insurance company want tree removed

[bolla]

i have been asked to quote for removal of a Plane tree with TPO in the rear garden of a property the tree is 16 meters from the rear of the property

The property has subsidence at the front of the building, part of the the front was underpined in 2004 using helipiles

The property is moving again and cracks appeared at the front

The householders insurance company sent a tree consultant to carry out a report they made some bore holes discovered some roots and recommend the Plane tree is removed

The house holders insurance company dont cover the cost of the tree removal 

I find it hard to belive a Plane tree 16 meters from the rear of the property could cause subsidence at the front of a property that has been underpined in 2004

 

The council still have to make a decision ,but I dont think they will argue

 

My feeling is the insurance claim the tree is causing the problem , house owners pays to remove tree , cracks are patched up house moves again in a couple of years but house may have a different owner and insurance company so insurance company are just buying time

 

what are the options of getting a second opinion on the cause of the subsidence that the insurance company will accept?

Do you just have to go with what they and there consultant tell you?

 

[Ian C]

Just get on with it and get paid! The tree consultant is the guy calling the shots and the one who is making the recommendations

[Gary Prentice]

As Ian said, the consultant will have a lot more information than you've said to base their decision on.

 

It's not that uncommon either for issues to occur after partial underpinning, one part of the foundation is 'fixed' in place and other parts may be suffering normal seasonal movement on a soil with a high PI. 

 

Depending on the size of the tree, 16m may not be an overly great distance either. 

[Khriss]

Sounds like bad advice or bad practise in the first place.  'some roots' ain't necessarily contributory neither. K

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

It's often a process of elimination starting with the tree...sadly usually a much cheaper option than level monitoring over a period of time to better determine the actual cause (which of course may be the tree.)

 

Albeit exceptionally, but we I managed the tree stock in Cheltenham we had a similar situation but in reverse, i.e. (street) trees at the front causing damage at the back...and LPs.

 

Cheers,

Paul

 

 

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

I’d have thought it’d be for the TO to decide if he/she is suitably convinced by the case stated for application for removal. 

 

Attach report to application, press send. 

 

If yes - TPO app approved, remove tree, replant according to conditions, collect paycheque. 

 

If no - refer back to consultant for additional input required to justify removal. 

 

As for insurance company - you may be right.....