Tree Removal

MrsArtyFarty

Sorry that this is in the wrong section.
We are in the process of buying our ground floor council maisonette with the intention of extending. One thing that will potentially affect our plan is a huge conifer in the garden behind ours; it is situated at the corner of that garden, and affects three other gardens (including ours). It sheds a lot and its roots are causing our current shed and fence to go lop sided. Plus its shedded needles have collected in the gap between the shed and the fence over the years and created quite a solid bulk that's pushing the shed over.
As we would like to extend quite close to that boundary and build a new shed, we are quite keen to have this tree taken down. One Tree surgeon has quoted £650. Would it be reasonable to ask the other neighbours to help pay for this? We are the most affected by the tree and probably have most to gain of it were gone. Two of the gardens (including the owner of the tree) are satellite gardens belonging to upstairs flats and the third neighbour has only complained about the trees mess.
We've spoken to the people living upstairs (tree owners or renting from the tree's owner) and they have no objection to getting rid of the tree however we have not yet discussed price or their contribution.
Property where the tree is situated is privately owned.
Who should pay for the tree's removal.

moneyistooshorttomention

Think you might rephrase the question - as to "Who should pay for the tree removal?" - as the answer is obviously "the owner of the tree".

It might be more accurate to say "I'm prepared to cover some of the owners costs for them - is there any chance of getting other people to chip in towards the owners bill as well?"

Good luck with getting this resolved. Some tree-owners can be very selfish about the impact their trees are having on other people (but then we live in a society where calling selfish people "selfish" seems to be rather rare at the moment....).

tim123456789

MrsArtyFarty wrote: »

Sorry that this is in the wrong section.

We've spoken to the people living upstairs (tree owners or renting from the tree's owner) and they have no objection to getting rid of the tree .

If they are only the tenants then their opinion as to whether the tree can be taken down is worthless.

they can't give permission for the owner and if you act on the basis that they have you could be on the wrong end of a criminal charge.

tim

Davesnave

MrsArtyFarty wrote: »

We've spoken to the people living upstairs (tree owners or renting from the tree's owner) and they have no objection to getting rid of the tree however we have not yet discussed price or their contribution.

Unless this is clarified, no one can be sure if the tree can, or will be, removed.

Even if they own the tree and allow its removal, you will have no right to ask for any contribution towards this. You neighbours might or might not contribute, but people often agree to something and then have second thoughts where a voluntary contribution is involved!

You have only the right to trim the tree where it overhangs your boundary, and even then you ought to offer the trimmings to the owner.

moneyistooshorttomention

Actually - you are also entitled not to have the roots of a neighbouring tree on your property either.

The situation is very straightforward re trimmings of a tree branches protruding on your land - the right to trim them off back to the boundary, but the duty to hand those trimmings back is indeed true.

It's a bit more problematic re tree roots - but certainly no "strangers" tree can have its roots on your property either. You just have to be more careful how you go about dealing with that (something to do with there might be problems if the tree gets destabilised if it actually "needs" that section of the roots to stay upright in place if I recall aright....??).

It would be helpful if someone knows exact info. they can quote about what can and cant be done re roots on your land - I think its deemed acceptable to put a barrier down into the ground at the boundary edge of your land and then chop off the roots that come into your garden after the barrier??

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

It would be helpful if someone knows exact info. they can quote about what can and cant be done re roots on your land - I think its deemed acceptable to put a barrier down into the ground at the boundary edge of your land and then chop off the roots that come into your garden after the barrier??

I'm busy, but you could always do the research, rather than surmise!

http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/

moneyistooshorttomention

I've done quite a lot of research recently on that website (amongst others) - so cant quote chapter and verse - but the general gist re the roots is about right.

OP might well like to check out that forum and see the exact position re the tree roots though.