18/12/2020
Author : Maryanne Bowring
Did you know, Japanese knotweed is not the only plant that mortgage lenders are cautious of. There are a number of plants and trees that can devalue your home, cause severe damage to a property’s structure and even put you at risk of lawsuits from your neighbours. Homeowners could face a court case if they allow certain types of plants to spread to their neighbour’s property and some species can cost thousands of pounds to remove.
If you are a landlord looking to sell one or more rented properties, the garden may not be something you’ve thought about, beyond making sure it is neat and tidy. But according to a useful new guide from mortgage lender Bankrate UK it could be well worth considering the plants and trees growing around your rental home. The guide explains how to identify the species to beware of; the potential damage they can do to property; the laws associated with species such as Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsaam; how to remove them; and what it might cost. The one we all know about – and which property owners fear the most - is Japanese Knotweed, which is extremely invasive and very costly to get rid off. It has been known to cause structural damage to almost any part of a building it can reach, from driveways to drainage pipes and foundations. This weed can be identified by its white flowers and bamboo-like stems which are famous for growing up to three meters in the summer when it grows quickest. Its purple-speckled stems are also identifiers and make it stand out amongst other plants. But there are other types of plants and trees which can also cause huge problems for homeowners and landlords and should be avoided or eradicated.
These are:
- Himalayan Balsaam
- Giant Hogweed
- Oak, Poplar and willow trees
- Ivy
So to put your mind at rest that none of these nasties are lurking in your garden, take a look at the guide today. You can read the full feature here
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Mary-Anne Bowring FIRPM FRICS FARLA FCABE Founder/Head of Asset Management
Strategic partnerships, holistic delivery/ opportunities, growth, value engineering, thought leadership
Ian Barber MD BTR Mobilisation & Leasing
Runs HQ & site lease-up teams. Drives rent pricing, mobilisation, marketing, happy residents!
Jon Curtis MRICS Head of Building Engineering
Chartered Building Surveyor. Lectures on EWS1 & building safety. Runs CapEx programmes.
Kate Robinson MIRPM MD Blocks/FM Management (London Region)
Master plan setup, ops and staffing and resident engagement. ISO45001 champion.
Lee Harle Partner Ringley Law
Plot conveyancing. Debt litigation. Group Company Secretary.
Anthony Kingdon MIRPM AssocRICS MD Blocks/FM Management (North Region)
Stakeholder engagement. Mixed tenure specialist. Budget management. Plant audit, PPM compliance.
Chris Georgalis MRICS Head of Commercial Valuation
Chartered Valuer. Rental valuations: retail, leisure. IRR modelling and valuations for secured lending. Compulsory purchase & rent reviews
Nichola Pughe MRICS Head of Residential Valuation
Chartered Valuer. Rental development & mixed use valuations, IRR modelling. Leasehold enfranchisement specialist
Libby Chen MSc Compliance Manager
Operational Plant & Equipment strategy PPM Compliance lead, Asset tagging Client major projects
Dipesh Parekh Director PlanetRent
Customer centric, vertically integrated PropTech/fin-tech solutions.
Leana Aristodemou MIRPM MARLA AssocRICS Strategic lead: ESG & Asset Business Plan delivery
Financial modelling, valuation analyst to support underwriting & fund reporting.
Natalie Birmingham Helpdesk Support Manager
Trainer & Helpdesk Manager: people, systems,contractors. ISO45001 supply chain accreditation.
Steve Norman Planning Director
Land due diligence (opportunities & constraints) Has contributed to a number of award winning schemes.
