Neighbor's Landscaping Across Property Line

[Soarer]

My question involves real estate located in the State of: WASHINGTON

Hello,

I have just purchased a new home this month. The house next to us sold a month Prior.

The houses are side by side. The houses have mulch around them and in the small front yards. This was installed by the developers on every house on the new block.

The neighbor changed the mulch to a new color around his house and then changed BOTH of our small front lawns to match his home.

now my home has mulch that is 2 different colors.

He has also planted a tree right on the property line (in the front of the homes at the curb) that will surely grow and be an issue within a year.

I asked and he said "it would look stupid" to have 2 different colored mulches side by side.

I wouldnt have minded but now he's added an extra expense to my home ownership by having to bring in new mulch to match.

+ He didnt even ask before he did it.

[eapls2708]

Yes it was selfish of your neighbor to change the mulch of your yard prior to your moving in. And, yes, you possibly could force the issue to have him change it back. But at what cost?

The time, money, and aggravation that it would likely take you to force him to redo your mulch will almost certainly greatly exceed the price of the mulch. My advice is to change it back yourself, or go back to the developer and have them do it. This sounds like a new subdivision and that you each bought your homes from the developer. If that's the case, the developer was the prior owner and has a duty to see that the home remains in the condition it was when you agreed to buy it. The developer can then decide whether it is worth going after your neighbor for the cost.

As to the tree, if by "issue" you mean that it will undermine the structure of your home, potentially cause root damage to underground utilities, or create a safety issue, then you need to be able to demonstrate that assertion. If by "issue" you mean that it will drop leaves or other debris on your yard that you do not want, then check you state laws and local ordinances about trees on or partially on a property line (by partially, I mean trunk on neighbor's, branches or roots across the line onto your property).

Again, you may be able to press the issue through the developer, as they were supposed to be maintaining the property during escrow. It could be that at most, you might be able to get the neighbor to move the tree slightly back onto his own yard, not really solving your "issue", but contributing to a decidedly unneighborly relationship.

Remember, you will likely be living right next door to this person for several years. Keep that in mind as you decide what is or is not an issue and how big those issues really are.

Good luck in resolving your situation with wisdom.

[Soarer]

Thank you so much for the response.

I had actually moved in and had been here a almost a month before they changed my front lawn area

I came home from work one day and my landscaping was changed.


The developer will be out here next week to mark off the front lawn 'boarders'.

I'll put stepping stones and remove the black mulch that they put down at my own cost....this time.


thanks again