Query about neighbouring trees!

[deezyb]

hi all - viewed a house last night, with a view to buy- had another drive by tonight...and realised that next door's garden has a large tree right at `my' boundary' - their house is about 30 yds from my house...the tree is def within their garden, but much much nearer `my' house ie 6 ft from my fence - tree is about 30ft high! Apart from the shade it causes which is not so much an issue, is the fact that it might topple in a storm onto my house which is nearer than theirs is!!...do i have any rights as it were to approach the neighbour to have the tree trimmed/removed.

Bearing in mind I'm still deciding about the house...I also want to make sure that I don't have any neighbour wars at a later date if I buy! I guess the roots of the tree may be an issue also....grapes advice requested!

D

[SarzWix]

Why would the tree topple? Lots don't! What sort of tree is it? Some are more prone to shallow roots/less stability than others. It also may have a Tree Preservation Order on it, in which case nobody can do anything to it without permission. And even if it doesn't, it's not going to endear you to them if the first thing you do as a new neighbour is ask them to cut their tree down

[lynda66]

if the tree is only 6 foot from your house you need to get a proper report, to make sure that the roots aren't damaging the foundations of your property, that sounds far too near such a big tree for it not to have done some damage.

[quark1]

I totally agree with Lynda - whilst the possibility of treefall 'may' damage your 'house' in the future - the main prospect for long-term damage would be the root invasion which could lead to subsidance by drying and possible invasive action upon your foundations. You also have to take into account what the weather conditions are liklely to be worst case scenario eg is is high and exposed or subject to flooding.

Defo get a survey if interested with particular focus on the tree. Also get insurance details to see what is covered should the 'worst' happen treefall/subsidance. It may be that like in a car crash you claim on your insurance and they fight it out with the neighbour's insurance for restitution.

If the tree looks in any way 'wobbly' I imagine that the householder would have a public liability should the tree not be kept in good, safe order. Possibly worth looking into.

A garden next to ours has a huge copper beech which would hit us if felled but I don't think the 'bulk' of the trunk would harm the property majorly.

[SarzWix]

6ft from the boundary/fence of the property, not 6ft from the actual house was what I thought was meant

[lynda66]

yeah but even then the fence could be 2 or 3 foot from the house, that only makes it 9 foot away, and very big trees tend to have a root system that is as big if not bigger than the diameter of the tree canopy, which could still make it a problem. If it's 30 foot away, then i'm sure it'll be fine wasn't quite sure of the distances.

[PAULW]

What sort of tree is it a conifer or broadleaf? how close to the house is it? Which way is the prevailing wind does it blow through the tree towards the house,

[deezyb]

hi all thanks for the comments - very useful! Don't know what sort of tree exactly (not a conifer though), but am going back for another viewing on Tuesday evening, so will post more information re. the tree and more information if there is any!

Thanks, D