Trees on private property

Under the duty of care, landowners (or sometimes their tenants) are responsible for the safety of their trees. If you are concerned about a tree on private land the following steps are recommended:

1. Write to the occupier and tree owner sharing your concerns and asking them to have the tree checked by an arboriculturist. If that fails;
2. Seek advice from an independent arboriculturist and or third party mediation. If that fails;
3. Consider legal advice. It may be possible to secure a court injunction requiring the owner to deal with the tree.

You can get landowner details from the Land Registry.

See online guidance on trees and the law from the Arboriculture Association.

Dangerous protected (TPO or conservation area) trees 

Under the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012:

• If you need to prune or fell a tree in a conservation area, or a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), that presents an imminent and serious safety risk, you must give written notice to the local planning authority as soon as practicable after the works become necessary.
• If you need to fell a dead tree in a conservation area, or a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), you must give the local planning authority at least 5 days' written notice before carrying out the work. 

In either case, email planningconservation@lambeth.gov.uk.