Extremely tall trees overlooking property we're purchasing

fackers_2

Hello! There's an extremely large tree overlooking a property we're purchasing that sits on the neighbours land. This is around 10 meters from the property. The tree is roughly 80 meters tall, if not more. We're a little concerned by this tree after speaking with the surveyors and insurance company. 

Has anyone gone through this recently (last post I can find is a few years old)? What's the process, because it's on private land, do we get to have some say? etc

theoretica

Congratulations, you have found the tallest tree in the UK by quite some margin.

What are you actually worried about - is that specific tree in poor health?  House foundations wrong for being near it?

FreeBear

An 80 metre tall tree would be a new record for the UK. Currently, the tallest trees in the UK are around 64m tall (Douglas Fir growing near Inverness). Perhaps you meant 80 feet (24m) - Still a substantial tree.

Do you know what species this tree is ?

[Deleted User]

Nutcombe Bottom is home to England’s tallest tree, which has been growing here since 1876 and was 60.05 metres when it was last measured in 2009. It also has a trunk estimated to weigh 50 tonnes with a diameter of 1.74 metres.
c/o Forestry England.

If you're concerned about the neighbours before you even move in, perhaps it's not the property for you?

oldernonethewiser

fackers_2 said:

Hello! There's an extremely large tree overlooking a property we're purchasing that sits on the neighbours land. This is around 10 meters from the property. The tree is roughly 80 meters tall, if not more. We're a little concerned by this tree after speaking with the surveyors and insurance company. 

Has anyone gone through this recently (last post I can find is a few years old)? What's the process, because it's on private land, do we get to have some say? etc

Did either of them have concerns and if so what were they?

lincroft1710

If it's on private land there is nothing you can do about it, other than cut any branches which overhang your land (but you must offer the branches back to the neighbour).


However if the local council deem the tree is dangerous, they can order the neighbour to prune it or remove it, which if the neighbour fails to do, the council will do and charge the neighbour for the privilege.


Do you know if the tree is the subject of a Tree Preservation Order.


Personally I would never buy any house with a tall tree so close to it. .

housebuyer143

Massive oak tree next to mine on neighbors land... It's about 7m away and while it looks fine the branches will be too close in a few years. It's basically so far from the owners house they are unlikely to do anything about it. Not sure what happens then especially as the tree needs planning permission to be trimmed 🙄 

MultiFuelBurner

We have a neighbours apple tree, hugely out of control and producing 1000's of unmatured fruit as it has never been trimmed back to produce decent mature fruit.

Hangs over and dumps a huge amount of wasp attracting fruit onto one of the patio areas.

The neighbours don't care so will will get the long ladders out, chol the overhanging branches and offer them back.

Annoying but not the end of the world.

Alderbank

...and it's not just the branches of the tree, the 'crown', but the roots as well.

When I built a brick garage, Building Control made me dig the foundations extra deep because my neighbour had ash trees several metres away.

As with branches you are allowed to dig down to any roots on your side of the boundary and chop them back but with a hefty mature tree good luck with that!

TheJP

Do a insurance comparison quote against the house including the tress and one excluding the trees. Draw you conclusion from there.  

theoretica

Alderbank said:

As with branches you are allowed to dig down to any roots on your side of the boundary and chop them back but with a hefty mature tree good luck with that!

But in both cases - roots and branches - you are responsible if you cause additional damage to the tree - eg it blows over because it is missing roots or unbalanced or catches a disease through untreated cuts.  For a large tree, and especially one you are concerned may cause damage as is, getting a tree surgeon in with liability insurance rather than DIY would be sensible.