Any legal obligation to disclose?

daveh88

This more of a rant than anything else so apologies but we had an offer accepted on a property, we are first time buyers.

Mortgage valution is done and the surveyor picks up on Japanese Knotweed 'within the boundary' but didnt specify where.

The sellers were pushing us to get a specific location but as we couldnt they put house back on the market, and they implied that there must of been a mistake and that they werent willing to pay to get it looked at/removed.

We walked away, but have since found out from one of their neighbours (by pure chance) that there is knotweed and that their neighbours had gone to them to offer to split of cost of removing it all the gardens are joined so will eventually spread to them all, and the sellers said no and apparently are 'in denial' that its Knotweed.

This all happened way before we had ever viewed the house, Im so annoyed that they let us waste £500 to find out what they already knew, I am not optimistic that I can ever get money back but is there anyway of warning people? Seems so unfair that someone else could do the same thing, its like the sellers are hoping it wont get noticed!

somethingcorporate

Sounds like that is exactly what they are hoping for - cash buyers that do not get a good survey done.

No, I don't think there is much you can do. Think yourself lucky your survey picked this up - this is precisely the point of the survey, and you don't find yourself with this house-eating plant in your back garden!

holly_hobby

I suppose the vendor could argue, that unless JK was diagnosed by a specalist report, and that until it is (unless this is what the neighbour had), its not proven and only suspected JK, so there is no need to disclose anything (along with caveat emptor) of course.

I know this sound ridiculous, but thats probably what they'd say if you challenged them on this.

Unfortunately this is the game some play, and sorry this has happened to you.

Hope this helps

Holly

Gentoo365

Don't think of it as £500 wasted. Think of it as £500 well spent.

Wh05apk

Lucky escape, let the agents know the reason for your withdrawal, they should then be under am obligation to disclose it to potential purchasers, which could have the effect of knocking 10's of thousands off the price.

holly_hobby

Well said WhO.

Holly x

daveh88

Thanks everyone, definetly agree that had a lucky escape just very frustrating!! But yes rather £500 now than thousands later on down the line.