Oh, Those Annoying Neighbor’s Trees!!
It is very common in our local subdivisions for trees to be found close to the boundary line and to have grown to a point that they hang over our neighbor’s yard. Sometimes, these trees are often found hanging over the property of a neighbor that we do not get along with. State Representative Ryan Berman (R-Commerce Twp.) has introduced a bill to make the owner of a fallen tree responsible if it falls on a neighbor’s property, that is, for the removal of debris, clean up and the repairing of property. The tree’s owner could be responsible for all damages, even if it were damages caused by an “act of God”. Hardly seems fair if an “act of God” (wind, storms, hail) is involved that our home insurance would not pay. Trees are beautiful but may prove costly for some of us. This proposed law is called the Tree Owner Liability Act (HB4915). Stay tuned.
About the Author
I lived in a wooded subdivision in
Frankenmuth with many old growth
Trees exceeding 100 ft. In height. My
current insurance covers damage to my
property if a neighbors tree falls on my
house.
My only cost is my deductible. Wouldn’t
it Make sense to negotiate who pays the
deductible instead of the total damage?
Sure it would. Is it really your only cost though? Your insurance could go up and insurance companies may choose to do a more thorough examination of the tree risk to see what their exposures are for liability. Which means your insurance rates could increase.