I almost bought a new house until something in the garden stopped me in my tracks… and it WASN’T Japanese knotweed

A first time buyer has revealed how she was stopped mid-sale after spotting a very costly hazard in the garden – and it wasn’t Japanese knotweed.

Lois Connelly, from Bristol, was due to buy a terraced house in the area in the autumn of 2023 and visited the house with her sister before completing the procedure.

However, Lois’s sibling soon discovered several bamboo shoots growing in the front and back yards and pointed out the potential problem.

Speak with Bristol LiveLois, who works for the NHS, said: ‘It was my sister who initially spotted the bamboo when we viewed the property. It was planted directly in the ground in both the back and front yards.

She added: ‘Although it had been cut back we could see it had spread and was growing against the house on both sides.’

Lois Connelly, from Bristol, was due to buy a terraced house in the area in the autumn of 2023 and visit the house with her sister to discover bamboo cultivation there.

Bamboo is increasingly labeled by surveyors as a valuable commodity, leaving sellers little choice but to remove it or accept a discount on the price to cover removal costs.

Specialists in invasive plants at Environment saw a staggering 55 per cent annual increase in bamboo removal from UK properties between June and December 2023, suggesting buyers are becoming increasingly aware of its risks and implications.

Lois’ homebuyer report raised the issue of bamboo and advised her to seek expert advice.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the bamboo on Lois’ future plot was a ‘running’ variety.

This meant that the destructive factory was already threatening underground services, including pipes and drains, and had begun to encroach on the adjacent site.

The health worker said: ‘The bamboo was already on the run and it was only a matter of time before it started causing damage to the property as it was already invading the neighbours’ garden.

“I was also concerned about the risk of a lawsuit against me as a new homeowner.”

Lois asked for a price reduction to finance the moving work, but the seller initially refused. However, after she withdrew her offer, they agreed to a price reduction that covered half of the moving costs.

Bamboo is increasingly identified as an issue by surveyors when purchasing and selling affected properties

Bamboo’s aggressive growth has earned it a notorious reputation, similar to Japanese knotweed, known for its ability to invade building structures and wreak havoc on property.

The invasive plant can penetrate foundations and walls, causing extensive damage and exorbitant removal costs

It poses a legal risk if bamboo invades neighboring properties and can result in prosecution or thousands of pounds in fines.

She added: ‘For me, this situation really highlights the lack of awareness around invasive bamboo, as even the seller’s agent didn’t seem to recognize the problem initially.

‘I would advise anyone buying a house with bamboo in the garden to have a professional survey done and, if necessary, be prepared to walk away if the seller doesn’t fix it.’

The aggressive growth of bamboo, often planted in borders and along boundary fences, has caused it to acquire a notorious reputation, similar to Japanese knotweed, known for its ability to invade building structures and cause extensive damage to property .

The invasive plant can penetrate foundations and walls, causing extensive damage and leading to excessive removal costs. It normally costs around £3,500 to professionally remove bamboo from a property.

It also poses a legal risk if bamboo invades neighboring properties, and could lead to prosecution or fines worth thousands of pounds.

Stephen Neville, 73, discovered bamboo plants growing out of his oven in December 2023 and cost him £6,000 to remove

In December 2023, a homeowner faced a years-long horror battle against ‘out of control’ bamboo growing out of his oven and costing him £6,000 to remove.

Stephen Neville, 73, from Northamptonshire, discovered the plant growing two meters tall in his kitchen when he returned from a family holiday to Center Parcs in the summer of 2022.

Mr Neville planted bamboo in his garden ten years ago, but the invasive plants quickly became unruly and found their way into his home.

Meanwhile, another homeowner, Isobel Chetwood, from Knutsford, Cheshire, was faced with £10,000 in damages after a neighbour’s bamboo plant invaded her garden.

After noticing the fast-growing plant appearing through a raised bed she had designated for strawberry plants, she realized there was a problem.

When the plant gained a foothold, it soon became apparent that tenants of the neighboring house had planted bamboo in the backyard.