Anyone who has an English oak tree in their garden could be putting their house at risk (Image: Getty)
Anyone who has an oak tree in their garden is being warned over the possible risks it could pose to your house – and the legal trouble you could be in if you cut it down, too.
Oak trees, particularly English oaks, are one of the most common and popular types of tree in the UK, favoured by the Royal Family and making up a large percentage of trees across England, Scotland and Wales, and they are hugely beneficial for wildlife too.
But if you have an English oak tree in your , particularly close to your house, you may be putting your home at risk of subsidence, depending on what kind of soil your house is built on and when it was built.
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One person asked on : “I’m about to pull the trigger on a property, but the thought has just occurred to me that the beautiful oak tree at the end of the garden could cause issues with subsidence.
“For context, this is a period (Edwardian?) terraced house in South London. The area is known for clay soil, which I’ve read is the highest risk for trees causing issues. The tree is English oak, which is apparently a high-water uptake species (the worst kind).
“Finally I’ve read that for these high uptake trees you can expect issues within a distance equal to the height of the tree – the tree is only 6-7m from the rear wall of the property and the tree is definitely higher.”
And a user, Masofon, replied: “There is only a risk of a subsidence if you cut the tree down.
“Additionally, yes, the roots of the tree if only 6m/7m away from the house will likely be in the way of an extension and you could kill the tree inadvertently if you cut through a large lateral root that serves to anchor the tree.. and then potential subsidence.
“The level of potential subsidence depends on the age/size of the tree.
“Please don’t cut down a mature oak tree.. just.. pick a house that doesn’t have any trees if that is what you’d want to do. Tree has probably been there longer than the house and would be there hundreds of years after too. On that note, the tree may have a Tree Preservation Order on it anyway.”
According to the Woodland Trust, tree roots, such as those from oak trees, can cause subsidence – this is where your house becomes uneven, and cracks in walls, ceilings, doorways and even joists can form, due to severe damage to your home’s foundations.
The Woodland Trust explains: “When tree roots grow into clay soil and take up enough moisture, they cause the soil to dry out and shrink. This can cause building foundations on the clay to move, triggering the signs of subsidence.
“Luckily, modern buildings aren’t as affected by subsidence caused by trees. built before the 1950s are most at risk as their foundations are shallower, making them more susceptible to movement. Subsidence is also more likely during periods of wet followed by extreme dry weather – something we can expect to see more of due to climate change.
“Certain types of trees may be more likely to cause subsidence than others. Trees which thrive on a smaller amount of water are less likely to do so, while trees requiring more water are more likely to dry out shrinkable clay soils. If your house is built on clay but you also want to add some trees to your garden, you may want to stick with low water trees as a precaution.”
The RHS lists oak trees, particularly English oaks, as being trees which take a lot of water from the soil, “so may be more of a subsidence risk when planted on shrinkable clay”.
Ultimately, trees have huge benefits – they trap carbon and turn it into oxygen, they provide nesting sites for wildlife and they provide shade for the earth.
But if you do have an oak tree in your – or you want to plant one or cut one down – and you’re worried about subsidence risks, it’s important to check what kind of soil you have.
One final consideration is if you do decide to fell an oak tree, beware that it may be subject to a Tree Preservation Order.
You must get permission before any works on a tree protected by a TPO, at least six weeks in advance. This is usually for anyone living in a Conservation Area.