Landlord and overgrown tree advice please

[Pantone]

Hi all

 

I'd really appreciate your input on my situation. I rent a lovely house which has a rather overgrown tree in the front garden.

 

I've spoken to the landlord and agency 4 times about it but he is adamant that it is fine and doesn't need cutting back. Well aside from the fact that we need to have the lights on all day because its so gloomy and everytime it's a bit windy the tree whacks the roof, I'm more worried about the amount of dead branches that fall off it either onto the house or front garden.

 

I didn't want to waste someone's time asking them to come and look when he will probably say no to getting done, but thought I would ask here first and if its a pretty unanimous "that tree is ridiculously overgrown" I'd probably start a more formal complaint with him! Could you take a look at the attached photos and see what you think?

 

I hope they are attached anyway, it keeps hanging when I try to upload them!

 

Thanks

[Pantone]

The tree belongs to the landlord, the house is on his farm. I don't think it's a case of him not wanting to pay (he's a millionaire) he is just strange when it comes to trees. In the background is the land surrounding the house that he decided to grow Christmas trees on and then couldn't bare to cut them down. Last year we had almighty trouble with the electricity company who wanted to cut back the trees in the back garden as they were covering the lines. He refused to have them cut for so long they ended up coming in and putting new lines in that were higher the trees. Anti foliage lines I think?

[Bren.]

If you get a surgeon in to give a report, your landlord could well argue " of course he recommends the work being done, because he wants the work".

Try an independant consultant instead.

[Woodcrafter]

I agree with Steves spec. Even if he didn't want to have the thin done,

basic reduction of target branches that may make contact with the property would be advisable to prevent possible minor property damaged.

As for the falling deadwood, major deadwood should certainly be removed for saftey reasons. He has a duty of care to insure that the tree is not a hazard.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Until you have consent / agreement from the tree owner, you'd be wasting your, and the tree surgeon's, time and effort. In these circumstances I would apply a charge for the quote (possibly redeemable on award of the contract.)

 

If there is a tangible hazard from falling limbs causing damage or injury there is an obligation upon the tree owner to remove the hazard.

[codlasher]

I'd have thought the landlord react in positive manner re pruning this, particularly if you are willing to fund the work. Letting light in, and air round this property would certainly be of benefit. Just stopping the leaves blocking up the gutters, as a prime example, would be a good move.

 

I would start with a building surveyors letter re this as it removes you from the suggestion that Bren has made and if your Landlord reacts positively you can then get two or three quotes from tree specialists to do the recommended work.

 

I hope you aren't on a 'Full Repairing Lease' as the proximity of some of the branches would certainly be detrimental to the fabric of the building, and your wallet!

codlasher

[daltontrees]

Ask for a reduction in rent at the next lease renewal date, it will at least pay for electricity. Can the TV aerial be moved?

 

I like trees but I would really hate to be under that one with no control over what is done to it. As has been said, if you owned the house you could prune away. But you're just the tenant so you can't. And the tree owner is your landlord, which makes things very much out of your control.

 

I would also be checking the leas to see if I had any repairsd responsibility, and if I did I would be putting it on record to the landlord that I couldn't be responsible for damage to the roof. If I found I was responsible for insurance, I would be inclined to ask insurer whether the tree invalidated or increased the cost of the insurance in any way.

[Lee Winger]

A couple of branches off the roof is all you'd get from me if it were my tree, and dead wooding, nobody has a right to light, you took the house knowing the tree was there, I like tree owners like your landlord, anti foliage lines love it lol

[Woodcrafter]

With any luck it would be causing subsidence to your property Lee.

[daltontrees]

nobody has a right to light

 

For the benefit of the original poster and any other visitors to the Forum, this statement is not strictly true because there are a few ways in which people can have a right to light, but it would be fair to say that they are the exception and that it looks like the OP has no right to light in this case.

[Woodcrafter]

With any luck it would be causing subsidence to your property Lee.

 

Sorry this was harsh and it was only in jest but it is something that should be considered a possibility in the future.