Saturday, August 9, 2008

Trees and Neighbours

If you own a piece of land and the vegetation has become unkempt, do you have the right to cut down the trees? Remember the trees are on your land.

Residents of a housing estate complained to the local authorities of some trees in their neighbourhood being chopped off turning the area into an ugly sight.


In certain parts of Malaysia, for example in Petaling Jaya, there is a blanket prohibition under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 in which trees above 0.8 metres in height could not be cut, even if they were on private land and permission must be sought from the local council first before cutting down trees, unless they pose a danger or safety threat.

So, what is your take on this. Is it your business if your neighbour decides to cut down the trees on his land? Will you go crying foul to the local authorities?

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:29 PM

    If the trees are on your land, you have the right to cut it down unless of course there's public ruling in your neighbourhood prohibiting such acts. In this case, I believe the residents are of the opinion that they live in the neighbourhood thus they are entitled to exercise their rights w regards to anything that goes on in the neighbourhood which isn't wrong to me.

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  2. If the trees are on my land, I have the right to cut it down. Unless I'm doing something that can affect my neighbours like burning the tree and create air pollution or neglect my land to such extreme that it breeds mosquitoes and snakes, then I don't think my neighbours have the right to interfere, IMHO

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  3. Issues like this seem to have become common in the U.S. what with the explosive proliferation of estate housing projects and housing associations. Basically your neighbors can decide what color you can or can't paint your house, what you can keep in your driveway, what you can build in your backyard, etc..

    Individual liberty has given way to invasive socialism...ironically in the name of property values.

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  4. Depends on the land use in the area. In a residential area, I can't see why anyone should have a say other than the land owner. A forest is another matter.

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  5. MBL, people sometimes forget they have no jurisdiction over their neighbour's property or what they do with their trees. I once had a neighbour who brought her visiting aunt and almost completely plucked all the mangoes from my mango tree! The nerve! They climbed over the gate and had a whale of a time harvesting the fruits from my tree. I was shocked to see them in my yard when I got home.

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  6. Foongpc, exactly my thoughts.

    Thanks for visiting.

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  7. MM, invasive is the word and I think it's ridiculous. However, in some cases, public action is necessary as in the case of suddenly designating a piece of residential land for a grave-site. We have instances like this here and house property instantly plunges.

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  8. Well, hello there, Momo, the wonder dog! You know what? I absolutely agree with you, you little wise one. How have you been? I bet you must be enjoying summer. Please say "Hello" to PandaB for me, will you?

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  9. Anonymous12:09 PM

    Happysurfer, you shld charge thse ppl for trespassing onto your property. The nerve of some inconsiderate ppl..the least they could have done was ask and I am sure ppl will happily oblige with some fruits.

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  10. MBL, or at least charge them for the mangoes they plucked? LOL!

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  11. What can the authority do if you report your neighbor?

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  12. The mango-plucker?! Oops!!

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  13. Anonymous8:49 PM

    Unless it poses harm to the public it's really non of their business and the owner has every right to do whatever he pleases. It's like going into other peoples' house and tell them how to run their household! Ridiculous!

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  14. CC, I so agree with you. People sometimes forget where their boundary ends.

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