Conveyancers and homebuyers are being warned of the potential impact of bamboo on properties as awareness grows of the damage it can cause, with a 50% annual increase in enquiries for bamboo removal relating to property transactions in the last six months compared to the same period last year.
The research has been conducted by Environet who say bamboo infestations are costing homebuyers ‘thousands of pounds to remedy after they’ve moved in.’ Unlike Japanese Knotweed, which must be declared on the TA6 Property Information Form, bamboo does not meaning there is no obvious legal recourse against a seller if it’s discovered post-sale. The firms say homebuyers must rely on their own checks, and those carried out by their surveyor, to identify its presence and any evidence it may be spreading.
Environet’s own data indicates that bamboo is being flagged up more frequently on property surveys but are concerned many surveyors are still failing to identify the problem. Approximately 8% of homes in the UK are currently directly affected by bamboo; around 2 million dwellings.
YouGov research commissioned this year by the firm indicates where people are aware of a bamboo problem on a property they want to buy, four fifths would take some kind of action. Nearly a quarter of people (24%) would walk away from a property altogether, while a third (32%) would insist the seller had it removed before the sale went ahead. A further 26% would opt to negotiate a discount on the property price to reflect the cost of having the plant professionally removed themselves, after they move in.
Bamboo can cause damage to lawns, paths, patios and homes and often encroaches on adjacent properties due to the 10m distance shoots can travel from the parent plant. Environet have advised sellers deal with the issue and/or buyers renegotiate the sale price to avoid potential damage and legal disputes can arise between neighbours.
“Nobody wants to inherit a stressful and expensive issue when they buy a property, but this is frequently happening with bamboo as there is no legal framework to protect buyers, as there is for Japanese knotweed. We’ve seen cases where clients have moved into their new home and they’ve barely unpacked before their new neighbour has knocked on the door asking what they’re going to do about the bamboo which is spreading onto their property.”
said Environet Director, Emily Grant, adding:
“In our view, mature bamboo which is planted directly into the ground should be flagged on a property survey, recommending the buyer undertake further investigations to find out whether it’s spreading and what it would cost to remove. In addition to potential damage to their own property and garden, buyers need to consider the risk of a legal case from a neighbour if the bamboo encroaches into their property.”
Bamboo is removed by excavating the root ball from the ground and removing every long lateral rhizome from the ground. Even if they’re severed, any rhizomes left behind will regrow via new shoots emerging from the nodes that grow along the stem. It typically costs around £3,500 +VAT to remove bamboo from a residential property.