Fire damage

[Breezy1]

Hi I am looking for some info or advice, I have been asked to go and look at a row of Ash in a garden by a customer who bought the property a year ago. The trees have been exposed to fire damage and quite extensive from the ground up each stem to 5 - 6 metres, it looks to me that a shed was previously underneath the trees which has burnt down. Two of them had been reduced an all of them are in a bad way, Brackets loss of vigour/vitality apart from the two that have been reduced the existing ones approx 30 metres an in close proximity to the owner and neighbouring properties. I have told the owner they need to be removed as they could kill somebody or at least cause extensive damage. I asked if they had been told of the damage an poor health of the trees prior to purchase which was a No, the previous owner had erected a Bamboo screen attached to the trees to try and conceal the damage, now remembering that my customer cannot recognise if a tree is healthy or not and they have had a survey which did not pick up the trees but this damage must of occurred at least 5 years ago as they all beginning to rot out etc. My question is does my customer have any way of either pursue the cost from the house survey if a Full Survey or the previous owner as they have not mention or disclose the damage an the resulting condition of the trees that my customer are left with, Or will this be down to my customer/insurance as it clear the previous owner knew of the fire/damage and have reduced 2 which should of been cut down along with the others. Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank Ant

[jfc]

No idea. Get them to discuss with their solicitor, are you able to write a hazard survey report (ie are you 100% happy with your assessment/do you have survey quals and Professional Indemnity insurance)? Otherwise avoid/ask someone with PTI to do a report.  I'd generally avoid getting involved in this unless work is short or you like paperwork!

[Khriss]

And also get Fire brigade record on the damage, as in who what where, criminal act or silly accident? K

[Breezy1]

1 hour ago, jfc said:

No idea. Get them to discuss with their solicitor, are you able to write a hazard survey report (ie are you 100% happy with your assessment/do you have survey quals and Professional Indemnity insurance)? Otherwise avoid/ask someone with PTI to do a report.  I'd generally avoid getting involved in this unless work is short or you like paperwork!

That is what I was thinking, Yes I am qualified to write hazard reports/assessments I have PTI, it has 100% been missed by the building society survey, it in the hands of the building society as of now and solicitor, I have spoken to the TO this afternoon regarding them as hazard they in bad way. Cheers Ant

[Breezy1]

52 minutes ago, Khriss said:

And also get Fire brigade record on the damage, as in who what where, criminal act or silly accident? K

I have already spoken to them Shed fire 7 years ago Cheers Ant

[daveatdave]

looks' like a solicitor job i know the seller is supposed to inform the buyer if there is problems with neighbors and it looks like the seller has purposely covered things up  

[Paul in the woods]

Unless the owners specifically asked about the trees I doubt any claim against the previous owners would get any where. When I've sold both the estate agent and the solicitor have been very reluctant to pass on any comments I've had about the property.