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ARTICLE · 27 OCTOBER 2021

Difficult Trees In England: Going Down The Legal Avenue

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Whilst trees can enhance the beauty, character and environmental credentials of an area, it is an unfortunate truth that they can also pose a nuisance to property owners.

United KingdomEnvironment
Eloise Illingworth
Eloise Illingworth
Veronica Carey
Veronica Carey
Andrew Chesser
Andrew Chesser
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Whilst trees can enhance the beauty, character and environmental credentials of an area, it is an unfortunate truth that they can also pose a nuisance to property owners.

Tree subsidence

A common problem is tree-related subsidence, which occurs when tree roots affect the sub-soil. The sub-soil shrinks in the summer when moisture is removed, and expands in winter when moisture is replaced. This cyclical movement can cause damage to the building above in the form of cracking through the brickwork and internal plaster.

Of course, there may be other explanations for the damage and it is sensible to check for alternative causes such as issues with the drainage system or the depth of the building foundations.

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