Pine trees close to property

planemad

A survey I have had done recently on a property has told me that there are pine trees in the house behind my prospective purchase.

The pine trees are 40ft from my house building and sit in someone elses garden so that they cannot be overlooked.

Could these trees do damage to the property they are currently around 20ft high.

I have spoke to the next door neighbour of my prospective purchase and they have said that the owners of the trees do cut them down yearly, he did go on to say that they suck his garden dry and he really has to water it.

What do you guys think.

SquatNow

Plenty more houses out there.

If you arn't 100% sure about a house, just walk away.

poppysarah

Pine trees? Do you mean fats growing conifers? Did you not see them?

40ft is quite a way. What do the sellers say? Do they have to water the garden?

ariba10

I think its a case of the people doing the survey covering their backside.

planemad

poppysarah wrote: »

Pine trees? Do you mean fats growing conifers? Did you not see them?

40ft is quite a way. What do the sellers say? Do they have to water the garden?

Yes conifers, they are not all that tall at the moment around 15-20ft high but there is a conifer tree about 100m away which is really high I know that this one will not affect my proposed purchase but this is how high they can grow and if the next people who own the property with the conifer trees neglect to trim them then my property will be at risk from being damaged by roots.

Yes gardens are as dry as a bone.

Davesnave

There's more to consider. I think you mean leylandii, which can get pretty big if someone doesn't prune them; like 60' big, and more. Leylandii roots won't reach your property, but they sure take water & nutrients out of the soil. Consider drain runs too.

Leylandii planted on boundaries can be made subject to a pruning order from the council if they can be shown to cause a nuisance, such as restricting light. However the complainant must put money up front for this & it isn't straightforward:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4596685.stm

Poppysarah thinks 40' is quite a way. My MIL has leylandii relatives 150' away that take the sunlight from her garden at around 4pm in August.

Without seeing the site and knowing you, there is no definitive answer, but be wary if they are between the normal path of the sun and your property.

SquatNow

poppysarah wrote: »

Do they have to water the garden?

A sharp spade and a good days digging (ideally with friends and beer) will solve any root problems.

Drop in some old paving slabs placed upright underground just near the fence before you fill back in again to prevent the roots coming back.

guppy

If they are high enough to interfere with your enjoyment of the property, look here:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/treeshighhedges/highhedges/overviewhedges/

andrewmp

I've just bought a house with a 24 foot tall coniffer 3 meters from the house.

The surveyer didn't mention much about it and said it showed no signs of damage. Would I be better off getting it removed?

TomsMom

andrewmp wrote: »

I've just bought a house with a 24 foot tall coniffer 3 meters from the house.

The surveyer didn't mention much about it and said it showed no signs of damage. Would I be better off getting it removed?

3 metres away = approx 10ft from your house. Tree is 24ft tall. Conifers are shallow rooted.

Worst scenario - storm or car crashes into tree causing it to fall towards your house. Tree is 14ft longer than the gap between it's base and your house. Oops - tree hits roof and causes slight/some/much damage.

For me it's a no brainer. I can't understand why the surveyor didn't mention the close proximity of this tree to your house. I left my job in a building society surveyor's office 15 years ago and this sort of thing was mentioned as a matter of course way back then.

Also check your buildings insurance policy, it may make some reference to trees and close proximity.

andrewmp

TomsMom wrote: »

3 metres away = approx 10ft from your house. Tree is 24ft tall. Conifers are shallow rooted.

Worst scenario - storm or car crashes into tree causing it to fall towards your house. Tree is 14ft longer than the gap between it's base and your house. Oops - tree hits roof and causes slight/some/much damage.

For me it's a no brainer. I can't understand why the surveyor didn't mention the close proximity of this tree to your house. I left my job in a building society surveyor's office 15 years ago and this sort of thing was mentioned as a matter of course way back then.

Also check your buildings insurance policy, it may make some reference to trees and close proximity.

The close proximity was mentioned in the survey, they just didn't give any action points relating to it other than to keep it trimmed or something. The odds of a car going into it are very low as it's in the back garden.

How much would it cost to remove such a tree?