Back to Home

Services 

Buy
Rent
Sell
Invest
Landlords

Our Offices 

Oakham Office
Stamford Office
Melton Office
Oundle Office

OnTheMarket
RightMove
Zoopla
© 2025 Osprey Property
Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions|Property Ombdusman Membership|Client Money Protection Certificate|Complaints Procedure|Propertymark Conduct & Membership Rules
Powered by
    Address required
    Search
    Logo

    Osprey Property are an independent, family owned Market Town Estate Agent and Letting Agent/specialist, with offices in Oakham, Oundle, Stamford and Melton

    LogoLogo

    Our Branches

    Stamford Office

    7 Red Lion St,
    Stamford PE9 1PA

    t: 01780 769269
    Stamford Team

    Oakham Office

    4 Burley Rd,
    Oakham LE15 6DH

    t: 01572 756675
    Oakham Team

    Melton Office

    8 Burton Road,
    Melton Mowbray LE13 1AE

    t: 01664 778170
    Melton Team

    Oundle Office

    6 Crown Court, Market Place,
    Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4BQ

    t: 01832 272225
    Oundle Team

    Sales

    Is bamboo the new Japanese knotweed?

    about 2 years ago
    Is bamboo the new Japanese knotweed?

    Problems with Japanese knotweed are well documented, with this invasive species sometimes preventing buyers from getting a mortgage on an affected property. While home movers are busy keeping an eye out for Japanese knotweed, they may be overlooking a different horticultural threat.


    Gardener’s favourite falling foul 

    Bamboo is becoming an issue in the UK’s back gardens. It actually spreads faster and further than Japanese knotweed but its reputation is intact. Often planted for screening and for its decorative properties, bamboo can often be found at a property’s boundary. Its encroachment habit is becoming the source of legal disputes more frequently, with neighbours falling out over the plant crossing from one garden to another and becoming a nuisance.

    Potential to cause property damage

    As well as being an annoyance at boundaries, certain types of bamboo planted too close to a property can damage brick foundations. Additionally, bamboo rhizomes – the creeping part of the plant – are constantly growing in search of water. They will find and exploit cracks in patios, weak spots in driveways, force their way between roof shingle and even grow through pipes, such as central heating ducts.

    More caution required

    Despite the ability to damage a property – and the owner’s relationship with their neighbours – a YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people commissioned by Environet found almost a fifth of British adults had bamboo either in their own garden or at an adjacent property. Worryingly, only 24% of those questioned said they would be concerned if they knew bamboo was growing at their home or nearby.

    Although the species’ presence does not have to legally be declared by the seller at the moment, it’s worth noting that mortgage lenders are monitoring the number of legal claims where bamboo has been involved. If the issue becomes more epidemic in nature, it may be added to the watch list alongside Japanese knotweed.

    Running or clumping?

    There are two main types of bamboo – running and clumping. Running is the type to be most concerned about as it spreads aggressively and is hard to contain. While clumping bamboo is often sold as a more compact and manageable variety, it also bears a large, underground root and rhizome system.

    Advice for sellers

    The best advice is to avoid planting bamboo completely but if you love the look, don’t plant bamboo directly into the ground. Instead opt for clumping bamboo in pots but you’ll still have to check for roots trying to escape out of any drainage holes. If you already have bamboo in your garden and would like it removed, call a specialist contractor who has the correct knowledge and excavation equipment to successfully treat the affected area.

    Advice for buyers

    If you are worried that a property you might like to buy has bamboo in the garden, it will be your responsibility to commission a report that identifies its presence, and qualifies if it’s a danger to the property and those that neighbour it. You can also ask your solicitor to enquire specifically about bamboo and other invasive plants as it’s not a question of the TA6 Sellers’ Property Information Form.

    If you would like more information about the house buying and selling process, please don’t hesitate to contact us for advice.

    Share this article

    More Articles

    Small but mighty: modest improvements that add the most value & appeal

    Small but mighty: modest improvements that add the most value & appeal

    Published 18 days ago

    An article recently published by Property Reporter effectively sounded the death knell for big budget home improvements. Instead, it used information from property firm Stacks to claim purchasers were being drawn to good value properties that needed more manageable, achievable – and cheaper – upgrades.

    Read More
    6 things you must know about Wills, title deeds & buying a property

    6 things you must know about Wills, title deeds & buying a property

    Published about 2 months ago

    You’ve found a property you love, your offer has been accepted and you’ve appointed a conveyancer to handle the legal transaction. Now there’s a pressing question. Your solicitor asks you to choose between sole ownership, joint tenants or tenants in common – a decision that affects what happens to your property if you die or end the relationship with the person you are buying with. 

    Read More
    Commonhold: the future of flat ownership

    Commonhold: the future of flat ownership

    Published 2 months ago

    If you live in England and Wales and plan to buy a new build flat in the future, there’s a high chance it will be sold as commonhold. If you own an existing leasehold flat or plan to purchase one, it should become easier to switch from leaseholder to commonholder in the next few years.

    Read More

    Sign up for our newsletter

    Subscribe to receive the latest property market information to your inbox, full of market knowledge and tips for your home.

    You may unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.