Tree Inspection Reports for Mortgage Applications
Mortgage lenders often require a survey of trees surrounding the purchaser’s property before contracts are signed. The mortgage report provides the lender and the house buyer with information on the age, size and condition of the tree, soil properties and future management plans if required. Our tree inspection reports offer lenders and insurers an opportunity to effectively and quickly assess the potential for trees, their roots or vegetation to influence building foundations. Broad Oak Tree Consultants can provide mortgage reports making an inspection of trees, advising of potential problems and recommending suitable action.
If required, tree surgery can be arranged and a suitable tree surgeon recommended and supervised as part of a whole package. Any tree work recommended by Broad Oak Tree Consultants will be carried out by a recommended competent tree surgeon to comply with BS3998:2010 “Tree Work – Recommendations”. All trees recommended for felling or tree surgery works should be checked for the presence of bats or nesting birds prior to works commencing. Disturbance to bats or nesting birds could contravene the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and result in prosecution.
Tree Related Property Damage
This discipline involves assessing the relative contribution of a tree or trees on structural damage affecting a property. Tree roots can cause damage to buildings, walls, patios and driveways. They often cross boundaries and cause neighbour disputes as trees also provide much needed privacy and screening. However many tree owners aren’t aware of the potential problem until cracks appear in their property, or until a letter arrives from a neighbour, insurance company or solicitor claiming a tree is causing damage to a neighbour’s property. Occasionally cases do get to Court. Many cases are complex but with some sound technical advice can be resolved readily easily. Some cases may require monitoring over several months, both to identify both the cause of problems and the best solution. Where trees belong to Councils or are protected by Tree Preservation Orders or are within a Conservation Area it is essential that good evidence is collected to ensure a reasonable chance of ensuring tree removal.
Our principal consultant Tim Laddiman has dealt with over 500 subsidence and tree root cases and acted for both tree owners and parties whose property has been damaged.
Boundary Disputes And High Hedges
Trees and hedges on boundaries can become issues creating friction between landowners. Broad Oak Tree Consultants understand the rights and responsibilities of involved parties are able to advice on the High Hedges bill regarding future management of the hedge and trees. Our service involves defining ownership of a boundary tree, defining rights and responsibilities for a boundary tree and even some elements of Arboricultural mediation between two neighbours who can’t agree over how to manage a tree.
Homebuyers Tree Reports for Mortgage or Insurance
This service involves provision of reports that should satisfy the requirements of mortgage insurers and relates to the condition of the trees and their potential to adversely affect a property directly or indirectly. These reports address the issues that mortgage or insurance companies want relating to the relative latent risk that trees pose to properties that those trees may be close to.
Pre-Purchase Tree Survey and Tree Report
Mortgage companies often insist that a pre-purchase tree survey is undertaken by a qualified arboricultural consultant. Our pre-purchase tree reports are tailored to meet the requirements of lenders and buyers. We make recommendations in order to ensure that lending concerns are dealt with swiftly so the house purchase may proceed smoothly. Before purchasing a property with trees, we advise that a pre-purchase tree survey is commissioned. Our pre-purchase tree reports address the following issues:
- Potential damage to persons or property due to tree failure
- Potential direct damage caused by roots or branches
- Vegetation related subsidence on clay soils
- Tree hazard evaluation
- Conservation Order constraints
- Tree Preservation Order constraints
- Damage to structures caused by climbing plants