Cherry Tree - safe distance from building

[MatthewE1]

Hi,
I'm hoping someone can help - i'm a first time buyer and think we've found a house for our family - only trouble is there's a cherry tree in the back garden. The trunk is 1.1m thick and it stands about 5m tall and is 9.6 m from the back of the house (small-ish size garden) and there's a brick shed about 3m away from the tree.
Is the tree likely to cause any issues? I'm trying to locate a local abhorist to confirm so that would be another potential request for advice - in the Bromley/SE London area.
Thanks

[Beardie]

1.1m thick?

 

REALLY??

 

 That's awfully thick for a cherry, especially as it's only 5m tall. More likely it's 1.1m girth, which would make it about 35cm thick. A picture would be amazing.

 

Anyway, the most likely way for a tree to cause damage is through 'heave' resulting from the roots drawing water from near the foundations. You only get that with clay soils, and even then 9m is a very long way for roots to go. I reckon you'll be OK.

[AHPP]

Estate agents are morons who can't use tape measures.

[eggsarascal]

2 hours ago, AHPP said:

Estate agents are morons who can't use tape measures.

I don't think estate agents use tape measures as a rule.

[Chris at eden]

12 hours ago, Beardie said:

 

 

Anyway, the most likely way for a tree to cause damage is through 'heave' resulting from the roots drawing water from near the foundations.

You can't get heave from trees drawing moisture from foundations, that would result in subsidence if conditions are right.  You can only get heave if there is a pre-existing soil moisture deficit and you then remove the tree leading to an increase in soil moisture content and subsequent swelling of a shrinkable clay soil.   Subsidence is a lot more common than heave.      

12 hours ago, Beardie said:

You only get that with clay soils,

Not all clay soils are shrinkable but the site in in London so there is a good chance it is shrinkable. 

12 hours ago, Beardie said:

and even then 9m is a very long way for roots to go. I reckon you'll be OK.

It depends on the type of cherry.  Zone of influence for a wild cherry is 12.75m so 9m isn't a long way. 

 

The concerns of the OP are justified in my opinion, I would recommend getting a tree report to identify risk, the mortgage company will probably insist on it.   You would need a lot more info to make an informed decision or even an educated guess.  

 

[AJStrees]

do you have a picture?

[Terry_Richt]

I don't think you will have issues down the road, would be a shame to get rid of it anyway.