[Broncho]

To somebody else’s property?

I’m struggling to find a definitive answer to this.

The bloke behind has trees that are now about 10 years old and they’re getting pretty big, not an issue as where I live is full of trees anyway.

One of them though is an oak which is about 2m away from my garage, is this too close?

Do I get the council out or just destroy myself?

[OneExtra]

Normally the size of the tree above ground is the size of its roots below ground, some trees are worse than others.

2ft is very close if it's not managed properly, ideally you would have a dialogue with your neighbour about how big it should be allowed to grow.

A tree surgeon would be able to give you some good advice

[Broncho]

Originally Posted by OneExtra

Normally the size of the tree above ground is the size of its roots below ground, some trees are worse than others.

2ft is very close if it's not managed properly, ideally you would have a dialogue with your neighbour about how big it should be allowed to grow.

A tree surgeon would be able to give you some good advice

It’s 2m not ft.

Also he’s a major cretin, he’s a multi millionaire and doesn’t really give a shit whereas I’m not and I do

[Watsey]

It's on his land, therefore his property. You can't just choose to destroy it.

I would write to him to get your concerns on the record and then take regular photos to record the condition of your garage.

You could also take professional advice from a building surveyor.

[Colmsport]

Seriously, I can't believe that I'm reading this topic...

I've just spent the whole afternoon destroying my patio whilst trying to dig up a selfish bastards tree roots which have invaded my garden.

I already had to have words with this neighbour after his eucalyptus tree started brushing the side of my house. You couldn't make it up - the twat planted one of the largest tree groups in the world in the back corner of his garden which runs adjacent to the pathway to the back of my house, less that 3ft from my house.

He eventually had it removed, I had a pig of a job getting those roots out & had to have my pathway relaid, plus the roots were very near the gas mains.

Anyhow said twat of a neighbour now has an acer which he's planted in the other corner of his garden, these were the roots I was digging up today.

I really feel like going round to his house & knocking some fucking sense into him. Absolute nobjockey!!!

[73henny]

I think you can cut it back if the branches cross into your land. Not 100% sure though.

[creepy coupe]

You have to prove the branches or roots will/are doing harm to your property EG foundations or fabric.

Also worth a mention is the height a proximity to you buildings. More and more insurance companies are stipulating the distance and adjusting policy price quotes if too close.

[Chrismac13]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

You have to prove the branches or roots will/are doing harm to your property EG foundations or fabric.

Also worth a mention is the height a proximity to you buildings. More and more insurance companies are stipulating the distance and adjusting policy price quotes if too close.

You can legally trim branches that hang over your boundary line, but you must inform your neighbour your doing this & offer them the cuttings so you cannot be accused of theft. If the tree has a TPO order on it you cannot touch it without the Local Authority's permission.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Chrismac13

You can legally trim branches that hang over your boundary line, but you must inform your neighbour your doing this & offer them the cuttings so you cannot be accused of theft. If the tree has a TPO order on it you cannot touch it without the Local Authority's permission.

This is true.

[JD6]

While it's true that you can cut branches, and even roots, back to the boundary, I think the OP should take some professional advice here. Most household insurers provide a legal advice helpline. I would begin by talking to a tree surgeon about what could be done and then speak to the legal advice helpline.

[Craig-SM]

In our current home there was a cherry tree about 8 feet away from the garage. The trunk was around 20 inches wide, the roots managed to crack the concrete base. First it as just hairline cracks but within 2 years you could stick a finger in the gap as well as see that one side had lifted up too.
When we cut the tree down and then cut through the roots a few down from the surface a lot of them were around 4 inch thick so the damage wasn’t so much of a surprise.

[Pobsey]

If the Oak tree is full height circa 23m the radius of potential damage by the roots is 13m.

[XK140]

The selfish ignorance of some people living in suburbia is astonishing.

Allowing large trees to exist near your boundary is likely to create damage issues to your neighbour's property in the long term...and in the short term there is unwanted shade and leaf fall to contend with.

The ultimate indignity can then be that some green busybody at the Council slaps a TPO on the nuisance.

...and tall conifer hedges are no better.

[goodbyalfa]

Really interesting and relevant topic this.
I live on a new build estate (~5 yrs from new), at the end of a cul de sac. The developers put a tree at the end, ~8 m from our neighbors and our house. It's been chopped back once already, but this thing is growing rapidly. Did some research and found out it was a bloody sycamore. Now these things get massive, WAY too big for the proximity to housing. I did some reading on an insurers website, regarding recommended proximity to housing of various trees, and for a sycamore it should be at least 17m.
https://www.bickersinsurance.co.uk/a...rom-buildings/


Do we have any mileage in approaching the idiot developers (who are still building) and asking them to remove/replace with a smaller specimen?