A man has shamed his entitled neighbour for cutting down his tree without permission – and now he is being encouraged to seek legal advice as a form of revenge
Paige Freshwater Social Newsdesk Writer
13:42, 08 Oct 2025
He has been urged to seek legal advice (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
A man has slammed his neighbour for chopping down his tree to improve the view from his living room window. His daughter, speaking on his behalf, described how her father’s house is situated on a hill and is surrounded by trees for privacy.
However, the neighbour detests the trees, arguing that they “block the light” to his house, casting a shadow over his living room during certain times of the day. Her father, however, insists that the trees do not cause any lighting issues and thinks the neighbour is being “dramatic.” Sharing the story on Reddit, she said: “My dad lives on a hill, and his uphill neighbour has already complained in the past about wanting a clearer view (even though my dad’s trees weren’t that tall and didn’t block much).”
She continued: “Fast forward to last week: my dad came home to find that his Jacaranda tree had been cut down. He even saw the neighbour’s gardener walking away right afterward. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any cameras there for proof.”
While some Reddit users empathised with the neighbour, others suggested they should have peacefully reached an agreement about the trees instead of completely cutting them down.
One user commented: “Cutting your neighbour’s trees/bushes is illegal. You could sue your neighbour for damages.”
Another user advised: “Hire a lawyer. Cutting down someone else’s trees can get you fined hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the age and type of tree. Also, get the name of the company that cut it down and go after them criminally.”
One user commented: “I just went and looked that type of tree up. It’s absolutely beautiful – like, I am now pining for one in my yard. Contact an attorney ASAP.”
Another added: “I believe you said your father saw the gardener walking away with a saw. That is all he needs to call the police. This neighbour won’t stop here. Good luck.”
A different user suggested: “I would put a big, wide sign where the tree was that says, ‘There was a Jacaranda tree here that was illegally cut down by a trespasser,’ facing the neighbour’s house.
“I’d be real petty about it too – mount it on a metal post sunk in concrete and everything. And put an obvious camera on the house facing it, even if it’s just a fake camera.”
A final user advised: “Send him an invoice for the cost of a fully mature tree – bought, hauled in, and transplanted. It will be more than pocket change. What the neighbour did has demonstrative value. Mature landscape trees are not cheap!”.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, overhanging branches of trees can be cut off, as long as it’s done without trespassing onto another person’s property. Trimming can only be done up to the property boundary.
Disputes about high hedges or trees should be settled informally before the council can intervene. If all else fails, you can request a complaint form from your local council.
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