Overhanging branches-council land

marc3

I appreciate the standard practice here is to lop back the branches-and give them back to the owner (council)

There is scrubland at back of our property(we are landlords ) with trees where the branches are substantially overhanging/encroaching our property -and now starting to cause our tenant distress.
of course-taken 6 years to reach this stage-and now tenant has brought it to our attention and wants it fixed in 24 hours !!.

the trees and offending branches are tall -so not a simple job to go and lop-needs proper professional job.

the tenant has also advised that the highest branches are touching overhead power lines ,whilst the lower ones touch the metal washing line.

I imagine it will depend on individual councils-but has anyone any experience of this where the conventional approach of i chop and throw back, is circumvented/ different because of the potential danger and the fact that the trees are on council land,and are big big trees-as opposed to a 'domestic' variety !

what does the team know/advise know ?

thanks

martin.cat

If there are touching or near overhead power lines contact the network operator. They will sort it for you.
You obviously can't go near
I have a set of poles with a saw / cutter attachment to keep the woodland in check behind me

AdrianC

martin.cat wrote: »

If there are touching or near overhead power lines contact the network operator. They will sort it for you.

This. With (alarm) bells on.

Nobody reputable will trim a tree that's close to power lines. They'll advise you to contact the network operator (NOT the electric firm whose bill you pay).

What voltage the lines are will define the minimum clearance - for LV (240/415v), they aim for 3m clearance, with a minimum of 1m, enforcable by court order if the land owner refuses. For HV (to the transformer, usually 11kV), it's 5m and 3m. They'll take the tree down completely if they can, because it means they don't need to return in a few years to haircut it again. But, obviously, if it's on council land, they're the owners of the tree so need to be involved.

We've had 20 tall spindly rubbish trees down this year for free, and another 5 to go, courtesy of Western Power... whilst they moved next door's supply underground (we only needed dig the trench) because we wouldn't let 'em take a limb off an oak.

Pete9501

The council will likely have an Arborist. Founds ours quite approachable when we needed network rail to take down a tree with a tree preservation order on it.

thesaint

Tell the tenant to contact the council.
Do not take this on.

G_M

thesaint wrote: »

Tell the tenant to contact the council.
Do not take this on.

No. DO take this on. It's your property so keep it well-maintained and safe.

My electricity network operator periodically inspects the lane, and every few years turns off the power for a day while their arborists cut back all trees near the power cables.

Trees near a power cable (bear in mind in wind the branches move!) can cause damage and power outages. I'm sure if you contact them, they cut them back from the power cables.

Slip the contractors the price of a few beers and they'll cut the trees back further than they would for strictly electrical safety reasons.

If that fails, ask the council to inspect and cut back.

Meanwhile, manage your tenant's expectations - this will not happen overnight.

thesaint

G_M wrote: »

No. DO take this on. It's your property so keep it well-maintained and safe.

It is evident that the tenant is being precious.

If the landlord has got nothing better to do with their time, then they should follow your suggestion.

TBagpuss

Contact the council and the electricity network. Let your tenants know that you have done so.

In the mean time, consider going (or sending someone) to cut back the smaller branches which are obstructing the washing line, and make sure that the tenant knows that this is a short term measure while you wait for the council to deal with their trees.

If the council is slow, it is worth writing to them and giving them a deadline, e.g. asking them to respond within 14 days with a definite timescale within which they will deal with the trees. Mention that the overhanging trees are causing a nuisance and that you believe that they are causing a potential danger due to the power lines.

marc3

thanks for replies.

to be fair-local council have responded quickly-albeit thety have said the lower brances are our problem (yep-i know they are strictly correct )even though the lower branches are quite high and need a 'professional lopper'

the council also bear out the above that it is the power distribution company (got to find out who that is ) responsible for the upper branches,(good idea to see if council and power distribution company will allow whole tree to be felled )