What should be done here? Neighbors

[litskispeciality]

Oct 3, 2024 12:53:21 GMT -5 hermione said:

Oct 3, 2024 12:41:25 GMT -5 BicycleBride said:

It’s not the leaves from this tree that cause the problem, the tree puts off this white cottony stuff and that’s what is causing the problem.
The two houses are at an angle to each other so that the tree in question is basically right next to the pool. It’s a HOA neighborhood so I’m sure all regulations were followed when the houses were built.

There IS more to this story but I’m trying to keep it as neutral as possible to make sure I am not missing something. I’ll share the whole story in a few minutes.

I have a meeting at 2pm so if you could shoot for 1:55,

This made me smile  

[fluffycookie]

Tree people have nothing more to do. They did what was asked. Like a PP said now the Pool family needs to work with their pool company to figure out a solution.

[BicycleBride]

We are the Tree neighbor! I am glad everyone agrees with me because I am tempted to go outside and give the tree a good shake every day to get it to put off more stuff because of how it’s been handled.
Here is the full story-
We spent over $1000 having the tree trimmed a few years ago in the interest of being a good neighbor and then again this summer without them saying anything to us. Yesterday I got a message from the HOA asking me to trim the tree because it was causing “property damage” to our neighbor. Pool neighbor has not once spoken to us about it since the initial request and they pretty much pretend we aren’t here. I explained to the hoa person that we had trimmed the tree and even did it again recently and that I believed we had gone above and beyond our responsibility by trimming it. The tree is not going over their property, it’s just close enough that the cottony stuff blows in to it. The trees (it’s actually three trees) were there when we bought the house and they do a great job of keeping the direct afternoon sun off the cars. They are about ten years old and they can kind of be a pain with the stuff they put off so I did tell HOA lady that we would be open to removing and replacing the trees at the neighbors cost. I think that’s more than generous. But I’m so mad about the way it was handled that I wanted to make sure I wasn’t the person being unreasonable.

[archiethedragon]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXsVTlQW57k

Cottonwoods causing problems for Chicago pool owner.

[erbear]

No, you're right, and how crap of the neighbors to involve the HOA instead of coming to you directly. I would do nothing.

[tacokick]

Yeah, you are right and the HOA should have told them it’s their responsibility to take care of their own belongings. Your trees are in your yard and nature is just doing what nature does.

[glitzy07]

BicycleBride Do they have a cover? What "property damage" did the claim? You are definitely in the right. Also, I hate HOAs.

[mommyatty]

We have a tree that drops the white cottony stuff in our own pool. You have to skim the pool every day while it’s dropping stuff, and you have to be insane about emptying the baskets. But the tree is gonna tree. And it’s a beautiful tree that gives gorgeous shade and is better for the environment than our pool. So the tree stays.

[BicycleBride]

Oct 3, 2024 13:06:23 GMT -5 glitzy07 said:

BicycleBride Do they have a cover? What "property damage" did the claim? You are definitely in the right. Also, I hate HOAs.

They do have some kind of cover but they only put it on when they’ve closed the pool for the year. I looked back to see what neighbor had messaged me about it the first time and it looks like it is affecting their pump. She said it was a $900 issue and you all, trimming the trees is MORE expensive!

[sproctopus]

If they make you take the tree down, I volunteer to send you cotton balls and a vornado.

[lavenderblue]

I don't know what this floating cotton looks like, but it sounds like if they just add a "sock" to their filter basket, that should prevent the issue. That, and skimming the pool and emptying the basket frequently.

[Gato]

I assume the trees were there before the pool. Whether the pool neighbors moved in or put the pool there, they knew there would be tree stuff getting in the pool from the start. If they were unrealistic or misinformed about how that would play out, it’s not the tree neighbors’ fault. They were nice to trim it back and need do no more.

ETA: I just read your update above and would be so pissed that the HOA got involved siding with your neighbor. My H was on our condo board and their policy was not to indulge the chronic complainers. Write them a civil letter citing some part of your HOA agreement that sides with you. And maybe run for your HOA board like googled did!

[googled]

Omg your HOA should not even be involved, that’s ridiculous. I would toss the letter and call it a day.

[cap]

The Trees have done more than enough by footing the bill to trim their tree. The Pools should have paid that bill since they were the ones that wanted it to be done. The Pools need to figure it out on their own at this point. Perhaps ask the Trees if they would allow the Pools to pay to have cottonwood cut down, and a new tree planted in the Trees' desired location. And if the Trees say no, the Pools don't have a right to get pissy about it.

ETA that I didn't read the full thread before I replied. 
ETA x 2 that trimming cottonwoods isn't going to do shit to keep the pool's filter from clogging. Signed, PhD in horticulture. 

[mokes]

I'm not really understanding how the tree is causing damage to the filter. Debris from trees should be going to the skimmer ... it shouldn't be even impacting the filter itself? They also make mesh bags that can be added for anything that's small and can get through.

We don't have any nearby neighbors, but tons of surrounding, mature trees that mean lots of leaves/debris before we close the pool for winter. Maybe not this one specific tree, but I'm having trouble seeing how it's THAT much different.

I don't know if when people are saying "cover" they mean like one of those pool blankets? I guess that could be an option; I'm not familiar with covering a pool while in season. But agree it's on the pool owners to figure out.

[litskispeciality]

I mean no offense to the fine folks here who're active (not always by choice) in HOA's. Good lawd HOA's have waaay too much time on their hands! They should have told the neighbor to deal with it privately before even going to the HOA. You've literally spent more on trimming the damn tree than they have in "damages". Ugh, these neighbors are awful.

Also curious what is the repercussion from the HOA if you don't keep up with the tree trimming and "damage" keeps happening? At some point can someone step in and say it's literally not your problem to fix?

Way to invested in this, depending on the size of the pool wouldn't a pool cover have been cheaper in the first place rather than keep fixing the filter?

[waverly]

BicycleBride , I assume the issue is over since HOA asked you to trim the tree, and you said yes we had trimmed it.

But if it comes up again, which it probably will, I would be ready with the by laws. I am sure there is nothing in the by laws that say anything about this. And then be ready with the actual property laws on who trims the tree. If the property laws state that the tree can be trimmed if it hangs over the neighbors property at the expense of the neighbor.

I would not offer to do anything else at your expense. If the neighbor wants to replace your trees at their expense and you agree sure go for it, but I would not be replacing trees that are totally on my property to accommodate the complainers.

Sometimes a letter from a lawyer can help in these kinds of situtions stating property law/ cease and desist, and they can be relatively inexpensive lets say a few hundred dollars. 

[BicycleBride]

Oct 3, 2024 13:18:00 GMT -5 googled said:

Omg your HOA should not even be involved, that’s ridiculous. I would toss the letter and call it a day.

She should have told them to go jump in a lake but she was actually really nice when she approached me and quickly agreed with me that their pool did not trump our tree. I’m going to give the HOA a pass on this one.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

We are also Tree neighbors with Pool neighbors, and I feel your pain! We have a row of birches along the back of the property line (about 6 feet into our yard). Ever since we moved in, our neighbors have been bitching about the trees and we get a shitty note in our mailbox every couple of years complaining. It got worse when they got a pool a few years ago. We have trimmed the trees every year or two, and they trimmed the branches back to the property line on their side a few years back. This summer, we got a note in our mailbox (addressed to the wrong names, mind you) asking why we didn't trim the branches back on their side of the property when we had them trimmed a couple of weeks earlier, complained about having to do things like clean their gutters and maintain their yard, and said they had to prematurely replace their pump & pool filter because of our trees. (Maybe try...skimming your pool? Also, there is a pine tree right next to the pool, and those pine needles are no joke.) They also claimed that the tree company they had out years ago said the trees were definitely unhealthy (the first we heard of this), and their insurance company recommended they ask us to remove the trees before pursuing legal action. Oh and that they are scared for their children to play in the backyard because what if a tree fell on them? (Never mind what we ALSO have a child who plays in the backyard.)
I ended up calling a lawyer who confirmed we didn't have to do shit, and that MA law is very clear, but we did get an arborist out to do an assessment ($$$) so we have documentation in case they try to pull something down the road. They also throw the leaves they rake up and their pool skimmings over our fence, so we are not inclined to engage with them on any level or give them an inch. Especially not when it comes to spending thousands of dollars to remove healthy trees! In short, (or not) they are the worst, and I'm sorry you also have Pool Neighbors to deal with.

[timorousbeastie]

Speaking as a pool owner who gets irrationally annoyed by all the cotton flying in the pool every spring… it’s the pool owner’s problem, not the tree owner. Pool owner needs to get a skimmer sock and replace it every day during cotton season. That completely solved our filter issues. Some parts of pool ownership are annoying; that doesn’t make it anyone else’s problem.

And really, with as much as the cotton flies all over the place, cotton could be getting into their pool from trees quite a distance away. Even if you cut down your trees, they would likely still be dealing with the same issue.

[ssmjlm]

They just need to add a skimmer sock to their basket. We have one because of the dog's fur.

It sounds like they may not be the best pool owners to understand how to maintain the pool day to day.

[cville]

I am pool neighbor and I paid to have tree neighbor's trees trimmed, after getting their permission, and only the parts of the tree we have legal rights to cut (i.e., over our property line).

Even though their goddamned unkempt trees have knocked over multiple parts of our fence. Which I also pay to repair.

Because I'm not an asshole.

[missva]

Just popping in as a pool owner to ask what kind of pool cover are you guys referring to that you can just pop on? Ours in a once a year thing that takes several men to install. Are you talking about a built in retractable one?

Regardless - Team Tree family. These people obviously built or bought a pool near a tree, so nothing tree owner has responsibility for.

[jlt19]

We used to have a pool and our yard backed up to pine trees. There were times where it looked like pine cone sized pieces of pollen would fall. I never once considered talking to the neighbors about it.

A skimmer sock, daily top skimming (for needles) and using the “hands free” vacuum a few times a week was necessary during those times.

[Jalapeñomel]

Pools are expensive. Sorry 🤷‍♀️

[CrazyLucky]

I'm a tree neighbor with a shed neighbor. Shed neighbor is mad that the shade provided by my tree makes his shed get mossy/mildewy and he asked us to trim it back. We looked into it and it was $600. Legally, we have no obligation to trim the tree as long as it isn't diseased. He gave DH a big guilt trip about it. "As one scout leader to another, I would like to think you'd do the right thing." Shed neighbor is on the HOA board and when we applied to put up a fence, they agreed to the fence, but asked when we were planning to cut the tree back. This spring we were doing some landscaping and went ahead and had the tree trimmed. This is the only time we will do it because he's an ass and because it's expensive. While they were cutting the tree, he was out there trying to get them to cut more and more back. Luckily, they were like, "Fuck off, you're not the customer."
I don't see how tree debris is causing the filter issue. The point of the filter is to filter out debris. Is she just saying it's so much debris that it clogs the filter?

[rachers]

Like forever will I pick keeping a live tree over pool maintenance that is totally on them.

Although slightly hypocrite because we had a Bradford pear tree that we hated and the day it got struck by lightning and fell over..I was so happy.

[icedcoffee]

Honestly, THEY should have paid to trim them. We live close to a pool neighbor, they approached us about taking down a tree because it blocked sun. They said they'd pay for it so we agreed. They sent a legit tree crew to remove the tree and even temporarily removed their fence in order to not even walk on our property to remove it. THAT is how you handle a tree you don't like if you're a pool owner.

I'd send them a note that if they want to remove the trees at their cost they are welcome to (unless you are over them at this point and want to keep the trees, it's totally your right).

[cmeon]

This is why pool enclosures exist. I honestly don't understand why they aren't more common nationwide.

[fernweh]

Oct 3, 2024 14:05:11 GMT -5 missva said:

Just popping in as a pool owner to ask what kind of pool cover are you guys referring to that you can just pop on? Ours in a once a year thing that takes several men to install. Are you talking about a built in retractable one?

Regardless - Team Tree family. These people obviously built or bought a pool near a tree, so nothing tree owner has responsibility for.

I assume a solar cover. We have one on a reel and it gets removed/put back on whenever we use/are done using the pool.