SL40C

I would like to thank you all for the insightful & extensive commentary you have generated on this topic. It’s been a real learning experience for me. The latest suggestion to pay a suitably qualified tree surveyor for a report sounds like the way forward. I am located in west London, so is there a protocol on Arbtalk for identifying such a professional person from among the membership who would cover this area?

Thanks for the latest input. Actually Risk is my main concern, as this is currently just a potential problem. My house insurance does not provide 3rd party liability cover related to trees in my garden - I wish to insure for that risk. Do you know whether there are specialist brokers that offer this type of insurance? By the way, there are other large trees in the vicinity of my neighbour's property on adjacent land.

Regarding peatff's comment "If the place was built 30 years ago shouldn't the architect have made provision for the conditions allowing for the fact there are trees there and therefore take responsibility for any consequences ? That's why you pay them so much." This point relates to my thinking about 'timeline'. The Ash has a girth of 3.1m which I understand makes it perhaps 150 years old (I may be wildly out on this); my neighbour's property was built in 1985 and mine in 1994. My thoughts: 1) With a mature tree/root structure in place aren't my neighbour's and their architects bound to make proper provision for a known risk? 2) What could I have done in 1994 (when I bought my property newly built) or any time since, to limit the impact of such a mature tree/root structure? To my simple mind this timeline negates my liability. I would add that between 1994 & 2007 the tree was left to grow, but since then I have had a tree surgeon carry out branch reduction every 3-4 years on the basis of safety (we have had some big storms). Interested to hear your thoughts on my perhaps naïve/lay view.

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to my question. Much appreciated. Thanks

I have a 65’ high ash tree at the bottom of my garden. It is located 40’ from my house but only 20’ from my neighbour’s. This is purely a speculative question, since no damage has been reported, but what responsibility would I bear if the roots damaged the neighbouring property/what could I do anyway given the maturity of the tree (perhaps 150 years old) and the likely existing extensive root structure? Background Facts: - Neighbour’s property (an old people’s home) built 30 years ago. - The tree has no TPO, but is in a conservation area, so every 3-4 years when I have a tree surgeon carry out branch reduction I must first apply to the Council Arboricultural Manager for permission. Thank you.