Our street tree has gone!

Hi GM - it must have been a distressing time for you, knowing that the tree was actually damaging your house. I hope you haven't got too much serious underpinning etc to do as it is so expensive isn't it and I bet the council won't offer to chip in with some cash.

Best of luck with it.

The council chip in !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mariek, never in a million years, they wanted to keep the tree! Not sure what has to be done now, but I know it will cost! Thanks.

They never want to admit they are wrong,do they? It probably looked lovely,but its for the best.You will have peace of mind now,and hope the damage to your house is not as bad as you thought,you will be have been worrying about it,and I would be the same.
It will be nice to have more light in as well..good luck,and keep us posted..

How wonderful for you more light in your home too now.

I would take photos of the damaga and then would go to citizens advice and ask them where you stand with the council paying all the bill as it was their tree which caused the damage, their is a solicitor on goy for got her name now she could tell you your legal right.

They should pay for all of it!!!

Certainly should especially as they have made you wait for the last two years. Go get some advice it will not cost too much if anything at all.

I agree....take legal advice....and CAB should be able to help you get sorted about what your rights are. Don't forget to look at your house insurance policy as well...if all fails with the council it might be an avenue of saving you some huge expenses.

You can look forward now to lighter days and that has to be the best news of all :)

This tree had to go, and you should not be paying the bill....

Enjoy the extra daylight into your home and garden :o)

I've added this blog to GoYpedia "Logs" :o)

I just hope they treat the stump-- I can imagine future suckers if their not careful

Found this link about clay soil that may be of use

http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/trees/problems_with_tree_roots.htm

It does relate to Richmond council but may be of use in your claims

It would appear that the tree itself would not effect the house structure, but would/could the walls to your property. The reall damage is if you are in a clay area then the water content gets used up and creates vacuums that in turn cause subsidence.

I am sure that there will be something legally that can be done to help with your costs especially as the coucil have now accepted responsibilty by removing the tree.

Hi everyone, thank you for your very helpful comments on here, dont worry now, we have done everything through our home insurance, but we have to pay a hefty excess first! The cracks to our bays started two years ago and this has been monitered ever since, they drilled down to the foundations of our house and dug out the tree roots, this is when we had to tackle the council because it is their tree that has done the damage. Pam my thought about tree suckers was worrying me too because I have been cutting them off regularly for years and I was worried about them becoming stronger, but time will tell, Tony, I will look at that link later thank you, my beef with the council is that they take no responsibility on private land even if their trees roots are damaging property, they are just saying that they will replace the tree with another one, so we have another fight on our hands to try to stop this!! Its all too much. TT. that is some tree log!! Well one good thing will be 'Daylight', aaaaahhhh.

Grandmage ...
I thought GoYpedia "Logs" was more appropriate than GoYpedia "Pruning" ...but maybe not... LOL...

No I like 'logs' TT. or maybe it could be furniture or gazebos or wooden items !! Lol

Lol. I don't edit those categories... except "Seats" ...

... I do edit "Flood and Rain Damage" ...
... but maybe GoYpedia should have a category called "Tree Damage" ... :o(

Yes I am sure there are few stories out there about tree damage.

the trouble is when they build houses, they then get some fool who doesnt know what he is doing, and plant trees which are far to big and close to houses, why dont they think first, shame about the tree but glad your house will be ok now Grandmage.

Thanks San. I agree whole heartedly, they call themselves gardeners but have no idea really. This tree would have been perfect in the park!!

exactly Grandmage :o(

gla dyou got the tree taken down at last.... we used to have huge cherry trees in the grass verges in my old house.....

When we moved mortgage companies we had to lose a very old lilac that we were told was too near the house, the house was built in 1938 and not a problem in sight but the mortgage company insisted it had to go, broke my heart as i loved it but wow what a difference in light in the house! Have been meaning to replace the lilac for years and have just bought one but a dwarf one :o)

Holly the roots lift the pavements and make it dangerous to even walk along. Crazy

I'm glad it's gone. I don't like trees too near the house. They block the light and the leaves clog the drains and the roots take too much water from the soil.

Gosh, what a worry for you GG. Far too close to your house.

Glad to see you have sorted this rather awkward problem out......

glad to hear its getting sorted now madge , lets hope the cough up the mony to pay 4 there damage .......... and you right bt peaple not know wot they doing lol even in garden cet. haha . enjoy the light !!!!!!!!

Thanks Hywel, Karen, Dd, Sk. and Cristina, it has been a long struggle but fear its not over yet!! The council want to replace the tree, ha ha, but we dont want another one, not here, maybe in the park but not outside our house, then we will have the turmoil of re-decoration etc. and yes 'the light' is fantastic, had to pull the blind down yesterday, it made my eyes water!!! Can't win!

sunglasses on then lol ..............x

Defo. Cristina Lol. x

I'm glad the insurance company have decided to help you but you should make a complaint to the Local Govt. Ombudsman. It might stop them putting in another tree. There is also Human Rights legislation which says you should be able to peacefully enjoy your own property. It includes overshadowing and will almost certainly include prevention of damage to the structure of your home by the Local Authority.

Thanks S.Gran that is very good advice and I will note all these locations and keep them in our file, at the moment the ins.co. are still monotoring movement, every three weeks and also we are waiting for the council to arrive and remove the stump! Then we will see what happens.