Most homeowners expect their neighbors to respect their property boundaries, especially when it comes to cutting down trees or making changes to someone else’s land. But one homeowner found that their neighbor had apparently been doing just that, and the situation became even more frustrating when the neighbor complained about what the homeowner was doing on their own property.
The homeowner shared the experience on Reddit, explaining that they had recently started clearing paths through a heavily wooded section of their property in Rhode Island. That’s when they discovered that their neighbor had been cutting down trees and clearing vegetation, allegedly to improve the view from the neighboring property.
The discovery raised questions about property boundaries, unauthorized tree removal, and whether the homeowner should take legal action.
The homeowner discovered the damage while expanding their yard
According to the homeowner, they and their wife had owned the property for five years but hadn’t previously been able to access much of the wooded area behind their home.
After deciding to expand their yard and create walking paths, they discovered that their neighbor had been cutting down trees and plants on their land.
The homeowner then placed several tree stumps in the already-cleared area after removing them elsewhere with an excavator. Apparently unhappy about the stumps being visible, the neighbor approached the homeowner to complain.
That interaction made the situation even more frustrating, considering the neighbor had allegedly been cutting trees on property that didn’t belong to them.
The neighbor claimed the previous owner had allowed it
When confronted, the neighbor offered an explanation. They claimed the homeowner’s wife’s grandfather, who previously owned the property, had hired someone to maintain and trim the wooded area.
However, the grandfather died in 2016, and the current owners said they had never given anyone permission to cut trees or clear vegetation on their land.
The homeowner also explained that no written agreement or deeded access granted the neighbor permission to use or maintain the property. Although they told the neighbor to stop cutting and trimming anything on their land, they weren’t convinced the issue was over.
They had already installed trail cameras and were considering hiring a surveyor and speaking with an attorney.
Related: If a neighbor’s tree falls on your home in California, who is responsible?
Reddit users urged the homeowner to get a property survey
Many commenters believed the homeowner should start by establishing exactly where the property boundaries were located.
One commenter, who identified themselves as a surveyor, explained that a professional survey would give the homeowner a clear understanding of where their land begins and ends.
Others recommended marking the property boundaries, posting appropriate no-trespassing signs, and documenting any additional activity.
Several readers also suggested having an attorney send a formal cease-and-desist letter so the neighbor would have written notice that they were no longer permitted to enter or alter the property.
The general consensus was that a verbal warning might not be enough, especially if the neighbor had been maintaining the area for years.
Some warned that cutting down trees could become an expensive mistake
Several commenters pointed out that removing mature trees from someone else’s property could result in significant financial consequences. Some recommended hiring an arborist to assess the damage and determine the potential value of the removed trees.
The homeowner said the neighbor had admitted to cutting the trees, although they had no additional proof. Readers suggested documenting the remaining stumps, taking photographs, and looking for historical images that might help establish what had been removed.
What should the homeowner do next?
For now, the homeowner has made it clear that the neighbor is no longer allowed to cut trees or maintain any part of their property. But given what’s already happened, several commenters felt a verbal warning wasn’t enough and encouraged them to get a survey and seek legal advice.
The bigger question is whether the homeowner should pursue compensation for the trees that were removed or focus on making sure it never happens again. Either way, the neighbor’s desire for a better view doesn’t give them the right to make changes to someone else’s property
