Property expert warns against four common plants that could ruin your home’s foundation

Some plants, despite looking great, can be an expensive headache if you’re not careful. Here are the four plants you need to keep an eye on if you’re looking to sell your home

Plants are a fantastic way to breathe life into your home. A stunning garden shaded by trees, or a cottage adorned with flowering vines, will always be beautiful.

But some plants, despite looking gorgeous, can become an expensive nightmare if you’re not careful.

Whether you’re landed with the bill of trying to repair pavements cracked by roots or fixing brickwork, or finding it difficult to sell due to damage, there are some plants that just aren’t worth the hassle.

David Sampson, a property expert from HMO Mortgage Broker, says deals can easily collapse because of problematic plants, reports the Express.

He said: “Mortgage applications can slow down or be rejected entirely because of plants that can become a problem for the property.

“When applying for a mortgage, lenders look at risk, and some plants in the garden can either need expensive remediation or cause structural damage.”

If you’re looking to sell – or just want to check the longevity of your home – these are the four plants you need to keep an eye on.

Leylandii (Leyland cypress)

These hedges grow incredibly fast and can reach heights of up to 30 or 40 metres. They also have extensive root systems, which can dry out soil.

If your soil dries too much, your home can gradually sink and the foundation of the building can drop. This means walls will crack, and doors and windows will stick in their frames.

If you ignore it for too long, your house can become unstable.

Wisteria

This plant remains a British garden favourite. Whilst these spiralling vines and violet blooms are undeniably beautiful, Wisteria can pose serious problems without proper maintenance.

The plant can harm brickwork, mortar, roof tiles and may even create drainage complications.

Wisteria also represents another species that can heighten the risk of gradual subsidence around properties. This occurs because the plant’s woody stems can force their way into cracks, which over time will permit water ingress.

This, in turn, will result in damp and mould within your property.

Horsetail (Mares tail)

This represents another invasive species with deep, stubborn roots that can create problems. The plant’s roots penetrate deeply into the soil, and can tunnel through paving and tarmac.

It can also infiltrate drains and create complications there. Horsetail proves extremely challenging to eradicate and it can even begin regenerating underground.

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Not only is this species mildly toxic, triggering skin irritation and, in uncommon cases, heart inflammation, but it can also harm your property.

The Tree of Heaven possesses an aggressive root system that can fracture foundations, lift pipes and shatter pavements. The species proves difficult to eliminate as it spreads through suckers, which enable shoots to emerge far from the parent tree.