Trees & the law

[Miss Inquiry]

I have a very big tree in my garden, I have called the council and it dose not have a preservation order on it so I am entitled to cut it down.
If it was to fall on someones elses house before I save enough money to cut it down, do I have to pay their damages? Similarly, if my next door neighbours equally huge tree falls on my house, who pays for the damage?
Also dose anyone know how much cutting down a tree costs? It's a silver birch and about 5 storeys high, in the back garden of a mid terraced house (so getting it out of the garden onced felled might be a pain).

[Ethel]

It will cost you around �300 to have it cut down and taken away - get some quotes.

If it falls down you are responsible for any damage it causes - your insurance may pay up for neighbours' damage.

If your neighbours' tree falls on your house - they are responsible for damage caused.