New Build Japanese Knotweed found during valuation survey

moneyistooshorttomention

robox09 wrote: »

Thanks but really run that bad even though it's not on the property itself?

Surely a building company so big would have researched the area before starting a development?

I have no such faith in building companies.

I know of an area where houses have recently been built and JK was definitely known of (and I have seen no sign whatsoever of it having been treated - they seem to have just removed and hidden traces of it as far as I can see).

Of course there is nothing to stop you asking them to provide you with evidence of their treatment programme - to see what their reaction to that is....and contacting any firm they say they've used for it yourself...

Placitasgirl

Take this as a blessing and pull out now. As has been said it's any impact on selling on in the future that would be the killer for me, and there will be a stigma attached for many buyers, even if your plot, or the site have been treated. Do you really think you could enjoy a brand new home with that concern hanging over you?

robox09

Really don't want to pull out though! Surely if it was this bad they'd halt building as they'd never sell any properties?!

waamo

Then carry on with the purchase. Be aware that problems selling in the future may arise. You will also possibly have to make up a mortgage shortfall and be responsible for future eradication.

I would also talk to your solicitor and the builder to explore your options.

BobQ

robox09 wrote: »

Thanks.
It was the mortgage company who sent the valuation survey out to the property. they stated the distance, which I have emailed to query how they knew it was 7 m and also they're the ones who came back with the offer of the mortgage at 10 grand less so they said they would mortgage the property.

It's a real shame because I really like the property and the area but it might be a nonstarter if it's all over the site

It is a disappointment when you have geared up to move to it.

My view is that they cannot say it is NOT growing on any houseplot including yours. All they can say is that it has been found somewhere. Even if that is 100m away you cannot tell if it is an isolated outbreak or it is all over the place. You can say you cannot see any growing on open soil but short of excavating a plot down to 3 metres deep you cannot be certain.

All it needs is lorry delivering to the site that has been on contaminated land and lax site procedures when it drives on to site and a bit falls out of a tyre tread in a few places, which is then spread by the on site excavator before they lay your foundations.

It really is sad that these things happen. It does not help you nor does it help the builder.

moneyistooshorttomention

robox09 wrote: »

Really don't want to pull out though! Surely if it was this bad they'd halt building as they'd never sell any properties?!

I've now just guessed you're young first time buyers....

Because I used to think in very much the same way - many years ago now...:cool:

It goes "Surely they wouldnt do that? Really? How could anyone be like that?...and surely they'd have the sense to realise they couldnt get away with it for evermore?"

and...then...with age cometh cynicism and the knowledge that an awful lot of firms and people will do whatever-they-think they will and hope they will get away with it:cool:

At a very pragmatic level - we've not quite got to the time of year when JK starts growing again in most of the country. I've seen a photo on the Net of one area where it's currently got to a few inches high - but I was checking out some of the places I know it to be in this area only earlier today and it's not started growing yet for this year. But give it another month or so - and it will start coming up again....

robox09

Moneyistooshorttomention I'm not actually "a young first time buyer" but I'm not going into my personal situation! Just finding it hard to believe I suppose such a huge developer could start a development without throughly investigating the site & I'm not that familiar with JK as never had any problems with it on any of my 4 previous properties.

Just after any advice really on how much of a problem it could cause or what route to go down with the developer. Lots of good advice, thanks all
:-)

iammumtoone

The difference with your situation compared to many threads on here about JK is it is a new build still on a development site.

Generally if it was 7m away and contained the advise would be to treat it, but this would be on established land where there is little chance of it spreading once a treatment process has started.

In your situation you do not know if it is contained and as others have pointed out the land is still being moved about / lots of traffic where it could easily be spread to all across the site. Even if treatment on this patch has started whos to say it wont spread to a new part of the development before the treatment is complete.

I would be thankful your survey has picked this up, maybe when the other houses were purchased it was not spotted by their surveys.

If you really want to go ahead I suggest a cast iron guarantee from the developers that they sort any future problems on the site if they arise, but you will still have the hassle of enforcing this if need be.

robox09

Thanks Iammumtoone, what you've said makes sense and it is definitely something we'll have to discuss with the developer and think about!

Lord_Baltimore

Have you had a good look at JK? There can be a froth at the cut base when it's active - it's an unmistakeable sign of voracious activity in the rhizomes (the root system) which will grow extensively underground. JK can be killed but the most effective treatment (other than digging up the entire site) is quite intensive (pouring herbicide inside the bamboo-like stem). It would cost £bns to clear it from the UK because there is a lot of it about.

If you can avoid it, stay away. Find a home without that stuff lurking around. I know you really fancy this house but we have to answer honestly now that you've asked!