Cost of fighting tree problem

[strawberry12345]

Hi

I have been chasing a housing association to cut down a tree that is inches away from my property (on the other side of a wall) for four years. It is severely encroaching on my property.

Over this time they have agreed to have it removed but it never happens and I need to take legal advice as to how to get them to remove it.

does anyone have any idea of how much this will cost please? Photo attached.

TIA

Have you checked whether you have legal advice with your home insurance policy? It might be worth studying your policy because that tree is probably damaging your foundations. That might be covered by your insurers anyway.

I have, around three years ago but they said it wouldn’t be covered

Would it be cheaper to get it cut down yourself? (Check there isn’t a tree preservation order first)

Have you written to your MP?

You can get a saw for £10 from B&Q, cut it down yourself

Tree surgeons around here are around £400 a day, I’d get some quotes.

Thank for the replies. It had a TPO then the housing association applied for this to be removed via the council so no TPO now

i cant cut it down as it’s not on my land (other side of wall)

reason not covered by home insurance legal assistance was because they said there is no signs of subsidence from its presence

You can cut off the bits that are on your side of the wall though.

Yeah I know, just annoys me that I have to pay a tree surgeon but I will as an interim measure

You can cut back the branches that encroaching on your property providing you don't damage the tree. I don't think they have to unless it's damaging your property. Not sure if you've seen this but there's some good info here (providing you're in England) www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/the-law

Thank you. Trouble is to cut away all overhang would be pretty expensive I think

I feel your pain. We have very large beech trees on the other side of our back garden fence and while I love them it's a lot of work to trim back the overhanging branches. We had to get a tree surgeon in a while back to thin them out properly and it was quite a bit of money.

@SirChenjins
thank you, do you remember how much it cost

Assuming you have made a formal complaint to the Housing Association/ council already?

This was a few years ago now - before covid anyway - and it was about £400, but that was mates rates because my neighbour's friend is a tree surgeon. Od get a few quotes and see how you get on - and make sure it's a proper tree surgeon as a tree that size needs to be dealt with properly so it's not destabilised.

@SirChenjins 🙏

It’s higher than her house!
Op, do not attempt to do this yourself.

Once you have your quotes, send a letter to the housing association by recorded delivery giving them 28 days (or whatever timescale is necessary to ensure any bird nests are empty) to do the work, failing which you will get it done and seek recovery from them via the small claims court.

@B0D ive been complaining to them and on their escalated complaints path for 4.5 years they are highly dysfunctional as an organisation. Been via the CEO etc

@MooseBeTimeForSnow thank you. I guess I could do this for the actual pruning o. My side of the wall but I’m worried if I actually get the tree cut down, they could say I trespassed as it’s in their land. Plus they could claim criminal damage as it’s their property

It cost £800 for major pruning of an enormous tree in my garden , but that was 7 years ago. Three blokes for a full day.

Contact the local councillors/ MP and the Housing Ombudsman with your complaint. HAs think they can ignore complaints and they all have history for how poorly they fix issues and hide behind excuses. They'll hound you for money, but actually act.... try local media too.

Make a complaint to the Housing Ombudsman . . .

Writing to your mp including that photo might prove fruitful. I admit some MPs are better than others at this sort of thing though

You can cut down all of it that is on your land. You just give them the clippings though.