Someone seems to have gone out of their way to grow ivy over this new build property

[KievLoverTwo]

Words, anyone?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139142411

It's Virginia creeper. It will go an amazing orange in the autumn and then the leaves drop off which makes it very easy to trim back from where you don't want it. And it doesn't grow nearly as fast as ivy, so you don't get the effect of a foot-thick carpet on the wall.

Virginia creeper is deciduous and different attachment mechanism so doesn’t hold water against the house so much in winter and not quite as destructive to brick work. However it is a faster grower and that causes other problems.

It looks nice. Ivy looks nicer in winter than Virginia creeper.

I'm just so stunned by the price - you can't get a one bed flat for that here.

It looks like the creeper has grown over the garage door a bit

In my California area there’s a part of town that’s old stately homes with lots of ivy - the ivy even grows through the trees and crosses the streets. It’s quite beautiful.
I read a few years ago that it was infested with rats - great big rats & lots of them.
I forget how they got rid of them, but the ivy is still there - it doesn’t retain the same charm for me since I heard about the vermin.

It’s very flat and quire unattractive countryside around there. Not many people, everything a bit run down and neglected, probably not many jobs.

This is what the area is most famous for

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=560371746&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB591GB591&hl=en-GB&sxsrf=AB5stBiiawnIPw9NTgK8VxjJnk_z6vShgA%3A1693079722035&q=eggborough&tbm=isch&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fcan%2F7&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjA4KG7jfuAAxXGQ0EAHbvJATIQ0pQJegQIEBAB&biw=1024&bih=653&dpr=2&shem=canimgc#imgrc=Skskzv-FAPOQ8M

I think they demolished the final two towers last year.

We gave serious consideration to buying a house not far last year. In the end we decided the topography and lack of stuff to do would depress us too much.

No, Virginia Creeper is much kinder to brickwork and pointing than ivy. It's also gorgeous when it turns red. https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/ivy-on-buildings

We moved into a house with Virginia creeper growing on it last year. I have no recollection of it turning red last autumn, but I'm really hoping it does this year.

It is absolutely fucking rampant though - we've had to trim it back 3 times this year and at one point it appeared to be attempting to grow through an open window and strangle us in the night 😱 There's traces of it in the loft too

The loft growth sounds a bit worrying. How do you trim it on a first floor?

Doesn’t look as though it’s all bad news for ivy on a house according to this report, I think it looks nice on the house I would trim it down a bit as I like to see the contrast to the brickwork, the front garden could look lovely with a bit of TLC and a beautiful tree planted in the front lawn.

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/are-climbing-plants-really-bad-for-your-house

We have a very tall ladder luckily

Aren't 'green walls' a big thing at present, for the dual benefits of providing a bit of extra wildlife habitat/nesting space/oxygen and also insulating the house a bit from super hot weather caused by climate change (by shading the walls)?

I think it looks odd when all the houses around it are so sterile. It's jarring. Countryside cottage is a different matter.

Possibly cheaper than rendering it. The brickwork looks very dull.

It does look out of place on that street, and on that house. I would also worry about things in it, coming into my bedroom through the window, and would be afraid to leave the window open. It needs cutting back - right back! It would put me off the house to be honest. Also, surely it can't do the brickwork any good?!

Tell us you’re a snob without telling us you’re a snob.

You can’t have it both ways, saying new builds looking sterile and then when someone softens the look with planting you’re still don’t like it! Houses and streets develop their character and personality over many years, the other houses will develop in time like any other street.

Happy to confirm that I can sometimes be a massive snob.

However, that's not the point. It looks bloody odd on a not very old house surrounded by similar houses, but most importantly, why would you go out of your way to encourage something to grow that's been bringing down houses since the beginning of time?

The jury seems to be out on how destructive this stuff is.

It's a strange choice and I don't get why the owner did it.

It would certainly put me off buying for the destruction potential. That was the point.

But thanks for the judgement.

Judgement? You’re accusing me of judgement? Ok. Right you are! 😂

but most importantly, why would you go out of your way to encourage something to grow that's been bringing down houses since the beginning of time?
I think this is an overblown statement! OP you don’t need to worry about the climber on this house, this link will give the pros and cons as do others posted
https://www.fantasticgardeners.co.uk/tree-surgery/does-ivy-damage-walls/#:~:text=So%2C%20new%20brickwork%20is%20in,to%20weakened%20mortar%20and%20bricks.

But if your home is made from sound masonry or is newly built without cracks and weakened mortar, even the aggressive kind won’t be strong enough to damage the structure. So, breath easy, your home will be safe.

You are asking for comments on a house you don't want to buy in an area you don't want to live in. You have explained why you don't like it, encouraged other derogatory comments and then accuse someone else of being judgemental!

Very true!

I hate that stuff, it makes my skin feel itchy just looking at it. No idea why lol

OP, go onto Street View, go to the right of the house and then go up the first turning (The Chestnuts). Go past the first lamp post on the left and look at the skyline!!