So, last night there was very high winds and a tree from my parents neighbors yard crashed into our fence and landed in our yard. This tree is about 25 feet long and will take some time and money to clear up and get the fence fixed. The problem is these neighbors are not the most considerate or friendly neighbors around. I honestly think they are prejudice and look down at my parents because they think they can't speak English very well or what have you. We just don't get that nice neighborly feel from our other neighbors like waving when you drive by or say Hi when you see each other cleaning the lawn or what not. But thats aside the point. The root of the tree is clearly on their side. The tree was clearly on their side of the fence and the neighbors have the audacity to say " Well you wanna split the cost?" In a b****y manner I might add. This I feel is clearly not our fault. What kind of actions can be taken so we don't have to pay for someone else's problem? Thanks for the help.
if the tree was in their yard, it is their fault. Tell them that if they refuse then you would like to speak with their insurance company
It's pretty standard to ask to split the cost on a broken fence with neighbors. I feel you on the b****y neighbors thing, but it's also not really their fault that the area got hit with high winds; no one can control that. I would just hit them with a counter proposal and ask to split 70/30 or somesuch.
Maybe splitting the cost will make them less b****y....I would offer that if the same thing happened.....to me where the tree resided is irrelevent it is about fixing the community fence. DD
If it's their tree, the most reasonable way of dividing it would be to have them arrange for the removal of the tree, then both parties evenly split the cost of repair for the shared fence.
Perfect time to try improve the relatiosnship with your neighbors. Spliting the cost for the fence 50/50, and good communication is a good start. If they still act like aholes after this, then just ignore them.
Thanks for the advice guys.... as for trying to communicating or trying to fix the relationship it's a lost cause. We've been neighbors for the past 10 years and they've always been like this and the other neighbors aren't too fond of them either. Last spring there was a bee hive in a tree that is in an area right in between our properties and they came and let us know about it and instead of splitting it we just paid to get it removed. Also another instance my dad was having surgery on his knee and it turned out the anesthesiologist was the neighbor and he didn't even say anything at all no acknowledgment whatsoever. The whole thing that upsets me about this situation is not having to pay for the fence to get it fixed but the whole principal that they think they can just take advantage of my parents and be blatant a-holes all the time. Now I know Mother Nature is a mother but if there was a tree that was clearly on my side of the fence and landed on the other side onto the neighbors property I don't think I could have the audacity to ask the neighbor to help pay for the fence and I really would be sorry and apologize at least. Seriously, the cost of the fence is not a big deal but it's their damn tree and their damn tree is on our backyard and it should be their responsibility to clean it up. This whole thing stems from them being such pricks.
