Tree on pathway causing subsidence

[TomCulley101]

Hi folks. First poster here and wondered if anyone could advise.

 

We've been in our new home for nearly two years now and over the last 6 months we've noticed some cracks appearing in our house and some disturbance to the ground outside our house.

 

Having spoken to the neighbors they pointed out that this is likely coming from the tree outside our properties as they had been seeing similar damage to their home, and said that they had been onto the council for a number of years and had essentially been ignored.

 

The tree has already distrubed the recent pathway tarmacing that the council have done, and the cracks along the pathway and across my walkway match up to the direction of growth of the roots. The tree is also higher than our houses.

 

This morning I reached out to our local councilor and also the planning and reg department to try and get some kind of response from them. I also called this morning and was told that they will likely not respond until I get some kind of survey on the tree to officially link the damage in our property to the tree growth. 

 

I just wondered if anyone can advise on this and if the council's response sounds right here? I have building insurance but my girlfriend was a little concerned about notifying them because it might put our premiums up, but I'm of the view that this is the sort of situation where you use it to make sure that we're covered should there be any further damage.

 

Any advice would be great.

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

One for your house insurers and/or a structural engineer to investigate and correctly establish the actual cause of the damage / cracking, probably involving a period of monitoring, as trees are often an easy target...but not always responsible.

 

Good luck..  

[daltontrees]

Let insurers deal with it and involve them as soon as possible.

Keep notes and dates of all discussions and events and dated photographs.

Also I suggest notifying your purchasing solicitor, as the previous owners may have had knowledge of the issues and may have been under an obligation to disclose them. If nothing else they should check your purchase survey report.

 

The Council's position is generally right but you don't know the history. In any event, a tree report would be better commissioned by your insurers. Your girlfriend's concerns are irrational. Not claiming on insurance makes no sense. Not disclosing stuff to insurers could invalidate your insurance.

 

Is it going to get better all by itself? Is it going to go a way? No? Start doing something about it.

[Mark Bolam]

2 hours ago, daltontrees said:

Your girlfriend's concerns are irrational. 

 

This could apply to all of us for pretty much every situation.

[Stubby]

What's " reach out " FFS ? Do you mean you contacted them ?

[daltontrees]

47 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

 

This could apply to all of us for pretty much every situation.

Yes my comment had a target painted on it. But let's stick to her reluctance to incur higher insurance premia...

[john87]

On 02/01/2024 at 11:56, TomCulley101 said:

Hi folks. First poster here and wondered if anyone could advise.

 

We've been in our new home for nearly two years now and over the last 6 months we've noticed some cracks appearing in our house and some disturbance to the ground outside our house.

 

Having spoken to the neighbors they pointed out that this is likely coming from the tree outside our properties as they had been seeing similar damage to their home, and said that they had been onto the council for a number of years and had essentially been ignored.

 

The tree has already distrubed the recent pathway tarmacing that the council have done, and the cracks along the pathway and across my walkway match up to the direction of growth of the roots. The tree is also higher than our houses.

 

This morning I reached out to our local councilor and also the planning and reg department to try and get some kind of response from them. I also called this morning and was told that they will likely not respond until I get some kind of survey on the tree to officially link the damage in our property to the tree growth. 

 

I just wondered if anyone can advise on this and if the council's response sounds right here? I have building insurance but my girlfriend was a little concerned about notifying them because it might put our premiums up, but I'm of the view that this is the sort of situation where you use it to make sure that we're covered should there be any further damage.

 

Any advice would be great.

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

You MUST tell the insurers straight away. If you do not, they could very well try to avoid sorting this out saying that you should have told them at the outset.

 

You say you have had no responce from the council, hardly surprising as they know full well you are not in a position to sue them. Now, when the insurers contact them, you will see just a little bit of difference in their attitude..

 

john..