I have a freehold property but was told that I cant errect a fence/wall or take a tree down, why is this?
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if your property is in a conservation area you might well need planning permission. otherwise you can build a wall or fence provided it is no more then 2 metres in height. as far as i am aware the only trees that cannot be taken down are those that have a preservation order. go to your local planning office and ask them for advice. good luck!
Because you have to obtain permission from the planning department. Everybody has to.
You may be a freeholder, but you still have to abide by certain laws in the UK. In short, you need to seek planning permission if you are making any changes to your property.
It's annoying to have to go through all the red tape, but the laws were created to stop people from making outrageous changes to their property that would be likely to affect the neighbourhood.
Because you are expected to be a considerate neighbour - and for those who aren't, there are local planning regulations.
The most likely reason is because you live in a conservation area or a garden surburb and therefore all changes require planning permission.
If not then tree removal will still require planning permission but building a fence/wall less 6' high should be allowed unless your council has specific by-laws preventing it.
Walls and fences are usually covered by restrictive covenants. When your house and those around it were built, the deed transferring the land set out various restrictions on what you could do and who is responsible for which boundary. Some housing developments are built "open plan" so no-one is allowed to erect fences or walls - looks nice, but impractical. You can apply to the County Court to have the covenants removed, but everyone affected by them would have to agree (and there's bound to be someone who likes it as it is!)
The trees may also be covered by restrictive covenants if they are older than the house, or they may be subject to a local authority tree preservation order or conservation zone.
You can check on the restrictive covenants on your property by going to the Land Registry website. It'll cost you £2.
It would be more helpful for all concerned if you post a state/country in which this property is located in.
Different countries or states have different land codes.
If you live in a country where you follow the English land law system then chances are such a restriction is due to a restrictive covenant.
Otherwise it is due to the council by-law.
"old know all" is your best answer, couldn't have put it better myself, :-)
This all depends who is telling you that you cannot do these things. Is it the planning department which is assumed by some of those answering or is it covenants on your deeds or something else. Give me a clue and I will try to help - email me through this site or via the website below and I will give you some basic free advice if it is within my line of work.
The council have put a preservation order on them.
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