Location: RI
So I own a multifamily in Providence, RI. My neighbor approached the co-owner/co-occupant of the second unit in the building today saying that her insurance company rejected her for renewal because the tree at the back corner of our property is presenting a tripping hazard due to pushing up the concrete in her backyard with its roots.
Honest truth, losing the tree isn’t the biggest deal ever, but we just bought this property a few months ago, and hell if it doesn’t suck to have to eat another cost for new owner fixup. If we gotta, we gotta but I want to understand any actual obligation and if maybe we’re being misled before we do anything here, in case maybe we can negotiate a split or the like.
Shitty MSPaint drawing included as per tree law. Black on the left side is her proper large wooden fence, red is our shitty tiny metal fence which the tree has largely eaten.
Comments
You are under no obligation to do anything to help your neighbor find an insurer. Your neighbor is free to remove her concrete slab or make any alterations to her property to appease her insurance.
She could also pay to have your tree removed. If you go that route I would make certain that she’s using a licensed and insured arborist and that she’s willing to take on any liability associated with the tree work.
It could be, but chopping down the tree is still going to leave the roots under the concrete, and it’s still going to be a tripping hazard. It’s her duty to rectify the issue with the concrete.
Almost certainly going to be cheaper to fix the concrete than the tree.