First-time buyer withdraws offer after spotting a 'red flag' in the garden

A first-time buyer made the decision to withdraw her offer from the property she was in love with, after spotting a 'red flag' in the garden.

When it comes to buying a house in the UK these days, there really isn't much to choose from and if you find something you don't like, then the reality is someone else will buy it and try to sell it for a profit before you can even say Zoopla.

Considering some of the house prices down south, which includes 'Britain's tiniest house' which recently went on sale for more than £200k, it's easy to rush into a decision when you spot one that looks and feels right.

NHS worker Lois was clearly enamoured with the terraced house she spotted in Bristol and presented her offer, until one thing in the garden caused her to think again.

She viewed the house with her sister and realised that there was a significant amount of bamboo growing in the garden, which is apparently only good news if you have the diet of a giant panda.

After reading through the homebuyer report, she was encouraged to seek advice about the plant and quickly realised the damage, both physical and financial, that it could do.

Speaking to Wales Online, she said: "It was my sister who spotted the bamboo initially when we viewed the property. It 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.

"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."

Invasive bamboo can damage your property (Getty Stock Images/Westend61)

The bamboo was found to the 'running' type and therefore posed a real risk to the pipes and drains at the property, while it was also a threat to the neighbours due to its rapid growth.

Understandably, Lois was thinking about the potential permutations of having to remove the bamboo, which would suddenly be her problem if she bought the house. So, she initially submitted a new lower offer but when that was refused, she withdrew from negotiations and simply walked away.

Lois added: "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."

So, the next time you're viewing a property, make sure you check everything as you never know what might be growing in the garden.