What's the "Good Neighbor" Policy for a Fallen Tree?

[DVCLiz]

I know legally everything is covered under my homeowner's insurance and I should expect to pay to have a fallen tree cut up and taken away, as well as pay for the repairs to my garage roof and two sections of fence, one on each side of my driveway, that were damaged.

A neighbor's tree fell in the windstorm we are having today - if it's a sign of things to come I don't want to see what tomorrow brings, because it hasn't even gotten that windy here yet. This tree is probably about 30 feet tall, two feet in diameter, with a central trunk that branches into two trunks and then into lots of smaller branches etc. It fell out of their yard onto my perimeter fence, across my driveway, settled on the fence on the opposite side of the driveway, and there it rests. There is slight damage to my garage - some shingles off and maybe a hole where the top branch must have brushed past, damage to the corner of the garage where there is a downspout and gutter (I don't see any damage to the building itself) and then fence damage. The fence on their side is more heavily damaged.

I could easily let this be for a while because it doesn't affect where I let my dog out but the section of damaged fence that shares a boundary line with their backyard will be a problem for them because there is a gap large enough for their two dogs to squeeze through.

I'm just curious if you've had any experience with fallen trees and good neighbors. I really like these neighbors - I often hear them outside on their patio in the summer, having parties with lots of tiki torches and jazz music - but I wouldn't say we are BFF (I'm a single mother in her mid 50s and they are a gay male couple in their 30s) so we don't socialize much. Still, very friendly when we see each other over the fence and out in public sometimes, and I really like them both very much.

Given that we both use yard services and I don't think there's a chainsaw among us do you think they will make any effort to do any of the repair work or offer to help pay for the damage? Have you had neighbors who helped/repaired damage when it was their tree falling on your property?

Just trying to anticipate what might happen - I've already called my contractor who also does minor home repairs and asked him to put me on the list for tomorrow.

I think if it had been my tree I'd offer to pay for the repairs or at least split the cost as a good will gesture, especially if neither of us wanted to file a homeowner's claim for a relatively minor event. Just wondering what you guys think...

 

[jaminmd]

I know legally everything is covered under my homeowner's insurance and I should expect to pay to have a fallen tree cut up and taken away, as well as pay for the repairs to my garage roof and two sections of fence, one on each side of my driveway, that were damaged.

A neighbor's tree fell in the windstorm we are having today - if it's a sign of things to come I don't want to see what tomorrow brings, because it hasn't even gotten that windy here yet. This tree is probably about 30 feet tall, two feet in diameter, with a central trunk that branches into two trunks and then into lots of smaller branches etc. It fell out of their yard onto my perimeter fence, across my driveway, settled on the fence on the opposite side of the driveway, and there it rests. There is slight damage to my garage - some shingles off and maybe a hole where the top branch must have brushed past, damage to the corner of the garage where there is a downspout and gutter (I don't see any damage to the building itself) and then fence damage. The fence on their side is more heavily damaged.

I could easily let this be for a while because it doesn't affect where I let my dog out but the section of damaged fence that shares a boundary line with their backyard will be a problem for them because there is a gap large enough for their two dogs to squeeze through.

I'm just curious if you've had any experience with fallen trees and good neighbors. I really like these neighbors - I often hear them outside on their patio in the summer, having parties with lots of tiki torches and jazz music - but I wouldn't say we are BFF (I'm a single mother in her mid 50s and they are a gay male couple in their 30s) so we don't socialize much. Still, very friendly when we see each other over the fence and out in public sometimes, and I really like them both very much.

Given that we both use yard services and I don't think there's a chainsaw among us do you think they will make any effort to do any of the repair work or offer to help pay for the damage? Have you had neighbors who helped/repaired damage when it was their tree falling on your property?

Just trying to anticipate what might happen - I've already called my contractor who also does minor home repairs and asked him to put me on the list for tomorrow.

I think if it had been my tree I'd offer to pay for the repairs or at least split the cost as a good will gesture, especially if neither of us wanted to file a homeowner's claim for a relatively minor event. Just wondering what you guys think...

Our neighbors tree fell into our pool. She refused to split the cost or do anything about. The morning after it happened she rang our doorbell and started telling us how when trees fall into someone else's yard, it's their responsibility, blah blah blah, so we knew how that was going to go.

Half of the tree was still in her yard. DH and I cut it up with a chainsaw and threw 50% of the branches over the fence for her to discard.

She was a complete *** about the entire situation so I do NOT feel bad one bit for what we did. She has two adult sons that live with her but she refused to ask them to help.

 

[POPCITY]

I've never been in that position, fortunately, but if it was my tree, I would offer to pay, at least half if not all.

So sorry this happened to you!

 

[tvguy]

I know legally everything is covered under my homeowner's insurance and I should expect to pay to have a fallen tree cut up and taken away, as well as pay for the repairs to my garage roof and two sections of fence, one on each side of my driveway, that were damaged.
...

You have better insurance than my neighbor or I do. Her tree fell on my garage, both our insurance companies said it was an act of god and not covered. Damage was minimal, I fixed it myself. Neighbor called a tree service and paid to have the tree cut up and removed..out of her own pocket, and refused any money from me.

 

[disneymarie]

I would start a conversation with them. You are a single mom, they are young, I assume two incomes. Crying will help,

 

[Pixiedust34]

Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, we did a lot of research on trees and neighbors. Unfortunately, if a neighbor's tree falls on your property, it's now your problem, responsibility, and insurance that legally owns the situation. That said, it would be nice if a neighbor (the original owner of the tree) volunteers to share cost and/or labor of tree removal.

I'd go over and talk about the tree damage. You may have to ask up front if they can help with removal or damage, and hopefully they will volunteer to do so. It sounds like they are good neighbors, and I hope they'll volunteer to help you. Good luck!

 

[krcit]

My backyard neighbor's tree fell into my fence and yard a few years ago. He got rid of the tree with some friends of his and we repaired the fence.

 

[SpecialK]

Our neighbor's tree fell in our yard, damaging our fence, garage and swing set. Our experience was similar to a previous poster's - as soon as the neighbor saw it she started talking "act of God" so we knew we were on our own.

We got bids for removal and they were all over the place. The one we chose did a great job and cost a third of what the first guy wanted.

 

[mississippi goofy]

My neighbors dead tree was leaning towards my house, but the owner of the property doesn't live here. I just called a tree cutter and had them cut it down. Notified my insurance company and they paid the bill.

 

[mjkacmom]

My neighbors dead tree was leaning towards my house, but the owner of the property doesn't live here. I just called a tree cutter and had them cut it down. Notified my insurance company and they paid the bill.

Never heard of that! We have had a few of our massive oaks fall on our property, and insurance paid for damage, but not removal, which cost hundreds. We have spent up to $1500 to remove an unsafe tree - insurance paid nothing.

OP, if they choose to help out, great, but they are not legally obligated, a.nd maybe can't afford to be nice. Most of the trees here that come down with storms are over a hundred years old.

 

[Jennasis]

During a storm years ago, a HUGE oak tree fell on my pasture fence. It had been on my neighbors side of the fence but the wind blew it down on my property. It was so large that it would have taken 2-3 adults holding hands to encircle its trunk. Anyhoo...the next day we called the property owner (it's farmland he grows crops on and he doesn't live there). Took some constant calling to get him on the phone but when he finally spoke to DH he sent over some of his guys with a tractor and got it pushed off my fence...sort of. It moved enough so that DH just had to cut up some of the larger branches. No offer made to repair the extensive fence damage.

 

[shoney]

during hurricane sandy, we had a row of 7 very large pine trees fall like dominoes onto the house. Knocked the chimney off the roof! Broke a skylight and other roof damage.
When I finally got the insurance check, I noticed they only paid to remove 1 tree.
I then called and was told they only pay for tree removal if it is on a covered structure.
Since the other 6 trees were on top of one another, they weren't covered by insurance!

I know another person whose tree fell onto the neighbors deck. She called her insurance company and they told her it isn't her problem. Her husband did go over and cut the tree up and removed it, even though he didn't have to. The other person was responsible for fixing their own home.

Up until Sandy, I was upset with my neighbor for cutting down all of their trees. It just looks so ugly without them. Now, I'm glad they aren't there!

 

[mamasuf]

We had a neighbor's tree fall in our yard during Hurricane Sandy along with lots of large branches. These folks have several large pine trees along the back of their yard. They moved in around five years ago and have never taken proper care of the trees. Never had them trimmed or cleaned up the needles or branches that fell so, unfortunately, my husband had quite an attitude already. Insurance Co. confirmed what I already knew - our property - our problem. It took my husband three days to chop up the mess and we had to hire a dumpster for all of the debris. Three different neighbors came over to help but not a peep from the tree owners.

I did a little research and found that if the trees are not properly cared for they ARE the tree-owners problem if they fall or cause any damage.

I sent them a certified letter putting them on notice that if they didn't care for the trees going forward, any damage was now their problem. Don't know if it will hold up in court but it felt good to do something.

 

[mjkacmom]

We had a neighbor's tree fall in our yard during Hurricane Sandy along with lots of large branches. These folks have several large pine trees along the back of their yard. They moved in around five years ago and have never taken proper care of the trees. Never had them trimmed or cleaned up the needles or branches that fell so, unfortunately, my husband had quite an attitude already. Insurance Co. confirmed what I already knew - our property - our problem. It took my husband three days to chop up the mess and we had to hire a dumpster for all of the debris. Three different neighbors came over to help but not a peep from the tree owners.

I did a little research and found that if the trees are not properly cared for they ARE the tree-owners problem if they fall or cause any damage.

I sent them a certified letter putting them on notice that if they didn't care for the trees going forward, any damage was now their problem. Don't know if it will hold up in court but it felt good to do something.

If it is documented, they are responsible now (but not the last time, since nothing was in writing).

 

[Maryr1]

My trees fell on my neighbors house.Two of them. About 1 minute apart.It was a freak windstorm where the wind speed was clocked at 90 mph. It only lasted a few minutes. The trees sheared off at the top of the first story level. It was very unusal. I felt awful! Her insurance covered everything including removing the trees down to the stump. I am not sure why..... anyway-I was at our other home-I drove up as fast as I could get there, helped her put her house back together-the impact knocked pictures of the walls etc., brought her dinner and payed her deductable. (I think it was around $500).Honestly, it was the least I could do.She had holes in her roof, her house needed to be repainted-it caused her an awful lot of inconvenience.

 

[Allison]

Happened to us also. Tree landed right on our house above my daughter's room. I don't think my neighbor ever ran so fast so she could make sure she wasn't hurt. Our insurance paid. The neighbor didn't pay anything and we didn't ask.

 

[DVCLiz]

I knew my neighbors would be great about it and they were. We've agreed to split the cost of having the tree cut up and removed, and I'll repair my own garage and fence, which I insisted on from the beginning. They are such nice guys and I really appreciate their attitudes.

And I would never cry about something like this, or pull the single mother card. Both of us have means to take care of this easily, plus I would be mortified to ever behave that way as a grown woman. I'm sure the poster who suggested it was kidding, but ...

 

[Uncle Remus]

I knew my neighbors would be great about it and they were. We've agreed to split the cost of having the tree cut up and removed, and I'll repair my own garage and fence, which I insisted on from the beginning. They are such nice guys and I really appreciate their attitudes.

And I would never cry about something like this, or pull the single mother card. Both of us have means to take care of this easily, plus I would be mortified to ever behave that way as a grown woman. I'm sure the poster who suggested it was kidding, but ...

I'm surprised they didn't decide to have a clean up party, the gays I know use anything and everything for a party.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I knew my neighbors would be great about it and they were. We've agreed to split the cost of having the tree cut up and removed, and I'll repair my own garage and fence, which I insisted on from the beginning. They are such nice guys and I really appreciate their attitudes.

And I would never cry about something like this, or pull the single mother card. Both of us have means to take care of this easily, plus I would be mortified to ever behave that way as a grown woman. I'm sure the poster who suggested it was kidding, but ...

So glad they are cooperating and that the tree won't cause any strife in your relationship in the future.

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm surprised they didn't decide to have a clean up party, the gays I know use anything and everything for a party.

I hope you meant this as a joke...