Japanese knotweed - buying a house..

seabass90

Hi all.

I'm currently in the process of buying a house. I've had my offer accepted and the valuation was done on Tuesday. Stupidly, I only asked for a basic valuation and not a survey as the house is relatively new and I didn't think there would be any major problems.

The house is a terraced house. There is a garden to the rear. At the bottom of the garden (and the gardens of many other houses on the estate), beyond the fence, there is a large bit of unused land - some of which is a little bit wild and unkempt.

I've had the valuation report back and everything is fine other than where it says 'invasive vegetation (Japanese knotweed) may be present on rough ground to the rear of the property and could cause damage - specialist advice is required.'

Does anyone have any advice on what I do next? Is this an absolute no, I.e do I pull out? Or what? So confused

hazyjo

No. Get specialist advice. It probably isn't, but they're mentioning it cos it's obviously a bit of a jungle and they can't see so are covering their !!!!!! (/'backs' in case the filter blocks '!!!!!!' lol).

Try not to panic. If it is JK, then either pull out or make sure it's going to be removed in the correct manner. Of course, your mortgage provider (if you have one) may think differently and withdraw the mortgage).

Good luck. Keep us informed.

Jx

seabass90

hazyjo wrote: »

No. Get specialist advice. It probably isn't, but they're mentioning it cos it's obviously a bit of a jungle and they can't see so are covering their !!!!!! (/'backs' in case the filter blocks '!!!!!!' lol).

Try not to panic. If it is JK, then either pull out or make sure it's going to be removed in the correct manner. Of course, your mortgage provider (if you have one) may think differently and withdraw the mortgage).

Good luck. Keep us informed.

Jx

Thank you!

The developer of the estate (Baratts) were originally going to cut through the wild unkemptness to create a lane at the back of all the houses so bins could be kept there. The EA told me that Baratts 'never got round to doing it' but now I'm wondering if this JK had something to do with it..?

I will definitely be seeking specialist advice. However, isn't this something the vendor should offer to pay for...?

Halifax is my lender. I was supposed to be getting my mortgage offer soon but not sure I'll even get one now based on this.

slowpoke_rodriguez

"May be present."
What does that mean? The surveyor has seen something that may be knotweed, or it's just the sort of place it may grow?
Get specialist advice.

seabass90

slowpoke_rodriguez wrote: »

"May be present."
What does that mean? The surveyor has seen something that may be knotweed, or it's just the sort of place it may grow?
Get specialist advice.

Exactly. They haven't expanded on it at all!

Riggyman

If there was Japenese Kmotweed adjacent to the house I'd be concerned.

If there's Knotweed on a patch of unused land adjacent to the bottom of your garden, I'd spend £20 on glycophosphate from Amazon and £10 on a sprayer and squirt it twice a year for 3 years and be surprised if any was left.

seabass90

Riggyman wrote: »

If there was Japenese Kmotweed adjacent to the house I'd be concerned.

If there's Knotweed on a patch of unused land adjacent to the bottom of your garden, I'd spend £20 on glycophosphate from Amazon and £10 on a sprayer and squirt it twice a year for 3 years and be surprised if any was left.

Thanks!

I'm still confused as to whether I should offer to get a specialist in to confirm if it is knotweed (and, if so, the extent of it) or whether the vendor should do this. To be honest I'd rather do it myself so I know a reputable specialist is being used..

Riggyman

Just google "Japenese Knotweed pictures" and then go and have a look yourself. It's bl00dy obvious!

ThePants999

If you want a specialist, though, it's yours to pay for. Vendors don't pay for buyers to investigate their property.

seabass90

Riggyman wrote: »

Just google "Japenese Knotweed pictures" and then go and have a look yourself. It's bl00dy obvious!

Haha, fair point! However as the back lane was never created by Barrats, I'm pretty sure access to the area is relatively restricted - to get at it, I'd have to go through the house, out into the garden, and open the fence gate door which essentially leads into the brambly mess. Will ring the EA tomorrow and see what they say!

dgtazzman

To be fair, if it's on the valuation report, the lender will also have read it, so I'd be inclined to get a specialist in to look at it and make a report, just to put the lender's mind at ease...

Doesn't sound very serious though, as others have said, sounds more like a surveyor covering himself.