Tree Surveys in London
Risk assessments, mortgage reports, insurance reports, and BS5837 tree surveys
North London’s Leading Arboricultural Consultants
London is home to over 8 million trees, an urban forest larger than the city’s human population. Many of those trees stand on private property, in conservation areas, or under Tree Preservation Orders, and the obligations that come with them shape decisions about planning, mortgages, insurance and safety.
A professional tree survey gives you the evidence you need to act, or to know that no action is required. We have produced detailed tree reports for homeowners, property buyers, landlords, developers and schools across North London for over 15 years, alongside our tree maintenance work.
What is a tree survey?
A tree survey is a professional inspection of trees on or near a property, producing a written report that records each tree’s condition, identifies risks, and recommends any necessary works.
Tree surveys serve as evidence for planning applications, mortgage and insurance providers, councils enforcing Tree Preservation Orders, and landowners managing their duty of care. They differ from informal tree inspections because they follow a defined methodology, document the inspector’s qualifications, and stand up to legal and regulatory scrutiny.
A survey may cover a single tree or hundreds across a development site. The type of survey you need depends on what the report is for: development, sale or purchase, an insurance claim, a school’s annual safety check, or works to a protected tree.
Types of tree survey services we provide
Different projects need different surveys. The six types below cover most of the situations we are asked about, from planning applications and insurance claims to council disputes and court proceedings.
BS5837 surveys for planning applications
A BS5837 survey is the assessment councils require for any planning application affecting trees on or adjacent to a development site. BS5837:2012 is the British Standard for trees in relation to design, demolition and construction, and it defines how surveyors record, grade and protect those trees.
The survey grades every relevant tree into one of four retention categories: A (high quality), B (moderate quality), C (low quality), or U (unsuitable for retention). The grading then drives three documents that go in with the planning application.
First, a tree survey schedule listing every tree and its category. Second, a Tree Constraints Plan showing Root Protection Areas around the trees you intend to keep. Third, a Tree Protection Plan with an Arboricultural Method Statement that sets out how trees will be protected during construction.
Councils will not validate planning applications where trees are affected without these. We deliver BS5837 surveys across North London for residential extensions, new builds, school sites, refurbishments, and commercial tree surgery projects. The gov.uk explanatory notes on tree surveys and impact assessments cover the framework in detail.
Tree risk assessment surveys
Tree risk assessment surveys evaluate the likelihood and consequence of failure for each tree on a site. We use QTRA (Quantified Tree Risk Assessment), which assigns numerical risk values based on target presence, tree condition and failure probability, and VTA (visual tree assessment) for non-quantitative structural inspections.
Landowners have a duty of care to anyone using their site, and a documented risk assessment is how that duty is demonstrated. Risk assessments cover schools, commercial properties, blocks of flats, and large gardens.
Where a tree is identified as dangerous, our emergency tree removal team can act quickly.
Mortgage and pre-purchase tree reports
Mortgage lenders sometimes require a tree report before approving a loan against a property, particularly where trees could pose risk to the building or affect subsidence likelihood. Pre-purchase reports serve the same role for buyers: they identify trees that could complicate the transaction, the property’s planning history, or future insurance coverage.
Reports typically cost £360 inc VAT and are returned within a week of the site visit. Solicitors, mortgage advisers and insurance brokers across North London refer clients to us for these reports.
Insurance reports for subsidence and tree damage claims
Insurance reports document trees in relation to subsidence claims, storm damage, or root damage to property. Insurers want clear evidence: tree species, distance from buildings, soil type, condition, and likelihood of involvement in the claim.
Reports may be required before a policy is issued or as part of an active claim. We work with householders and loss adjusters across London and provide reports that meet the standards insurers expect.
TPO and conservation area advice
We handle TPO and conservation area work across North London on clients’ behalf, from status checks to submitting the right notice or application. In London, many trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), located in a conservation area, or both.
Working on a protected tree without consent is a criminal offence and can result in fines of up to £20,000. Before any works, we check the tree’s status with the local planning authority and submit the appropriate planning application or section 211 notice on your behalf.
Our guide to the legal rules on cutting down trees in the UK explains the process in more detail.
Expert witness and legal reports
We write arboricultural expert witness reports for tree disputes that go to court or tribunal: disputes between neighbours, councils, developers and insurers all qualify. Reports follow the Civil Procedure Rules Part 35 framework and include qualifications, methodology, findings, and an opinion to assist the court. Get in touch to discuss whether your case is suitable.
Your tree surveyor: Sean Galton
Sean Galton is Forbes Tree Care’s lead arboricultural surveyor and has run the company’s survey work since founding it in 2010. He holds three industry-recognised qualifications and has carried out hundreds of inspections across London, including regular Risk Assessment Reports for schools, several of them rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
Sean Galton’s qualifications include:
- Professional Tree Inspection (PTI): qualifies him to conduct advanced tree health and safety inspections to current arboricultural standards.
- Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA): licensed methodology for assigning numerical risk values to trees based on target presence, condition and probability of failure.
- Visual Tree Assessment (VTA): structured visual inspection method for assessing tree condition and identifying structural defects.
If you have a school site, a portfolio of properties, or an unusual tree situation, you can ask for Sean directly.
How much does a tree survey cost?
Costs depend on the type of report, the number of trees on site, and what the report is for. Our published prices for tree surveys and reports are:
- Tree reports: from £300+
- Mortgage and insurance reports: typically £360 inc VAT
- Risk assessments: priced by tree count and size; we quote on site visits
- Planning application submissions: £144 inc VAT (free when we carry out the resulting tree work)
What drives the cost varies by survey type. BS5837 surveys scale with tree count and complexity of the development site.
Risk assessments scale with the number of trees and how detailed the report needs to be. Mortgage and insurance reports are typically a fixed-fee single-tree report unless the property has multiple trees of concern.
We always provide a written quote before commissioning work. To learn more about pricing across all our tree services, see our full cost breakdown for tree surgeon services.
How Does it Work?
1. Send Us an Enquiry
Provide a brief description of your requirements. We’ll schedule an appointment to assess your trees and discuss what needs doing.
2. Get a Free Quote
Our friendly team will provide a competitive quote along with our next available date to complete the work.
3. Work Begins!
Our tree surgeons will arrive at the agreed time to carry out work – you don’t need to be in unless we can’t access the site without you.
Why Choose Forbes Tree Care?
- Fully qualified team of skilled arborists
- Clear, honest and friendly advice
- Bespoke services tailored to your needs
- Quick and easy quoting
- Extremely fast turnaround times
- Affordable prices and quality service
- Fully insured for all types of tree works
- Family owned and operated company
- Sustainable, zero-waste tree care services
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All Over North London
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Tree Survey & Report FAQs
A tree survey is a professional inspection of trees on or near a property, producing a written report that records each tree's condition, identifies any risks, and recommends works. Surveys are commissioned for planning applications, mortgage and insurance providers, council enforcement of TPOs, and landowner duty-of-care obligations.
A tree survey is required for planning applications affecting trees and for mortgage or insurance provider requirements. It is also required for works on a TPO-protected tree or one in a conservation area, and to demonstrate duty-of-care to people using your site.
Tree surveys are typically considered current for one to two years, but the period depends on the purpose. Planning authorities often require recent surveys (within 12 months) for active applications.
Insurance providers may have specific freshness requirements. Risk assessments should be repeated annually for sites with public access.
A tree survey should be carried out by a qualified arboricultural consultant or surveyor. Look for the Professional Tree Inspection (PTI) certificate, a QTRA licence, or membership of the Arboricultural Association. Our lead surveyor, Sean Galton, holds the PTI certificate, the QTRA licence and VTA training.
A tree survey report includes each tree's species and dimensions, condition grading, photographs, location plans, any retention category assignments (for BS5837 surveys), Root Protection Area calculations, identified risks, and recommended works. The exact contents depend on the survey type and the purpose of the report.
Yes. Forbes Tree Care holds £2 million Professional Indemnity insurance, which covers our advisory and reporting work, and £10 million Public Liability insurance, which covers our site visits and tree works. Insurance certificates are available on request.
Yes. We carry out school site risk assessments across North London for primary schools, secondary schools and independent schools. Reports cover the whole tree stock, prioritise works by risk, and meet the duty-of-care obligations expected of school site managers.
Forbes Tree Care takes survey bookings three ways: through the form at the bottom of this page, by email to sean@forbestreecare.com, or by phone on 07921 149 118. We aim to respond within 24 hours with availability and a quote. Most reports are returned within a week of the site visit.
Learn About Tree Survey & Report Services
Get a Free Quote
If you’re based in North London and in need of professional tree care services, simply fill out the form below detailing your requirements. Our friendly team will come back to you within 24 hours with an affordable quote for the work. We look forward to hearing from you.