Rhode Island homeowner discovers neighbor has been secretly clearing trees on their property for years to improve the view, then gets confronted after placing tree stumps there: 'They had the audacity to say something'

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Rhode Island homeowners meet with a real estate professional while discussing property ownership and boundary concerns.
I recently decided to expand my yard and cut paths to access my whole property. In doing so I found out my neighbor has been cutting down my wooded area trees/plants so they could have a better view.
I then put some tree stumps back there that I dug out with an excavator (since the area was already cleared) which they can now see and they had the audacity to come say something to me about it.
They claim my wife's grandfather who was the previous owner used to hire a guy to come trim the land back there, he d d in 2016. My wife and I have owned the property now 5 years and no one has asked us for permission to trim anything.
The property was heavily wooded and we simply couldn't access the back of it until I decided to expand. There's no written agreement or deeded access to that land to anyone.
I've spoken to the neighbors and told them to not trim or cut anything on my property anymore, but there's something about these people I just don't trust. I've already installed trail cameras but my gut is telling me to speak to an attorney and maybe get my land surveyed. Any advice is appreciated. Location: Rhode Island
Large mature trees stand along the edge of a residential property.
lost-cannuck Get your lawyer to write a cease and desist letter so it is formally documented they are not to tresspass/disrupt the land. Was the land surveyed when you purchased it? Might be wise to get the border clearly marked.
Learning AboutJDM Not a lawyer, but I am a surveyor. Get a survey. It isn't cheap but it immediately gives you ground to stand on because you can confidently say you know exactly where your land is.
fastidiousavocado Make sure you have boundaries clearly marked and the required signage with the correct verbiage for your area posted as "no trespassing." Always post more than one sign, but make sure you are posting as many as are required by your locality.
TeachStock773 Put in a fence along the boundary line with their property once you have the survey done.
TeachStock773 Send them a bill to replace the trees they cut down. Have a lawyer do it and have tell them to cease and desist from trespassing and doing damage to your property. This should hopefully scare them from cutting more trees. Also replant trees near where they cut the others.
CleanSignalLab Yeah, get the survey before this turns into a boundary argument. Rhode Island law can make someone pay double the value of trees and triple the value of wood or undergrowth they cut on another person's land without permission, so this is worth documenting properly. Keep the trail cams, take photos of every cleared area, and talk to a real- estate attorney and an arborist before the evidence disappears.
Maduro_sticks_allday Anyone who would touch your land without asking is not to be trusted. Chances are, anyone who leads with lack of respect over personal ownership will not stop just because you ask them to.
General Banana8074 In my state if a person maintains a piece of property for 7 consecutive years they now own that piece. I forget what it's called however it's totally legal I have been witness to it
TorpidProfessor be wary of an adverse possession claim, read up on it in your area, get a lawyer to help if it's within budget.
ValBGood Be careful, this actually happened to a property locally where the owner of a smaller property did similar things on an adjacent property that was only occupied seasonally. When the family owning the larger seasonal property took up residence full time, their neighbor took them to court claiming a large area theirs because they were "maintaining" it.
A landscaped backyard garden showcases mature trees, shrubs, and plants that can become the focus of neighbor property disputes.
88mistymage88 I'd check on google earth if there are any pictures of your land then and now. I can go back as far as 2021.
KingJeffrey 13 You need to be careful. There are laws in certain states where the neighbor can somehow take a portion of your land if it's unclaimed by you. Find your property lines and clearly mark them visibility. Put signs up and document and take photos. I used to be a small developer.

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