Freaking out about OPM on Oak trees near house I'm buying

29 replies

Em81angel · 30/04/2025 10:41

Hi,

I've been scouring mumsnet but can't see any posts on this. We've found a house we really love but next door have 3 huge oak trees along the border of the garden. We are in surrey where OPM (oak processionary moths) have taken hold and last year my DS had a massive reaction to them. I love the house so much but am so worried that the trees could get OPM and make my son ill. AIBU? would you pull out because of this?

OP posts:

GasPanic · 01/05/2025 10:38

I'd be more worried about trees on the border with TPOs than the moths.

Trees with TPOs are very hard to maintain because you need permission to do anything with them.

I looked at a house once where a tree close to the border was damaging the house over it. But the owner was finding it very difficult to have anything done about it.

Itchyblister · 01/05/2025 11:12

This isn’t the house for you

withdraw offer

move on

Itchyblister · 01/05/2025 11:13

Em81angel · 01/05/2025 08:39

Thanks - I don’t know what interaction he had for the original reaction as it happened from the trees at school which overhang the school fields. I’m going to have another viewing to take a look at the trees and will also check with the new neighbours. In my part of Surrey oak trees are everywhere…so you can’t avoid it but you probably can buy a house not right next door to it! However this truly is an amazing house so it’s a really tough one.

And did the school do anything about the oak trees? Or does he just avoid?

Abitofalark · 01/05/2025 11:27

Yes, I'd pull out.

If something bothers you a bit now when you are thinking of buying, it will bother you ten times more when you are living in the house with it next door.

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