A tree branch came down at your rental: what to do first

A branch came down beside the house. Before anyone cleans it up, walk the whole side and photograph it as it is. The date on each photo is your proof of when it happened and what it looked like.

Updated October 19, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules about rentals differ by state, province and city, so check yours.

Walk the whole place and photograph it as it is. This clip: the side of a house after a branch came down.

A fallen tree branch lying across the ground beside a house wall — The photo you take first is the one that counts. Its date is your proof.

Stay safe first

Keep clear of a broken limb that is hanging, and of any wires, fences or gutters it may have pulled loose. Do not climb or cut a large branch yourself. If anything is touching a power line, stay away and call your utility or emergency number.

Walk the whole side, then photograph

Walk the whole area around the branch, then photograph in order: a wide shot that shows where it fell, a medium shot of the branch and what it landed on, and close shots of anything hurt. Look up at the wall, the roof edge and the gutter for marks or damage, and photograph those too. Do this before anyone moves the branch.

Include what is around it

Photograph nearby fences, gates, utility boxes, vents, windows and the wall closest to the tree. If something is already damaged, say so. If it looks fine, a photo showing that is just as useful.

Tell your landlord in writing, the same day

Send a short message with the photos attached: where the branch came down, when you noticed, and what it landed on. Ask what they want you to do. Yard and tree care is often the landlord's responsibility, but your lease decides. Use our repair request template.

Keep the record

Keep the photos, your message and the reply together. If damage shows up later, or the yard comes up at move-out, you have a dated record of what happened. See how to document damage in a rental and the move-out checklist.

In Dingkeep. Open Dingkeep, photograph the branch, and tap It showed up. You get a short dated note to your landlord and the photo stays in your record.

Dingkeep: Renter Photo Record. iPhone, United States and Canada.

Questions renters ask

Who removes a fallen tree branch at a rental?

It depends on your lease and local rules. Yard and tree care is often the landlord's job. Ask in writing and keep the reply.

Should I move the branch before photographing it?

Photograph first, from several angles. If it blocks a path and is safe to move, photograph it again once moved.

What if the branch damaged something?

Photograph the damage close up and wide, tell your landlord in writing the same day, and keep the dated record.