House insurance on a property with a tree with a TPO

ragdoll

Have also posted this on the insurance board but wondering if anybody on here can help.

Am looking to buy a house with two trees in the garden with TPO's on them, having spoken to the council they say that we would need to tell any insurance company.

Just wondering if anybody has a tree with a TPO and how it affects the cost of their policy and would it be likely that under the terms of the policy the tree would have to have yearly inspections by a tree surgeon.

Thanks

lolarentt

I live in a conservation area and we are not (officially) allowed to prune, lop or in any way hack at trees on the property land. There are 2 giant pines and a number of other fir and deciduous trees. We have to obtain planning permission for any tree pruning, which we did last year to have one of the large birches pruned. This doesn't affect insurance in any way. I don't know how different it is with tree preservation orders on specific trees though

Debt_Free_Chick

I can't imagine how it would affect insurance.

As lolarentt says .... work is supervised by the Council and if you deliberately ignore the rules e.g. go ahead and chop the tree down, I doubt any insurance would cover you anyway.

Odd ....

brazilianwax

We have trees with TPOs and have never had to inform any insurer about it!

The only thing I can think that you might need to declare would be if they are particularly close to your house!

Careful_with_that_Axe

It is possible, that as part of the conveyancing process, you would be asked to arrange for an Arborist to inspect the trees and supply a report on the likelihood of any likely/existing damage to the property and its' stability by either the trees, their roots, or the effect of their root system on the surrounding soil. This could possibly be requested by the prospective mortager or the insurance company.

It shouldn't be any problem at all. Good luck!

ragdoll

Thanks for the replies, it was the conservation department of the council who said about telling the insurance company. I was assuming that as the home owner is fully responsible for the trees they would need to be specifically covered by insurance in case they fell and caused damage to other property especially as one is next to a road.

Debt_Free_Chick

ragdoll wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, it was the conservation department of the council who said about telling the insurance company. I was assuming that as the home owner is fully responsible for the trees they would need to be specifically covered by insurance in case they fell and caused damage to other property especially as one is next to a road.

Even without a TPO any standard insurance would cover you for this anyway. But - with all insurance - you need to ensure that normal, routine maintenance is carried out. And you need permission from the Tree Officer at the Council for that.