Ah, the joys of home buying, yet another potential hurdle to consider…
As many of us know, purchasing our first home is far from simple. Not only is it a significant financial investment, but it also often comes with hidden issues that can turn your dream home into a nightmare.
Lois Connelly is someone who unfortunately experienced this first-hand.
The Brit has issued a warning to first-time buyers about a red flag she encountered while house hunting in Bristol, UK, at a property she nearly purchased.
Last year, she was in the midst of buying a terraced home when she noticed something in the garden that she initially did not recognize as a red flag.
Connelly, who works for the NHS, told Wales Online: “It was my sister who spotted the bamboo initially when we viewed the property.”
Indeed, bamboo had been planted ‘directly into the ground in both the back and front gardens’.
“Although it had been cut back, we could see it had spread and was growing right up against the house on both sides,” she added.
“When the surveyor flagged it up on his report, recommending that it be checked by an expert, I realised I was going to have to do something about it.”
While some may think bamboo is a charming garden addition, Homebuilding & Renovating warns that bamboo rhizomes can undermine a property’s foundations. This poses concerns not only for the structural condition of the property but also for potential disputes or legal actions involving affected neighbors.
Connelly continued: “The bamboo was already on the run and it was only a matter of time until it started causing damage to the property.
“As it was already encroaching into next door’s garden, I was also worried about the risk of a legal case against me as the new homeowner.
“I would advise anyone buying a property with bamboo in the garden to have a professional survey done and if necessary, be prepared to walk away if the seller won’t resolve it.”
This is exactly what Connelly did – a decision that potentially saved her thousands of pounds.
The publication went on to explain that in 2022, a homeowner in England faced a far more severe bamboo issue, with the plant growing through her flooring. The cost to fix the damage was around $131,000.
It seems bamboo has joined the ranks of property red flags, right alongside black mould and poor lighting!