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davidmcn

What does his tenancy agreement say about the garden?

HampshireH

All Housing Associations I have worked for and with would say the same.

Most tenancy agreements states tenants responsibility for the garden and this would include anything in it - including trees.

Tenants are expected to be maintaining them routinely.

theoretica

Trees blocking the lights seems a cosmetic issue - if the trees were damaging the building and the tenants responsible for that I would think that odd and possibly short sighted of the landlord as it would be their building being damaged.  But the garden just not being how the tenant wants it? 

wilfred30

AskAsk said:

davidmcn said:

What does his tenancy agreement say about the garden?

i just checked and it states that tenants are responsible for 'gardening and trees' in their own gardens. 
but this seems very unfair as it is very expensive to remove and prune trees.

Well, unfair or not, there is your answer.  Could his family maybe club together to pay for the tree/s to be lopped?

Salemicus

AskAsk said:

davidmcn said:

What does his tenancy agreement say about the garden?

i just checked and it states that tenants are responsible for 'gardening and trees' in their own gardens. 
but this seems very unfair as it is very expensive to remove and prune trees.

Why is this unfair? Someone has to pay that cost. Your father freely signed up to the contract, and presumably that cost is reflected in the rent. It seems both sides preferred an arrangement where your father was responsible for the trees and paid a lower rent, to one where the HA was responsible, and your father paid a higher rent. This makes sense, because contracts usually put responsibilities on the party best positioned to address them. Your father is living in the property, and so more aware of the state of the trees, any damage/inconvenience they may be causing, etc, than the rather more remote officials of the association. 

"Expensive" is not a synonym for "someone else should pay."

[Deleted User]

Keep the tree! The world needs more of them. 

Anyway if it's taken down the house may become exposed to the neighbours' prying eyes.  It was probably planted for a reason.

Getting it pollarded should help with the light issue.

dimbo61

How long has Dad lived in the property?
Who planted trees close to the property.
Someone needs to cut them down and remove the stumps before they cause serious structural damage 

thegreenone

Firstly, please check if the local council whether there are Tree Preservation Orders on the trees.

Secondly, chopping them down completely could cause structural problems.  Please find a structural engineer and an independent (not HA rec.) tree surgeon.   It may help just to pollard to start with.

I'm sorry re money but if your Dad's tenancy agreement says he's financially responsible - he's financially responsible.  But if the trees can be pollarded gradually, it could help financially.

(My husband is a structural engineer and we are going through similar at my late Mother's flat).

comeandgo

AskAsk said:

dimbo61 said:

How long has Dad lived in the property?
Who planted trees close to the property.
Someone needs to cut them down and remove the stumps before they cause serious structural damage 

he has been there for many years and the trees have been there many years also.  i do not know where they come from but he didn't plant them.  i don't think they were there when he moved in so i wonder if trees can grow by themselves like weeds?

they are next to the walls and really they should not be that close to a property.

Off course trees can grow from seeds on their own, it’s up to the person who looks after the garden whether they stay or are pulled out.  Trees don’t cost much if you get them under control from the start.  As your dad has ignored them, they now will cost him but any further trees he will know to tackle as soon as he sees them.

brianposter

Nobody round your way uses firewood ?