Unknown Tree Owner

[Chipperclown]

I have just done a quote on a tree in no mans land! Council won't take responsibly and say it's the Waterboards tree and the same the other way round. The potenial customer wants the tree to be pollarded. I am not particularly fussed if I do the work or not to be honest, however I would appreciate and advice please as this is a first for me.

[Anno]

Do a Land search, cost it into the job, find definitive owner and crack on?

 

Fees about £2.

[Paul in the woods]

Does the potential customer not know who owns the tree?

As has been said, a land search from the Land Registry may show. https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

 

Note, not all property is registered, about 20% isn't. Also note, despite what you may be told all property is owned by someone.

 

The unregistered land is likely to have not been sold for many years so it could be hard to track down who owns it. The Land Registry does provide advice on this.

 

I have also found councils can be selective when it comes to ownership, it's there's when it suits and not there's when they need to do something.

 

Even if you get plans they may not be definitive as a line on a map is only a guide to a boundary.

 

Could you get agreement that they do not object to the work assuming your potential customer is going to pay for the work.

[Paddy1000111]

Who's paying? If it's the customer then I would do it. If the waterboard ask then say you're working for the council or vice versa 😂. 

In all honesty land search it but work out who's paying first. If either of them own it, it will/may be a solid no and then you're out of pocket for not just the search fee but more importantly your time and fuel arranging nothing and basically being a free surveyor

[woody paul]

Why should he do the search, it's the person how wants work done job then contact him with all the right paperwork saying permission has been granted. 

If both parties agree work can be done just crack on with it. 

[Mick Dempsey]

If you’re not fussed about doing the work, walk away.

If you need the work (and I have been in this situation before) and everyone is washing their hands of it, I’d just do it.

[woody paul]

10 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

If you’re not fussed about doing the work, walk away.

If you need the work (and I have been in this situation before) and everyone is washing their hands of it, I’d just do it.

Saturday afternoon or Sunday no sign written truck 🤫

[Chipperclown]

Yep I kind agree with u Mick to be honest. More than happy to walk away, slightly less happy to do the work. My plan is/has been to put in a high quote, make it worth my while and then, as now advised try a land search as I didn't know about this and see what the outcome may be.

[Paddy1000111]

Or you charge for consultancy? You can't always say to a customer to do all the leg work and you just do cutting. You could explain the situation and the cost and charge say £40/£50 for doing the land search etc with the agreement that it gets knocked off the final price if they go ahead? Sure as hell beats working for free 

[Pete Mctree]

If the land registry draws a blank, quietly claim the land - it’s valuable cos they don’t make it anymore 😉