Tree Reports by Peter Yeates Arboriculture
If a mortgage lender, insurer, planning officer or solicitor has just asked you for a "tree survey", you probably have two questions: what exactly do they want, and what will it cost? Here's the straight answer to both, from a team that carries out arboricultural surveys across Hampshire every week.
The Three Types of Tree Survey (and Which One You Need)
1. Mortgage & homebuyer tree reports
Requested by lenders when trees stand near a property you're buying. The surveyor assesses species, size, condition and distance from the building, and flags any subsidence or damage risk. Typical cost: Around £600 depending on the number of trees.
2. BS5837 surveys for planning & development
If you're extending, building or applying for planning permission near trees, the council will usually require a survey to British Standard 5837 - mapping every tree, its root protection area, and how the design must accommodate it. Typical cost: from £500 for a small residential plot, rising with site size and tree count.
3. Tree condition & safety surveys
For homeowners, landlords, schools and estates that simply need to know: is this tree safe? A condition survey inspects structure, disease, deadwood and risk, and gives you a written schedule of any work needed - which doubles as your duty-of-care evidence if anything is ever questioned. Typical cost: £400 for a domestic garden; larger sites priced per visit.
What's Actually Included
- A written report you can hand to your lender, insurer, solicitor or council
- Species identification, measurements, and condition assessment for each tree
- Clear recommendations - including "no work needed", which is often the answer
- A check of protection status: TPOs and conservation areas (see our TPO guide) — work on a protected tree without consent is a criminal offence, so this check matters
What Makes the Price Vary
Number of trees, site access, whether the report is for a lender (their templates take longer), and how fast you need it. Beware of surveys priced suspiciously low - a report a lender rejects is money spent twice.
Do You Actually Need a Survey?
Not always. If you're just worried about a tree's health, a free quote visit may answer the question without a formal report. You need the written survey when a third party, lender, insurer, council, solicitor has to rely on it. When in doubt, call us and we'll tell you honestly which one applies.
Peter Yeates Arboriculture carries out tree reports and surveys across Winchester, Southampton and Hampshire. Established 2011, fully insured, rated 9.9/10 from 100+ reviews.
