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Original poster

Perfect property has massive oak tree in front garden

95 replies

zippyswife · 07/05/2021 10:35

Firstly I'm clearly very naive and clueless when it comes to trees.

We put in an offer and had it accepted on a property which is perfect and in a lovely leafy area.

I took my mum to view it and she pointed out that the massive oak tree in the front garden 3-4 metres from the house could be a problem. We've had such a nightmare time of moving and I was so excited that an offer had finally been accepted on a property but now I don't know if I should be touching it if there's potential problems.

Dh says it's no big deal as the tree was there a long time before the house (house built in 70s). He thinks I'm overreacting.

We've spent over 2k on survey/solicitors on a property that fell through as the vendors changed their mind so I'm keen not to waste more time/energy/money on this.

Any advice would be really welcome.

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 07/05/2021 10:42

There was a beautiful old oak in our neighbours front garden that they had cut down. I cried. But it was because the roots were impacting the property. There was no TPO on the tree either. Such as shame but they had to prioritise their property.

So if it's no problem you leave it. If it is an issue you address it then.

scrappydappydoo · 07/05/2021 10:51

If there was a problem it would have come up on the survey would it not?

Andthenanothercupoftea · 07/05/2021 10:53

Give your surveyor a call and see what they think. If they didn't highlight it in the survey there's probably nothing to worry about.

If it's been there that long any regular movement e.g. due to roots drying out the ground in the summer will have already had a chance to manifest, so you're probably ok. Might mean a marginally higher insurance premium though.

LaLaLouella · 07/05/2021 10:58

It's not necessarily a problem, just do some research.

Does it have a Tree Protection Order (TPO)? You can find out via the council. Get a tree expert to do a survey on its health. If there's no TPO and no problems identified then you enjoy your beautiful tree and get it chopped down IF it ever becomes a problem.

RolloTomassi · 07/05/2021 12:45

Sounds fabulous! This wouldn't put me off at all, in fact I'd be happy it was there. If you get issues down the line then I suppose it'll just have to be cut down, but hopefully it won't come to that. Congrats on the move!

NewHouseNewMe · 07/05/2021 12:50

Was this not flagged in your survey? Normally even a generic survey (full) will check for any evidence of root damage. If you went for a valuation only, that's a different matter.
If there is no root damage in evidence, you need to find out if there's a TPO on it. If there is, it is highly unlikely you can cut it down ever, even if it starts to cause issues with subsidence.

But it wouldn't put me off buying the house necessarily.

FurierTransform · 07/05/2021 13:26

That is quite close to the house depending on exactly how big it is - there are standard tables for tree type/size & how far away from buildings they need to be kept, & it sounds like this would come way under.

Having said that, i'd absolutely love a big oak tree close to the house & it wouldn't put me off the purchase, so long as there are no current issues or evidence of the house needing historical repairs.

Willdoitlater · 07/05/2021 13:46

You will need to declare it when buying buildings insurance. Beyond that, if surveyor says ok, just enjoy!

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 07/05/2021 16:00

You say the house is in a lovely leafy area- well yes because of the trees in it presumably!!

What about it is bothering you? Talk to the surveyor but it shouldn't be a barrier to the house. Trees are beautiful!

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 07/05/2021 16:06

As some who had a huge oak tree close to her house, I would counsel caution. There were so many acorns and leaves to sweep up every year, the leaves blocked our gutters regularly, the sap from the tree left a sticky residue all over the car. I spent a lot of time every spring digging up oak saplings from the garden. Also keeping a tree well pruned and in good shape is £££.

I would check if the tree has a TPO on it. (most local council websites have an interactive TPO map). If it has a TPO, you cannot cut or trim any branches from the tree without going through the council TPO officer.

LaLune7 · 07/05/2021 16:36

Check on your councils website if it has a TPO. Phone up to double check. If you like it, keep it. If it worries you, contact a tree surgeon and have the strump removed.

Original poster
zippyswife · 07/05/2021 17:28

Thank you for the replies and the tree positivity! I was expecting a lot of negativity and problems so this is all good.

We haven't had a survey done yet. We've only just had the offer accepted so it's early days. Do I need to get a full structural survey due to the tree or a homebuyers survey?

The tree is really very near the house and it is beautiful and adds to the charm- it is massive and dwarfs the house completely. The road is lovely because of the trees- I wouldn't change the trees I was just worried there could be problems.

Good point re guttering etc. I hadn't thought if that.

OP posts:
Rattysparklebum · 07/05/2021 17:32

We have a large ash tree close to the front of our house, again the tree was there long before the house, it’s affected the garden wall a little and sweeping up leaves are a pain but the birds love it.
Neighbours chopped their similar tree down a few years ago and it looks so bare. It cost about £400 to have it reduced this year but the last time we had it done was about 10 years ago so maintenance isn’t too costly.

OccaChocca · 07/05/2021 17:36

We have exactly the same here. 70s house and huge oak tree about 3 to 4 metres to the side. The tree is about 300 hundred years old so the roots definitely go under our house as they are normally 2 to 3 times the the radius of the tree itself.

Our tree does have a TPO but it hasn't caused us any problems.

OccaChocca · 07/05/2021 17:37

I would always get a full structural survey regardless of the tree!

AlwaysLatte · 07/05/2021 17:43

Be careful in case you're trying to extend. We have an enormous oak in our front garden and we had planning permission refused for an annexe - we didn't want to cut the tree down, we have owls nesting in it and it's beautiful so we got round it by flipping the plans round to the other side but it wasn't the way around we wanted it and you might not have that option.
Our tree is about 20 metres from the house though - 3-4 metres and I'd be seriously concerned about the roots.

PresentingPercy · 07/05/2021 17:49

DH is a structural engineer. We have a huge oak tree close to the house. Around 4/5m. We are on clay and as a result our foundations are 2m deep. So I strongly advise you to check the foundations and get a full structural survey. This tree may well have had to stay when the houses were built.

Trees drink a huge amount of water. If the house is stable, and designs for foundations are adequate, you shouldn’t need to worry. Do not cut it down. Even if you are allowed to. The water it drinks will remain in the soil and this can cause major damage to buildings nearby. It’s called heave.

So get a full structural survey and point out the presence of the tree and get a trial pit dug to check foundations if vendors allow it. They should if they want to sell!

PresentingPercy · 07/05/2021 17:50

Yes. In some years the acorns are a pain! In 2020 they were huge and numerous!

mumwon · 07/05/2021 18:31

look at walls inside & out for cracks check windows ditto do doors & windows open easily - is the floor flat (no tilts) garage floor -does it have any cracks on the floor? driveways & paths ditto

SingingWaffleDoggy · 07/05/2021 18:40

My house insurance always asks about trees in close proximity in the quote, might be worth keeping in mind

OccaChocca · 07/05/2021 19:18

@PresentingPercy

Yup! Acorn insanity here too. DH filled the green bin several times over last year.

We really love the oak tree though. Each year it seems to do something different. A couple of years ago it was dropping some fluffy stuff in spring.

picturesandpickles · 07/05/2021 19:22

Oooh, jealous! Get a proper survey and if there are no issues then you can enjoy the beautiful tree for years to come.

If you don;t like the tree let someone else buy the house, you will be the most hated new neighbours in the street if you cut it down.

Original poster
zippyswife · 07/05/2021 19:54

Don't get me wrong- I love the tree. I live opposite woodland now and the acorns and leaves don't bother me a bit. I was just concerned about the impact this particularly large oak so close to the house would have. But I love it- it completely swamps the house but it beautiful.

Thank you so much for the advice. We will check there are no structural issues then enjoy it's beauty.

OP posts:
CharlotteRose90 · 07/05/2021 21:39

Get a survey on it and make sure theirs not a TPO on it. For me it would be a no as I’d be worried about structural damage and would have to cut it down.

PresentingPercy · 07/05/2021 22:34

You are utterly mad to cut down a mature tree close to a house if there is no need. Reducing size often works.

@OccaChocca
Yes. We had fluffy pollen!