Living with trees

Trees and hedgerows are one of the most common causes of neighbour disputes. A tree that is one person's pride and joy can sometimes become a source of worry and frustration for others.

Trees and the law

Trees can be affected by a number of legislative frameworks, but the most common are:

  • Statute Law - governed by Acts of Parliament such as the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 which allows local planning authorities to protect trees of important amenity value, for example with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
  • Common Law - where a tree is not located in a conservation area or subject to a TPO, common law rights apply in respect to overhanging branches
  • Occupiers Liability Acts 1957 and 1985 - these place a 'duty of care' on the occupier of the land to ensure that a tree does not cause a nuisance to neighbouring properties 

If the tree is not protected by a TPO nor in a conservation area, you are entitled to prune back any overhanging branches to your vertical boundary as long as it will not kill or destabilize the tree.  

We strongly advise you to contact or talk to the tree owner before pruning the tree, as they may wish to make alternative arrangements with you.

By law you should offer to return the prunings to the tree owner.

If a tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or is within a conservation area then you must apply to the council for permission to prune the tree.  

You can apply online via the Planning Portal or download the forms and guidance notes from the application page of this website.  

If you suspect a tree is causing structural damage or subsidence to your property, you should seek independent professional guidance from a structural engineer and/or a qualified tree specialist. You may also want to contact your insurance company. It is essential that a thorough investigation is carried out to establish the cause of the damage or subsidence before any application is made to remove any trees.