Japanese Knotweed

daveyjp

Gingernutty wrote: »

I ripped up the old dead stems and burnt them.

I'm lying in wait for something to pop up so I can spray it.

Burning even the dead stems was scary. Every so often, a load bang would make me jump and send firey 'bits' off at all angles.

The segments of the stems are still airtight even after they're long dead. The smoke was pretty dense too.

Don't be to keen on spraying. As I said you need to be patient and wait until mid summer. Use the time to take regular photos to see how quickly the stuff takes hold!

gigaboo

Hi gingernutty

I'm really keen to know how it all went for you with your Japanese Knotweed.

We were working towards exchange on our dream house in Greenwich, the Sellers seemed great at all our viewings showing us around the garden where we asked about the boundaries and the residing neighbours and they never mentioned anything except that they didnt know any of the neighbours as the property was previously rented only. Almost 3 weeks in when our mortgage is approved subject to valuation we receive notice from our lawyers about the Knotweed which we had never heard of?!

Turns out they had it treated in between our viewings! They have a 5 year guarantee but the survey done, showed Knotweed on adjoining property so now we are really worried that a) the Lender will not lend us money because we cant control next door and b) the guarantee only covers regrowth from your property, so if it comes back in from next door the guarantee is invalidated? and c) the treatment plan says you cant disturb the soil for the next 2 years or the guarantee is also invalidated.

Does this mean we cant plant anything?

What if we wanted a cat or dog - can they go in the garden or do we have to corden it incase they dig up the soil?

Does anyone have similar dealings do you have to pay a further £2000-£5000 for new growth from neighbouring land. And if you cant get your neighbour to sort it out what happens then?

Any help would be great as when we asked the seller for a reduction in price they just said they would put it back on market as they have another buyer interested (but who doesnt know about the Knotweed as the estate agents didnt say anything to them either?)

Really dont know what to do?

Thanks


Update: Well it turns out it doesn't matter because the sellers decided to just put the property back on the market at a higher price! No doubt so that the next poor potential buyers will only knock them down to the offer that they had accepted from us. I only found out when we were looking at other back up plans and the property popped up at an uplift. No notice from the seller or the estate agent!!

I only hope the estate agents have the decency to notify potential buyers this time that there was Japanese Knotweed on the property like they are supposed to and save others the costs of solicitors fees and local searches!