In article , Peter
writes

I just had the same problem with a conifer in my neighbours front garden.
There is a problem if you have clay soil, as it may cause the soil to
dehydrate and shrink, causing subsidence.You need to put something in
writing to your neighbour asking them to have the tree removed. If you do
this and they do not remove the tree, you should be able to reclaim the
£1000 excess, that normally exists on subsidence claims, should there be
damage to your property.

If there is no damage now, learn from my mistake. I spoke to my neighbour
twice about the tree in the last 7 years. My bay window has dropped, there
is damage to the party wall, the floor has cracked and it has cost me £1000
for the excess on the insurance.

So what happens if you do this, and the neighbour removes it, and you
get heave (conifer no longer taking water, soil becomes wetter and
swells, causing damage to foundations). You wouldn't have a claim
against him since he merely did as you asked, and presumably the
insurance company wouldn't be too keen to cough up either?

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm