Comments on: A tree grows in Knoxville. But in which yard?

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:07 +0000

Also, removing a few section’s of a fence isn’t that big of a job. Anyone could do it if they had a helper to hold the fence.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:22:27 +0000

Had a similar problem. Only, my neighbors tree actually fell onto my property and crushed a few section’s of my fence. Problem is, he had the trunk and debris removed but he isn’t liable to repair the fence. The tree falling would be an act of God. You would likely be responsible for any repairs to your house and fence as well as removal from your property. Seems like you would be better off splitting the cost now instead of living in fear and maybe avoiding a catastrophe and having to make an insurance claim in the future.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:49:41 +0000

Knoxville does have a tree ordinance, but it does not apply to residential property.
Are you in an Historic District?

By: Clisby

Clisby — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:52:02 +0000

By the way, do you have to jump through any legal hoops to cut down a tree in Knoxville? Some places have tree ordinances that require you to get city approval before you cut a tree.

By: Dewi

Dewi — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:05:17 +0000

Did you google this yet, you should!
It’s a universal problem, read how they deal with it in Berkeley Calif.

http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommend/home/trees_and_neighbors.html

By: Dewi

Dewi — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:58:10 +0000

It sounds like it was planted in the past by the neighbors previous property owners, but now it has grown so you share a tree.
If you split the bill 50/50 can you ask aobut including the cost of repairing your new fence as part of the 50/50? If not then maybe they will agree to you paying a percentage of the cost, because you will have to pay to repair your new fence.

Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do to preserve the peace.

By: Dewi

Dewi — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:47:15 +0000

In my experience if you want to remain in a nice cordial neighborly relationship with your neighbors, you share the cost of removing the tree if you and your neighbor see it as on both your property.

If you want to have a miserable unfriendly relationship with neighbors over this tree, you continue to refuse to share the cost.

The choice is now yours.

I personally would choose to share costs if i liked my neighbors.

By: kagranju

kagranju — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:40:57 +0000

Here’s the deal: the tree appears to be primarily (like, 98.9%) growing out of and rooted in the neighbor’s yard. A tiny bit of the edge of the root system may fall on our side of the property line. However a giant, dangerous bunch of limbs from the tree hang over our house. Some do the same over his house. The tree WILL fall on our house at some point…or his house. Or both. The only question is when.

We discussed this with the neighbor (very pleasantly and cordially) and he says he thinks we will need to split the cost of taking the tree down because some of it is on our property. It will also require taking out part of our 2 year old fence to get to this giant tree.