A Neighbor's Tree Fell on My House I Have No Insurance

Published on March 25th, 2023

When a tree falls on your home, it can be devastating. Fallen trees may damage or destroy property and even injure people.

If you don't have a homeowners insurance policy and your neighbor's tree falls on your home, you might wonder who will be liable for damages to your house and any other structures on your property.

This guide will teach you what steps to take when this happens, including how to determine who owns the tree in the first place, who to call, how to properly document the event and your next steps as a homeowner.

Determine Who Owns the Tree Based on the Property Line

Determining who owns the tree can be tricky. Depending on where it is located, you may need to consult an attorney or a surveyor. If the tree is determined to be located on your neighbor's property, then under most circumstances, those trees belong to that person. This means that if one falls into their yard, they are responsible for removing it or paying for its removal.

You'll want to check with local laws about how far back from each side of a property line trees must be planted, so there aren't any surprises like this when disaster strikes!

Assess the Damage to Your Property from the Fallen Tree

If your neighbor's tree has fallen on your property and damaged it, you should first assess the damage to your house and other structures. Look for:

• Damage to the roof
• Damage to the foundation
• Damage to garages and carports
• Broken windows the tree caused
• Any structural damage



If you have a car, boat, or motorcycle that was damaged by a tree falling or branches, then you can make an insurance claim for those losses as well.

If your neighbor is insured, they should contact their homeowner's insurance company to begin a claim. Even during extreme weather events, which is typically a covered peril under a homeowner's insurance policy, your neighbor's insurer should cover the damage. This covered damage with comprehensive coverage from home insurance includes:



• Damaged caused by the tree in your neighbor's yard or neighbor's property
• Damages caused by tree falls on your house
• Damage to your fence

Take Pictures of the Damage, Pull Video from Home Security, and Keep a Record of Any Conversations with your Neighbor About Tree Damages

To make the insurance claim process easier with your neighbor's homeowners insurance or an independent insurance agent from fallen tree damage, be sure to follow the below tips if a tree falls on your house:



• Photograph the damage. Take pictures of the tree, property, and any damage from a distance before you touch anything.
• Keep a record of any conversations with your neighbor. You may need this for insurance purposes later on, so make sure you have copies of all emails, texts, or phone calls exchanged between the two of you about removing or pruning trees in common areas outside both houses' fences or walls.

Consult With a Professional Tree Removal Service

It's important that you know how much money it will take to make repairs so that you can plan accordingly and provide your neighbor's homeowners insurance company with estimates for removal, which will be needed to settle the case.

Find out how much it costs for a professional tree removal service in your area.

Get Estimates from Contractors For Repairing Damage to Your Home

If your home has been damaged by a falling tree, get an estimate from a contractor for the cost of repairing the damage. This estimate or multiple estimates will also be needed for a homeowner's insurance to process the claim for both you and your neighbor.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you and your neighbor are legally liable for the trees on your own property, including overhanging branches, even from a healthy tree.

If not, which is rare, you can talk with an independent insurance agent about how much it will cost to repair or replace damaged items. You should also contact an arborist or tree removal service if there are any dead trees on your property that pose a risk of falling over onto other houses nearby.

How to Prepare in the Future as a Responsible Homeowner

To avoid property damage in the future from damage caused by falling trees, the best thing you can do is to seek professional help with inspecting your property for trees that may fall in the future. We suggest that you pay a local arborist to come and inspect your yard for damaged plant and trees around your property, regularly take care of large dead limbs, and take any action needed to maintain the health of your trees.