Japanese knotweed again!

devotee

We are buying this flat, not exchanged yet, mortgage approved in full etc, and this morning I get this lovely letter from my solicitor :mad:
No idea of the cost yet, but I am inclined to ask for a big discount. We are quite far in the buying process, my surveys didn't discover it as they were only inspecting the flat we are buying and our garden, but not communal one. Thoughts?

"We are informed that the japanese knotweed was just discovered at the communal gardens. Our clients are obtaining estimates for its removal. It is likely that additional payments will be required from the tenants but our clients will confirm the position once the estimates have been obtained."

BitterAndTwisted

"Estimates". The actual cost could be ongoing for years. I'd look for another property

devotee

I'm very tempted but my sale is almost completed and we would have to move out in two weeks or so.

minibbb

Or request from your solicitor that some money is held back from the sale pending the cost of the work being known?

devotee

minibbb wrote: »

Or request from your solicitor that some money is held back from the sale pending the cost of the work being known?

How much do you suggest? And what do you suggest that once they know the estimate to the works, where do we stand then?
There are 7 flats in the building, two of us have their own gardens, the rest is communal, about 100 ft long. I was thinking to ask for 5-7k discount to account for the future knotweed treatment. Is that fair?

daveyjp

There is lots of scaremongering around knotweed.

Now you know you have it negotiate the costs to have it removed as part of the purchase, but ongoing management is cheap enough - 5l of roundup is about £20.

devotee

daveyjp wrote: »

There is lots of scaremongering around knotweed.

Now you know you have it negotiate the costs to have it removed as part of the purchase, but ongoing management is cheap enough - 5l of roundup is about £20.

Thanks, that's really useful to know.

maninthestreet

daveyjp wrote: »

There is lots of scaremongering around knotweed.

Now you know you have it negotiate the costs to have it removed as part of the purchase, but ongoing management is cheap enough - 5l of roundup is about £20.

JK can't be eradicated just by the use of weedkiller.

puddy

its resistant to weedkiller, everyone knows that

daveyjp

puddy wrote: »

its resistant to weedkiller, everyone knows that

IT IS NOT RESISTANT TO GLYPHOSATE.

http://www.ceh.ac.uk/sci_programmes/documents/JapaneseKnotweed.pdf

As I said lots of scaremongering out there and saying it is resistant to weedkiller doesn't help anyone.

What you do need to do is spray often - 5-6 times a year for 2-3 years.

KRB2725

From what I have read & heard recently, it seems that most (if not all) mortgage lenders will not lend on a property that has JK. I beliece I read a post the other day, saying that it had to be foyrther than 100m from the property.

You obviously have a mortgage offer, but unless you are intending to stay at the property for several years whilst the problem is sorted, then you may encounter issues when trying to sell.