Subsidence claims are costing local authorities in excess of £200m a year, mainly due to claims relating to damage done by trees, claimed Alarm, the national forum for risk management in the public sector.
It warned that this figure looked set to rise following this year's dry summer, presenting a major risk to local authorities which are responsible for thousands of trees.
Structural engineer Pat Robson said at the Alarm's annual Southeast conference: "Early diagnosis is easy and can reduce much of the costs borne by the local authorities.
"Early risk assessments are also important, to gauge the level of risk from the outset and allow the authority to monitor areas of highest concern."
Alarm has developed a special interest group, the Tree Forum, made up of insurers, local authority risk managers and arboriculturalists, claims handlers, loss adjusters, brokers, independent experts and solicitors.
It was designed to help local authorities minimise the cost and extent of tree root subsidence claims.
