Buying a House With Bamboo Can Be A Costly Mistake

Ensure You Do Not Buy a Bamboo Problem

Bamboo can and regulary does:

• Can affect property values.
• Result in lower offers being forwarded in property negotiations.
• Cause property sales to fall through.
• Increase legal costs and the length of conveyancing.
• Create boundary disputes.
• Home buyers inheriting costly bamboo removal costs.

Bamboo Noted On Home Surveys

Bamboo is increasingly being noted on UK property surveys due to its ability to cause damage and legal disputes.
Whilst it is currently not a legal requirement to mention bamboo, many thorough surveys will highlight the presence of bamboo especially when the bamboo is noted on or near a boundary or in close proximity to the property or a neighbouring property.

This is where most of the issues lie, most bamboo are planted to provide an attractive privacy screen, normally from neighbouring properties, very often planted on a boundary line.

Bamboo Encroachment.

Bamboo spreads, it is this spread that causes the issues.
When bamboo spreads into a neighbouring property the legal issues can start.
This encroachment is covered under “Nuisance Legislation” in the UK, if the affected homeowner complains or asks for this encroaching bamboo to be removed it is likely causing a boundary dispute.

Boundary Disputes.

If a boundary dispute is formed, it is a legal requirement to note this on the TA6 Property Information Form, failure to do so could result in a situation of Breach of Contract and costly legal proceedings.

If you are buying a property with bamboo located on the boundary line, it is absolutely vital to be clear if the bamboo has encroached into the neighbouring property,  if it has whether the owner of the affected property has made a complaint regarding it, if so it should be noted on the TA6 Property Information Form.

Problematic Bamboo Varieties

The bamboo varieties that are most commonly planted in the UK are Pseudosasa japonica (Arrow Bamboo) and Phyllostachys variants, including aurea, bissetti, nigra and aureosulcata ‘Spectabilis’,  it is these varieties that we see most often and cause most problems.
It is likely that the bamboo you see planted will be one of these.

The Reality Of Bamboo And Property Sales

It is likely that if bamboo exists in a property that is for sale, it will cause problems during the sale process.

The best and least expensive option is to fully and professionally remove the bamboo before the property is marketed.

Failure to do so is likely to be result is unnecessary inconvenience and costs for all involved.