HELP! Tree roots invading!

[snackysnacksnack]

Hi,

So brought our house in January and we noted that there was roots from next doors garden causing a 'bump' in a block paving patio area along the side access into the garden.
The house needs total renovation so we weren't too bothered as we wanted to change the patio anywhere and presumed we could just sort it with next door. It's a lovely street and everyone is friendly.

Anyway fast forward to now and this problem has spread and fast. It's not several lines of block paving whereby the bricks are almost fully raised due to roots. It's now very close to the actual house, I'd say around 20cm away.

The delay has been that since we moved in we realised that next door is unoccupied! It's owned by a family for their adult daughter but nobody lives there. Anyway it's taken until now to find out who lives there and get contact details for them. We've shown them the issue and they said they'd get in contact but haven't.

We need to get someone in to look at it but we're not sure who?
They've planted very large trees all along the back of their garden so it's not going to be easy to fix.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of how to get this sorted?

Well you need to sort it out as it will (if not already) cause damage to your foundations aside from lifting your patio.

Suggest you write to the kw era and explain the issue and that you would like to resolve it. Even removing the trees won't shift all the roots so they will potentially need removing as well. Depending on the height and proximity of the routes, the trees may need to be reduced over several years to prevent heave.

You really need the advice of a tree surgeon. It might be that your house insurance might cover it?

I’d get a report from a tree surgeon, attach a copy to a letter giving them 30 days to act, send it recorded. Include fail to act consequences, for example legal action.

You’re entitled to remove any roots on your side of the boundary. You don’t need to ask them, but it would be advisable. It’s exactly the same scenario as overhanging branches. But if anything you do causes the tree itself to die, you could be liable, so definitely get a fully insured tree surgeon for advice.

Thanks all. We were aware that we were entitled to remove the root and we probably will do but it's around who is responsible for that cost? It also doesn't stop the problem returning and I'm not really wanting to have to keep paying to sort it out so they can have trees planted along our fence for a house they don't even live in.
I will contact a tree surgeon but it looks like a report costs around 400-600 which is substantial, plus any work.
If it has damaged our property who is at fault?
I'm hoping that they'll be reasonable with us as this is a nice street and we're all friendly. I guess this is me preparing for worst case scenario.
I wouldn't want to lay a new patio having just cut the root because we'll be back to square 1 in a few years (or less) and then we'll be paying to dig up a perfectly good patio.

I don't want to be alarmist but this is about more than your patio. As PP says, it's likely these roots are already around your foundations. We had bad subsidence caused by massive cherry trees (the worst kind of trees to have next to your property), which have now been removed. We couldn't see the roots above ground at all, but now that we're in the middle of having an extension built you can literally pull (dead, fortunately) roots out of the ground underneath our house. It's riddled with them.

If I were you I'd act now in case you risk damage to your house. You definitely need the advice of a tree surgeon, if not a surveyor, and I hate to say it but you might need to contact your buildings insurance provider. Whatever you do, don't leave it - £400 would be a drop in the ocean if you did have subsidence.

Oh and if their trees are damaging your property it's their fault!

first ask them if they can remove tree - if the tree is near to their house point out it could cause THEM problems (& there is advice on the distance each type of tree as a safe distance - poplars its 70ft for instance)
To get what you want you may have to offer to pay = its in your interest & for suing -I would be careful - tact is better than making an enemy

Was this issue not picked up on your survey when you bought the house?

Chuck a shit ton of salt down around the trunk and roots-that will kill it

What species of tree is it that's causing the root damage?

You definitely need professional advice. Just trying to remove the roots or kill the tree could cause even more damage if the roots have infiltrated your houses’s foundations. Not one to skimp on.

I'd go back rot surveyor as well, if this wasn't highlighted as a potential issue.