Japanese Knotweed and selling houses

Rambosmum

money you have a massive bee in your bonnet about JK, I've seen it in other threads. It really isn't the mahoosive deal you think it is. And if the neighbours tell them about, so what? They've nothing to come back for. Plus I don't think the neighbours even know.

glasgowdan

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Morals ain't us then....or being very pragmatic about protecting one's interests....

It's called "enlightened self-interest" - ie doing the right thing because one doesn't want the person on the receiving end in this case to "come back at you" because someone hasn't been totally straight with them.

These things can rebound and rebound if you don't - ask my vendor (ie who is still probably having things "bouncing back at them" at intervals - as I tell people what they said and what the actual facts proved to be subsequently).

Never mind neighbours even - I've found some sympathetic impartial acquaintances round about that have told me exactly how things are.

Motto - someone somewhere sometime will "tell it like it is" and it's best not to have set oneself up for a "boomerang" effect from not having done so oneself imo.

One can see why the phrase used in courts is "the whole truth":cool:

Wow, you really do think very highly of yourself and anyone who doesn't agree is somehow inferior! Still find it hard to follow your convoluted ramblings and random parenthesis at times!

zebulon

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

There are times where one has to answer the question asked - and not the question one would have liked them to ask iyswim.

So ...

"Is there japanese knotweed on the property or within 10m of"
No.

cooltt

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Morals ain't us then....or being very pragmatic about protecting one's interests....

It's called "enlightened self-interest" - ie doing the right thing because one doesn't want the person on the receiving end in this case to "come back at you" because someone hasn't been totally straight with them.

These things can rebound and rebound if you don't - ask my vendor (ie who is still probably having things "bouncing back at them" at intervals - as I tell people what they said and what the actual facts proved to be subsequently).

Never mind neighbours even - I've found some sympathetic impartial acquaintances round about that have told me exactly how things are.

Motto - someone somewhere sometime will "tell it like it is" and it's best not to have set oneself up for a "boomerang" effect from not having done so oneself imo.

One can see why the phrase used in courts is "the whole truth":cool:

Hahaha yeah good one.

OP
Don't listen to this self serving sanctimonious nonsense, answer is no.

robatwork

"Do you have a headache?"

No

"Have you ever had a headache?"

Yes


Hope this helps

2shymilan

The question is key - Does it?

If the treatment plan has been completed, ie Herbicide Treatment finished, re visits by the Knotweed eradication expert to ensure no further re growth, along with a 5 or 10 year guarantee (anything above 10 is rare) then the only answer is NO.

However - check the smallest of small print and make 100% sure they only ask 'does it?' - any reference to 'has it?' and you must disclose.

One problem you will have is with Home Insurance. Home insurance providers MUST ask if the property/or neighbouring property has EVER suffered from a Japanese Knotweed infestation whether treated or not' - if you tell the truth, which you must, there is a high chance you wont be insured.

The insurers often have a distance limit from the property to be insured of 10 meters - Knotweed can grow 7 meters around 1 stem with rhizomes 2 meters deep!!!!

If they don't ask or you lie - the policy will be void should you wish to claim for damages caused by JKW.

Just be careful :A

loveka

We have just had this situation, as a buyer.

On the form, the sellers stated they used to have it but it was eradicated.

We asked them to prove it was eradicated, and they can't.

So they now are having it looked at by a specialist. If it's still there, we will ask them for a treatment plan.

If it's not there then we carry on as before.

So if it isn't present, you really have nothing to worry about.

If you were the buyer, would you want to know that it had been present in the past?

Right move has some a advice on this which has proved useful to us.

AnotherJoe

loveka wrote: »

We have just had this situation, as a buyer.

On the form, the sellers stated they used to have it but it was eradicated.
More fool them if the form only asked if they had any now.

We asked them to prove it was eradicated, and they can't. Well no you can't prove a negative. Maybe theres a fragment that will spring up in 5 years.

So they now are having it looked at by a specialist. If it's still there, we will ask them for a treatment plan. How can they come up with a treatment plan if they dont live there? And what if its not found? Would you still want a reduction in case it ever appeared again?
So the vendor is pointlessness spending money. And a specialist will never say there isnt any, just that none can be detected at present (especially at this time of year).

If it's not there then we carry on as before.
The specialist wont say its not there, just that it cant be found. Not the same thing.

So if it isn't present, you really have nothing to worry about.
If it isn't present, you dont need to say anything either unless asked if it was there, which the OP was not.

If you were the buyer, would you want to know that it had been present in the past?
If I was the buyer and wanted to know that I'd ask. But the buyer didnt ask if it was present in the past. If you were the seller, and the buyer asked if it was there now,and it wasn't, why would you open up a can of worms?

Right move has some advice on this which has proved useful to us.

Does it involve a can opener and a tin of worms?

loveka

Just giving the experience I just had this week, and following solicitors advice and what is on right move. So.. trying to be helpful which I thought was what this forum was for.

Assume solicitors know a bit more than you Joe. You seem to enjoy being nasty for some reason.

AnotherJoe

loveka wrote: »

Just giving the experience I just had this week, and following solicitors advice and what is on right move. So.. trying to be helpful which I thought was what this forum was for.

Assume solicitors know a bit more than you Joe. You seem to enjoy being nasty for some reason.

Eh?Whats nasty?

If I say to you "is your house flooded at present" and it flooded in 1979 you'd be a mug to say "no but it flooded in 1979....blah blah blah" very long explanation of why thats not a problem now"

Its up to the buyer to ask the right question. "has your house ever been flooded"

Please do let everyone know here what the surveyor says about whether or not there is any JK and in particular if there is a definitive "no there is no JK" answer.

Whats your plan if the survey says "no there is no sign of any JK but this cannot be guaranteed in future due to ...."

And you didnt answer how, if the seller is moving (assuming you buy) they can provide a treatment plan, when the treatment cannot commence until it starts growing (if there is any) which will be April or so by which time they will not be there and therefore unable to provide treatment.

p.s. what specifically have i advised thats against solicitor advice?