Bank want tree removed before mortgage

zaphan58
zaphan58 Posts: 28 Forumite
in Mortgages & endowments
HI all, I am in the process of buying a house. I had a homebuyer report done on it which highlighted a small tree planted very close to the house. The bank (TSB) then requested a arboricultural report on all the trees on the property which I had done at my expense. The tree report again brought up the tree with a recommendation the tree is removed to avoid potential damage to the house down the line, also pointing out the tree is unstable. TSB now want this done, along with proof it has been done before they will revise the valuation and proceed with the mortgage.

Is it reasonable for me to request the seller has the tree removed? The house is empty so I doubt they will care about loosing the tree. But from a cost point of view I have already paid out hundreds for the reports and don't want to pay to remove a tree to a house I don't yet own. Yet I can see they may think it is my problem? :huh:

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 35,242 Forumite
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    You can request it. They may or may accept though.

    I would expect their initial reaction to be that you need to pay for it, but it depends on how desperate they are to keep the sale.
  • Amst
    Amst Posts: 141 Forumite
    As mentioned above it will depend on who is more desperate - you to buy, or them to sell.

    They should be savvy enough to realise if they remarket the property they will encounter this with the next buyer and it won't go away so it may be in their best interests to remove it to make the house more attractive from a security point of view to a lender.
  • amnblog
    amnblog Posts: 12,433 Forumite
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    It’s their problem if it makes the property unmortgagable. Why should you pay?
    I am a Mortgage Broker

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  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 46,945 Ambassador
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    You could ask the lender if they would agree to proceed based on you signing an undertaking to removing the tree within 3 months of your completion. That is what our lender requested of us when we bought.
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  • societys_child
    societys_child Posts: 7,110 Forumite
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    a small tree planted very close to the house
    How big is a "small" tree?


    What does a saw and a sachet of stump killer cost, or am I missing something?
  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 28,848 Ambassador
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    As above, how small is small 10ft/20ft/30ft ??


    If its less than 20ft tall, a competant person with a ladder and a chainsaw can remove it quite easily in an afternoon for very little cost, of course if its much bigger than that, a tree surgeon will be required.
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  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 116,316 Forumite
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    Is it reasonable for me to request the seller has the tree removed?

    Absolutely yes. This is very routine.
    But from a cost point of view I have already paid out hundreds for the reports and don't want to pay to remove a tree to a house I don't yet own.

    You don't pay for it. The vendor does. Unless the vendor refuses to pay for it and you then decide if you want to pay for it and proceed.

    When buying our place, our vendor had to pay over £5000 for various things to get resolved. They wanted the sale. They paid for it.

    Day rate on a tree surgeon is around £360.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
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