Neighbours have requested I remove tree stump infornt of house as causing cracks in theirs front wall

[HB1man]

Hi, As title says.. I have no issue removing the stump but I am worried that it may cause further damage which I would be liable for?

 

They have wrote to me saying it is a subsidence issue.

 

Summary

 

It is a request of mitigation

 

Clay soils have a characteristic where when they dry, they shrink. This shrinkage can result in the soil beneath a foundation to drop which in turn can cause damage to the structure. Dry of the clay soil has occurred and this has been brought about by moisture extraction through the roots of the nearby vegetation. Roots from the Oak tree under your ownership has been implicated as a source of the current subsistence damage, and in order to prevent further subsidence movent of the house and to safeguard future stability it will be necessary for you to complete the following measures - Remove(fell) to near ground level and treat the roots to prevent further regrowth.

 

I have been provided with a Geotechnical Survey Report which I can provide details of if it helps, which I think they have taken samples of soil. Results show Soil Suction and Liquid Limit %

 

I think the main result from the findings is

 

Calculated heave potential for the borehole using the control borehole is

 

BH	Depth (m)	Heave Potential (mm)	Layer Heave (mm)
BH1	1	50	28
BH1	2	22	14
BH1	3	8	8

 

 

Main questions are, is there a risk that this can cause further issues that I would be liable for, who best to contact about this (my insurance  say nothing to do with them), what I can do to mitigate any risk on me if I remove it.

 

Thanks in advance

[Stubby]

13 minutes ago, HB1man said:

Thanks for the replies!... Looks pretty dead to me..

 

Been here for nearly 2 years, they have only somehow managed to inform me in the last month and the original test was made in Nov 22.lol

 

Will post a picture tomorrow morning

Well I can't see what they have to gain from this . Tell them if they want a dead stump removed then fill yer boots but they are paying for it . Edit . ....Oh yea and tell them you don't like their wall paper ....

Edited Thursday at 18:38 by Stubby

[spudulike]

Neighbours, let them crack on at their expense.

[daltontrees]

Am i reading this right? I don't see the neighbour saying that you would be resonsible for heave. Indeed, you wouldn't be in any circumstances.

 

According to the borehole analysis, it might turn out to have been a bad idea to insist on removal of the tree, since the heave potential is significant.

 

A dead tree draws no water and cannot cause further subsidence. I can't see why removal of a stump would be necessary.

[HB1man]

[HB1man]

Assume that is dead?

[Shaunpaul]

Got to be a wind up, I could kick that out 😂

[woody paul]

23 hours ago, HB1man said:

Roots from the Oak tree under your ownership has been implicated as a source of the current subsistence damage, and in order to prevent further subsidence movent of the house and to safeguard future stability it will be necessary for you to complete the following measures - Remove(fell) to near ground level and treat the roots to prevent further regrowth.

Is this tree still standing?, stump shown is a conifer so it's dead as others have said. 

 

[petercb]

Personally I'd be investigating that gutter downpipe and where it goes to having zoomed in on it and the adjacent brickwork. Neither look very good and downpipe looks a bit diy with number of adaptors/connectors.

As others have said that stump is a conifer and no problem but where have the oak leaves come from? Another tree in area? 

[GarethM]

I wouldn't be surprised if that's the neighbour who started this legal wranglings 

[HB1man]

I dont have any other trees in my front garden, I'm in a close..  right after my front garden there is a walkway and then after that there is a patch of grass with a few trees.. I have already checked my title for bounders and it is does not include anything after the walkway and even then there are no trees directly in front of it... so am stumped. gone back to them now and told them they need to explain wth they want