Tree blown over onto our land

[Chris Poole]

I lease a strip of land from my local district council. They came and maintained the trees last summer and then granted a lease of �1 per year of this strip of land that runs alongside our house. In the winds last week, a seventy foot which was in the leased strip of land, fell over onto our lawn. Removal costs are about �700.00. Can I fget the council to pay for this removal. They are being a little beligerant.

[steve2010]

as you lease the land,you must have some sort of contract with the council,and i would think it is up to you to maintain and keep it in order,which means it would be your responsibility to clear it away,but try and be nice to them and they might pay half of the costs,but check the lease papers.

[Chris Poole]

Thanks Steve, I have been the model of politeness. There is nothing in the lease apart form 'to keep the land clean and tidy'. It is a council lease, but does not read very professionally.

My next step is to meet the council in the middle, but I thought I would gauge general opinion first.

[Nether Edge]

Lease was probably granted so Council could lumber (!) you with responsibility for tree etc. If you agreed the deal and executed counterpart lease, you cannot now seek to re-open the transaction.