Japanese Knotweed in my garden affecting the sale of my flat :(

mysti77

Put our flat on the market a few weeks ago. Got an offer and while filling out the property information form saw a question about japanese knotweed. I have one plant growing in my garden that is being sprayed with weed killer and it's dying but the next question on the form was about a treatment plan. So I call my conveyancer and they said that I need a treatment plan and insurance in place because not all banks will lend if you have it in your garden and even with the treatment plan and insurance some won't lend at all!

I called the estate agent and she sounded annoyed with me for not telling her about it but I really didn't have a clue it was a problem until I saw this information form and called the conveyancer to ask about it. She passed the message on to the buyer who said spoke to the bank who they had the mortgage agreed in principal with and now they won't give him the mortgage even though I have said I have a specialist coming over on Wednesday to give me a report, treatment plan etc.

I've dug out my homebuyers survey from when I bought the flat 5 years ago and there is nothing there about the knotweed in my garden or any neighboring properties and I paid for more expensive survey because I wanted to feel more secure that if I wouldn't have problems with damp etc (least of my worries now!). Survey has a statement in it that says they don't forsee any special difficulties on resale in normal market conditions.

I've had two sleepless nights over this, I feel sick to my stomach that I've spent so much money, new bathroom, boiler, flooring etc, not to mention my deposit and the fact that I have a mortgage I need to repay. I was hoping to at least get back my deposit and a little extra to go towards getting a bigger home for our family as we have a little one now Is there any hope for me?

dumpallhere

I've dug out my homebuyers survey from when I bought the flat 5 years ago and there is nothing there about the knotweed in my garden or any neighboring properties.

I have one plant growing in my garden that is being sprayed with weed killer and it's dying but the next question on the form was about a treatment plan.

How do you know / how did you find out that it is indeed Japanese Knotweed?

moneyistooshorttomention

If its only literally one plant can't you just dig it up and (carefully) dispose of it, rather than waiting for weedkiller to kill it off? (not forgetting every scrap of root of course).

mrsmchapman

How do you know you have JK? I have to say I wouldn't have a clue unless I was told! Are you absolutely sure before you write this on the property form???

lessonlearned

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

If its only literally one plant can't you just dig it up and (carefully) dispose of it, rather than waiting for weedkiller to kill it off? (not forgetting every scrap of root of course).

Not that simple, money.

Removal has to be undertaken by persons who have a licence - bit like asbestos. There have to be exclusions zones etc. Removal and dispersal has to be strictly controlled.

This stuff is a monster and lenders are running scared. Some will lend depending on the distance from the property, most will decline.

Mysti - Are you absolutely certain it is JK. Who identified it, where did it come from. If it came from council waste land you my might be able to have some form of redress from them. At any rate you have to trace it's source, otherwise spraying it will only keep it under control and won't eradicate it.

You might only see evidence of one plant but the roots could be anywhere. At the height of the growing season, the roots can grow one metre in a month. A 1cm section of root (rhisome) can form a new plant in 10 days.

Get a specialist in for advice before you fill out that form.

You say your property is a flat, so I'm assuming you own the lease. What about the owners of the freehold, are they aware. It is in their interests to tackle this issue. Is there a management company involved. If it is JK then all the leaseholders need to be aware and work together on this one.

Your next step is to get some specialist advice. Keep spraying in the meantime.

princeofpounds

I find it a bit strange that there is just one plant... unless it's only literally just arrived it's not as if it's a plant that tends to be found solo!

How did you identify it? Has it come from a neighbouring property?

Anyway, yes you do have hope, particularly if it really is only one plant. You might need to dig it out (which is not cheap or easy because of the depth you might need to go to and the care that needs to be taken) but this will be much easier if it's only just arrived.

I don't believe the controls on it are anywhere near as strict as asbestos. The licensing relates mostly to transport and disposal but it's not considered hazardous waste in the same way as asbestos.

lessonlearned

Sorry I did not mean to add confusion.

Of course JK is not hazardous waste. It is not in the same league as asbestos. It does not pose a health risk..

However, I simply wanted to point out that moneyistoshorttomention had given very poor advice. She underestimates the seriousness of the threat posed by JK. Sorry Money but you have really got this one wrong.

JK is seriously nasty stuff and its removal does have to be strictly controlled. You cannot just dig it up and put it in your wheelie bin or toss it onto a compost heap.

Carriers are supposed to be licensed is all. Incorrect disposal can attract a heavy fine.

sgun

My sister dug hers out, it was a small clump, she dug a big hole and kept digging all summer, once a week. Then diesel in the hole (really not nice and not recommended) and it never came back. It did take her three months though and now you have alerted them to the situation I think you will need to get a specialist in. JK is VERY easy to recognise, I can't see how people would confuse it with anything else.

princeofpounds

JK is VERY easy to recognise, I can't see how people would confuse it with anything else.

You'd be surprised!

As much as anything else I'm wondering how it got there, given it's apparently a recent arrival.

Smith_007

lessonlearned wrote: »

Removal has to be undertaken by persons who have a licence - bit like asbestos. There have to be exclusions zones etc. Removal and dispersal has to be strictly controlled.

Please do not continue to spread Japanese Knotweed Hysteria :cool:

You can quite legally dig up, remove and dispose of knotweed yourself (either by burning or at a licenced authority site). http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx

It is perfectly appropriate and legal to DIY, especially in the case of a small patch. Simply read up what to do beforehand and make sure you do a good job to avoid spreading it around.

If you call in a contractor to do the job for you (adviasable if you have a lot of the stuff) then they must normally be licenced as a waste carrier. This is simply to ensure you don't employ cowboys who dump the cuttings on somebody elses land.

lessonlearned

I am not spreading JK hysteria.

I am well aware that you can legally dispose of it yourself and that burning it would be sufficient.

My point was and remains that this stuff is nasty and will cause thousands of pounds worth of damage if not dealt with. The roots can force their way through concrete and brickwork.

Spraying will control it, but it will not eradicate it. Roots can lie dormant for up to 20 years.

Moneyistoshorttomention's post was misleading.

It was never my intention to suggest that JK was a health hazard to humans. It is however a serious health hazard to bricks and mortar.

The asbestos reference was merely an analogy.