Removal of massive (60ft) tree a few metres from house. Bad idea?

[silkydog]

The tree is a eucalyptus, really tall - around 60ft. About 3-4 metres from the back of the house. The garden slopes immediately very steeply downwards from the back of the house so presumably there are a lot of roots deep under the house. And it’s clay soil. It’s a 1930s house with those shallow foundations that just sit on the soil as seemed to be the way they built houses then.

Is it a bad idea to remove this tree? What effects could removal have on the house?

Why does it need to be removed?

You need specialist advice (assuming you are actually allowed to remove it). A tree surgeon (qualified) may be a good first point of call. It is likely to need to be gradually reduced in size over several years or else with clay soil in particular you will risk getting heave and then subsidence.

In addition to the comments above, you will also need to check with the local authority that the tree is not listed under a TPO (Tree Protection Order) due to its size.

I would personally advise that unless the tree has been designated a risk to the property due to potential storms or roots under the house then keeping it would have a much greater environmental benefit to species in your garden.

Are you in the uk? We don’t have many enormous eucalyptuses here.

I would be extremely careful. If you prune a eucalyptus incorrectly it will look dreadful. They also suck a lot of water out of the ground so you really need a specialist in to advise you. It’s probably a case of looking at crown reduction rather than removal if it’s very close to the house

Thanks for your replies, it’s actually a house we’re thinking of offering on and (sorry to be a bit misleading) the current owner has already removed the tree a few weeks ago as part of sprucing the house up to sell.

The combination of being built on a steep slope, clay soil and recent old/large tree removal so close to the house (especially being a eucalyptus) is making me think we shouldn’t be considering this house at all.

Eucalyptus trees are notorious for fast growing and are on the high water demand list for trees near buildings.

Is the location on this map on medium or high shrinkage potential for the clay?

If the tree has caused subsidence of part of the house, this should be evident from any repairs/cracks or history of underpinning. That subsidence might partly recover once the tree is removed. A risk would be say a recent new extension, which didn't experience the subsidence in the first place.

If you are in an area of high shrinkage potential or the house looks like it's experienced subsdience (or is newly refurbished/replastered) I'd get specialist input.

If the house is fairly old/unimproved but doesnt have cracks or evidence of subsidence it's probably OK. However you can see from the map probably over 50% of UK homes are in an area of subsidence risk and most of them are still quite habitable.

Look up tree heave.

We have a eucalyptus about ten metres from the rear of our 1930s house, which was completely unmanaged (absolutely huge and whippy) when we bought it. We had it pollarded and will keep doing so, which will both reduce the water requirements and stop the limbs from becoming a massive sail when there are storms. I'd be reluctant to get rid; it's very lovely, evergreen, hasn't so far caused any subsidence in our 90yo house and of course I can use the small shoots to make wreaths and garlands at Christmas 😁

I would be very wary if they have chopped it down in one go. Subsidence will take time to become evident. Isn't immediate on chopping the tree down

I purchased a house with historical subsidence caused by a willo tree. All was rectified no issue with insurance and tbh we were desperate to buy. It seems ok so far but parts of the ground still feels lower. They cut the tree down but the stump is still there and still quite high. I will be getting someone in to see if we can cut down further. The roots were huge and the roots lifted all of the fences on tbe back and side. I wish we didnt go ahead tbh. I would say unless you love the house ans good price dont proceed. You will always have the question in the back of your mind 'is this subsidence'