 years now. They were there when we moved in. The wife has said maybe 5 words to me in total, the husband NOT ONE. I used to wave and say hi but after 7-8 years I stopped! Other neighbors have commented to me that these neighbors never speak to them either and have asked if they do to me. Now the wife talks to DH when he is outside some, nothing big a hello how are you type deal.

They keep to themselves, we don't bother them either.

We both keep our yards very well manicured. They are always out doing yard work and my DH pays someone to do ours! Seriously, I get a bit upset with him but he insists on having someone come out and do mulch, seeding, etc every spring. We just had this done this week. All the mulch beds were just remulched, the bald patches in the yard were reseeded, etc.

Today DH calls me and was flipping out. The neighbors had a tree cut down and had it fall on our yard. It landed 2 feet from our house! The whole tree is in our yard and they are cutting it up in our yard. It landed in one of the flower beds and knocked the mulch all over and out of the bed. There are twigs, branches and sawdust all through our yard.

DH said something to the guy cutting and he said the neighbors instructed them to have it in our yard as they did not want it going backwards because they were afraid of it going down the hill. Behind our houses there is a big hill but no houses. DH was NOT happy, they never said a word to us and now they are cutting down a tree in the middle of our yard?

Shouldn't they have asked us first or told us? Its our yard! I don't care what they do with their tree as long as it is in their yard.

If we get home tonight and there is still a mess can we ask they pay to have our yard cleaned up and remulched? Do we have any rights here??

isn't this trespassing?

 

[cabanafrau]

It's absolutely trespassing -- mostly because of the way the tree was brought down, not simply because it's in your yard. The tree people should have brought the tree down in segments by using ropes & the proper equipment. Get the insurance & bonding info. from the tree folks as they are the ones who are responsible for the mess.

 

[phorsenuf]

On one side of us our neighbors are very to themselves. We've lived in our house for 10 years now. They were there when we moved in. The wife has said maybe 5 words to me in total, the husband NOT ONE. I used to wave and say hi but after 7-8 years I stopped! Other neighbors have commented to me that these neighbors never speak to them either and have asked if they do to me. Now the wife talks to DH when he is outside some, nothing big a hello how are you type deal.

They keep to themselves, we don't bother them either.

We both keep our yards very well manicured. They are always out doing yard work and my DH pays someone to do ours! Seriously, I get a bit upset with him but he insists on having someone come out and do mulch, seeding, etc every spring. We just had this done this week. All the mulch beds were just remulched, the bald patches in the yard were reseeded, etc.

Today DH calls me and was flipping out. The neighbors had a tree cut down and had it fall on our yard. It landed 2 feet from our house! The whole tree is in our yard and they are cutting it up in our yard. It landed in one of the flower beds and knocked the mulch all over and out of the bed. There are twigs, branches and sawdust all through our yard.

DH said something to the guy cutting and he said the neighbors instructed them to have it in our yard as they did not want it going backwards because they were afraid of it going down the hill. Behind our houses there is a big hill but no houses. DH was NOT happy, they never said a word to us and now they are cutting down a tree in the middle of our yard?

Shouldn't they have asked us first or told us? Its our yard! I don't care what they do with their tree as long as it is in their yard.

If we get home tonight and there is still a mess can we ask they pay to have our yard cleaned up and remulched? Do we have any rights here??

isn't this trespassing?

Make sure to take pictures of the tree in your yard and any subsequent mess it makes.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It's absolutely trespassing -- mostly because of the way the tree was brought down, not simply because it's in your yard. The tree people should have brought the tree down in segments by using ropes & the proper equipment. Get the insurance & bonding info. from the tree folks as they are the ones who are responsible for the mess.

Yep.

I would also call the police to have the incident documented so I can have a police report to submit to the company and my neighbor.

 

[sparklynails23]

Time to start talking to the neighbor.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

It's absolutely trespassing -- mostly because of the way the tree was brought down, not simply because it's in your yard. The tree people should have brought the tree down in segments by using ropes & the proper equipment. Get the insurance & bonding info. from the tree folks as they are the ones who are responsible for the mess.

This is absolutly right!

Yep.

I would also call the police to have the incident documented so I can have a police report to submit to the company and my neighbor.

I would too!

I would be LIVID if this happened!

 

[diznygirl]

Wow! You have every right to be upset - no just because of the timing (right after making your yard pretty) but because something like that is just not neighborly!

I would be calling all sorts of people - I think I would start with my homeowner's insurance in case there is any damage. And ask them if they need a police report. And then calling the police non-emergency number and asking them to come out. And taking pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyBeagle]

I'd take down the name of the tree company and wait to see if they clean up after themselves. We've had work done by reputable tree companies and they always pick up after they are finished. I wouldn't be thrilled that the neighbor had it done this way, but it's not anything that I'd call the police over. If the mess is still there after the tree company leaves, then I would approach the neighbor and calmly let them know that they are responsible for the mess. If that doesn't produce any results, then I would get mad!

 

[Andtototoo]

Wow. The neighbor is rude. And stupid.

The tree guy is also stupid, big time. What idiot would follow a customer's instructions to fell a tree onto someone else's property?

I'd consider filing an incident report for trespassing with the police. I'd definitely find out what company is doing the tree cutting and file a complaint with them.

Wow! I think I would start with my homeowner's insurance in case there is any damage.

Good luck!

DO NOT call your insurance company unless there is real damage. Many insurance carriers allow only 3 dings on your policy before canceling you and just calling to ask a question can count as a ding. Yes, just calling without filing a claim can count as a ding. (I know this to be a fact because I volunteered with disaster relief and had to help homeowners with their insurance companies.)

 

[ChattaAlley]

Please do not let this go. this is so uncalled for an should be addressed with these neighbors. They had no right to cut down a tree that was in your yard and to have that tree come close to your house and mess up your yard. I am mad for you.

 

[horseshowmom]

When they start cutting it up, you're going to have a lot of sawdust that will need cleaned up too, or it will affect the grass as well.

By all means, they are responsible for the damage and putting things back exactly as they were. They're got a lot of nerve telling the cutters to put it in your yard, but the cutters should have checked with you first.

Yep, I'd be mad too.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'd take down the name of the tree company and wait to see if they clean up after themselves. We've had work done by reputable tree companies and they always pick up after they are finished. I wouldn't be thrilled that the neighbor had it done this way, but it's not anything that I'd call the police over. If the mess is still there after the tree company leaves, then I would approach the neighbor and calmly let them know that they are responsible for the mess. If that doesn't produce any results, then I would get mad!

Yes but you are going to need the police report. If you don't need it, no harm, no foul.

If you do then you will be glad you do it. It is a NECESSITY and not something frivolous.

That is the whole point of using the police. It avoids crazier stuff down the road.

By documenting the incident legally you can have legal recourse to file a claim with the company to pay for damages.

Look at it this way....The burden is ON YOU the HOMEOWNER to prove that damage was done. How are you going to do that if you do not have a police report?

 

[horseshowmom]

Yes but you are going to need the police report. If you don't need it, no harm, no foul.

If you do then you will be glad you do it. It is a NECESSITY and not something frivolous.

That is the whole point of using the police. It avoids crazier stuff down the road.

By documenting the incident legally you can have legal recourse to file a claim with the company to pay for damages.

Look at it this way....The burden is ON YOU the HOMEOWNER to prove that damage was done. How are you going to do that if you do not have a police report?

This is probably a good point. While I'm not crazy about the idea of calling the police, you never know these days.

 

[Hoodie]

I think calling the police is over the top. Definitely document and get the info of the people who toook down the tree.

Remember, if the tree had fallen on your property (and wasn't taken down) it would be your responsibility to remove it. If the tree was diseased or in danger of coming down on its own, they may actually be doing you a favor.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think calling the police is over the top. Definitely document and get the info of the people who toook down the tree.

Remember, if the tree had fallen on your property (and wasn't taken down) it would be your responsibility to remove it. If the tree was diseased or in danger of coming down on its own, they may actually be doing you a favor.

No it is not "over the top" that is their purpose.

Waiting until the neighbors are screaming at each other in the street because THEY WILL NOT pay for the damage is a little too late.

 

[justhat]

I think calling the police is over the top. Definitely document and get the info of the people who toook down the tree.

Remember, if the tree had fallen on your property (and wasn't taken down) it would be your responsibility to remove it. If the tree was diseased or in danger of coming down on its own, they may actually be doing you a favor.

Wait, that's right? If I have a crappy tree in my yard, and it falls into my neighbor's yard, they have to remove it, not me? Wow. Glad I live in Southern AZ where we don't have trees!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wait, that's right? If I have a crappy tree in my yard, and it falls into my neighbor's yard, they have to remove it, not me? Wow. Glad I live in Southern AZ where we don't have trees!

Falling into a yard under an "act of nature" (wind, tornado, etc) and deliberately cutting a tree down onto someone's property are 2 different things.

A tree company can cut down a tree so it does not do that.

The neighbor is negligent with the company they hired however you are going to have to go after the company that cut it down to recoup the cost.

So you are going to need proof and a police report more than likely.

 

[tlbwriter]

If they knew the tree was diseased/injured and allowed it to fall into your yard, THEY would be responsible. And I bet this is the same thing. It's not an "act of God" if they TOLD the removal company to aim it into your yard.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If they knew the tree was diseased/injured and allowed it to fall into your yard, THEY would be responsible. And I bet this is the same thing. It's not an "act of God" if they TOLD the removal company to aim it into your yard.

True.

If the neighbors told the company that you can "fall" the tree in the neighbor's yard NOW YOU HAVE A FIGHT on your hands.

The company will claim the neighbor gave authorization to do that and the neighbor will say, no I didn't.

So yea....there is the beginning.

 

[Disney845]

Do you live in a city with ordinances and regulations?

For example, we live inside the city limits (not in the unincorporated county area) as such we have to have a permit for EVERYTHING including tree removal (in fact ours goes so far as to stipulate the replanting of other trees to replenish the landscape...yadayadayada...).

We have what is called "Code Enforcement". They are not the "police" but work for the city and check on things such as violations, permits, etc.

Sounds to me that these "tree removers" might have been more the sort who just drive around looking for work, and not a licensed company. I don't imagine a licensed company would be stupid enough to follow the neighbors instructions about working on private property they did not have any business being on.

I would try to get the information (license number/name of company/contact info) if they are in fact a real tree removal business, and at least their license plate number if they are not. They have no right to be on your property performing any work.

I would try to get "Code Enforcement" (if you have something like this) or another non-emergency authorities (I mean don't call 911, but call the non emergency numbers to see who they could send) out before they leave so that this could be documented.