Damage By Tree Roots

If you have large trees on your property make sure that they are pruned regularly to avoid damage to any neighbouring structures.  This can include structures that are some distance from the property as evidenced by a recent high court decision in which a landowner was ordered to pay £150,000 in compensation for damage caused by tree roots to a property that lay at least 33 metres from the tree.

Damage is frequently caused by tree roots, particularly in areas of clay soil.  Either the roots apply pressure to the subsoil and can cause settlement or cause changes in the subsoil because of the extraction of moisture by the roots.  The bigger the tree, the more moisture will be extracted.