Which Tree Survey Do I Need?

Are You Buying a Property?

If you are buying a property and your mortgage lender or solicitor has flagged a tree close to the building — or if you are concerned about a tree near the property you are purchasing — you need a pre-purchase tree report, also called a mortgage tree report or homebuyer tree report.

A pre-purchase tree report is produced by a qualified arboricultural surveyor and assesses the risk posed by nearby trees to the building — from root damage and subsidence, branch failure, and direct stem contact. The report is produced in a format accepted by all major mortgage lenders and typically delivered within 48 hours of the site visit.

Urban Tree Management provides pre-purchase and mortgage tree reports for homebuyers across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, and the wider North West.

→ You need a Pre-Purchase Tree Report — find out more

Are You Concerned About a Tree's Safety?

If you manage land with trees — a housing estate, school, business park, care home, park, or private garden — and you need to know whether your trees are safe, you need a tree risk assessment, also called a tree safety survey or tree condition survey.

A tree risk assessment is carried out by a qualified arboricultural surveyor using the Visual Tree Assessment methodology. Every tree is inspected for signs of structural weakness, decay, disease, and instability. Where elevated risk is identified Urban Tree Management applies QTRA — Quantified Tree Risk Assessment — assigning a numerical probability to the risk that allows management decisions to be made on a defensible, evidence-based basis.

Tree risk assessments produce a prioritised works schedule — telling you which trees need attention, what works are required, and in what timescale — giving you the audit trail of professional inspection that demonstrates your duty of care to insurers, governance teams, and legal advisors.

→ You need a Tree Risk Assessment — find out more

Are You Worried About Decay or Structural Defects?

If a specific tree is showing signs of concern — fungal brackets at the base, crown dieback, an old wound that looks wrong, a history of branch failures — and a standard visual inspection is not enough to determine the extent of the problem, you need a specialist tree decay detection investigation.

Urban Tree Management carries out Arbotom sonic tomography and IML Resistograph resistance drilling — the most advanced combination of diagnostic tools available for assessing internal tree condition. These investigations produce objective, measurable evidence of the tree's internal condition before any management recommendation is made — allowing proportionate decisions to be made based on evidence rather than precaution.

→ You need a Decay Detection Investigation — find out more

 Do You Have a Veteran or Ancient Tree?

If you have a tree that may be veteran or ancient — a very old oak, yew, beech, or other long-lived species showing the biological and structural features of great age — it requires a specialist assessment that goes beyond a standard tree survey.

A veteran tree survey records the species, form, dimensions, vitality, structural condition, and habitat value of the tree in detail — and produces an Individual Tree Management Plan covering a minimum 30-year period. This is the approach recommended for ancient and veteran trees and provides the evidential basis for engagement with the local planning authority, Historic England, and the Ancient Tree Forum where required.

→ You need a Veteran Tree Survey — find out more

Do You Have a Tree with a Preservation Order?

If you want to carry out works to a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order — or a tree in a Conservation Area — you need to apply to your local planning authority for consent before any works begin. Urban Tree Management provides TPO advice and submits TPO applications on behalf of homeowners and developers across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cheshire.

If you are not sure whether your tree has a TPO contact Urban Tree Management and we will check for you free of charge.

→ You need TPO Advice — find out more

What is the Difference Between a Tree Surveyor and an Arboricultural Surveyor?

There is no difference. The terms tree surveyor, arboricultural surveyor, arboricultural consultant, and tree consultant all describe the same professional — a qualified specialist who inspects trees and produces written reports on their condition, safety, constraints, and value.

The important distinction is between a tree surveyor and a tree surgeon. A tree surgeon carries out physical works on trees — pruning, felling, stump grinding. A tree surveyor assesses trees and advises on what needs doing — without carrying out the works themselves. An independent tree surveyor has no financial stake in recommending works. Urban Tree Management is completely independent from any tree surgery contractor — our arboricultural surveyors have no financial interest in the works they recommend.

How Much Does a Tree Survey Cost?

Tree survey costs vary depending on the type of survey, the number of trees, and the complexity of the site. Urban Tree Management provides all surveys on a fixed-fee basis — you will always know exactly what you will pay before we attend site.



• Pre-purchase and mortgage tree reports — from £195
• Single tree risk assessment — from £195
• BS5837 planning surveys — from £395 for smaller sites
• Cyclical inspection programmes — quoted individually based on portfolio size
• Decay detection investigations — quoted individually based on requirements

Contact Urban Tree Management with your site address and a brief description of your requirements and we will provide a free fixed-fee written quote — typically within two hours during working hours.

FAQ