He refused to split an $8,000 tree removal bill: when he tried to sell his house, his neighbor had one condition
Removing two massive spruce trees from a property line cost a homeowner about $8,000. Cranes were needed, and the work took several days because the trees stood close to buildings. The landlord next door refused to pay his half of the bill. Later, when he wanted to sell his rental house, another tree problem forced him to ask that same homeowner for permission to cross the yard.
The $4,000 Dispute
In a Reddit thread on r/pettyrevenge, user u/TheToiletDestroyer explained that roots from the two spruces had been damaging his property. Under the local law he described, both owners were required to split removal costs.
When approached about paying $4,000, the landlord responded, “I have no money.”
Hiring an attorney to recover the payment would have added legal costs without guaranteeing collection, so the homeowner covered the entire bill.
Property-line tree disputes depend on local law. Oregon State University Extension explains that trees growing across a boundary may be considered jointly owned, while responsibility for removal and costs varies by jurisdiction. The Reddit author did not disclose his location.
A Home Inspection Created Another Tree Problem
After his tenant died, the landlord decided to sell the rental house. During the inspection, more trees on his property were identified as hazardous. According to the Reddit post, the house could not be insured until those hazards were removed.
Heavy equipment needed access to the trees, but the small lots left the contractor with two options: cross the neighboring homeowner’s yard or demolish another neighbor’s garage.
The landlord approached the homeowner for permission.
The Neighbor Charged Him $4,000 to Cross the Yard
Instead of refusing access, the homeowner demanded the same amount the landlord had declined to pay for the original tree removal.
The landlord argued that the charge could jeopardize his sale. The homeowner refused to reduce the price.
One week later, the landlord returned with a $4,000 check and received written permission to use the yard. In a follow-up Reddit comment, the homeowner confirmed that the check had cleared.
Several commenters thought the homeowner should have charged more. One proposed $5,000 to cover the original expense and the inconvenience, while another suggested $6,000.
Would you have accepted the $4,000 or charged the landlord more to bring heavy equipment across your property?