Homebuyers survey and Knotweed

ric1982

Hi,

What are the chances that Japanese knotweed are caught on home buyers survey (if has one). I know its one of how long is piece of string question. I am in process of buying first house and only reason I would do a home buyers survey becouse it could caught a possible Japanese Knotweed in the property. Not saying it as it or not.

Or is the home buyers survey is waste of time and money If you are happy about general condition of the house?

Thanks

hazyjo

If it's not been cut down and is growing in the garden, I'd say it would be picked up. If the owner has cut it down, not a chance.


I definitely wouldn't be having a homebuyer's survey if that's your only reason for one. I would have one to check the house (I view totally blinkered so necessary for me) and, if that you're that bothered, get an expert in to check for JK.


Could try asking the council if they know where it's been found locally. Would say ask the neighbours, but I'd be spooked if someone knocked at my door saying they were thinking of buying next door and wondered if we'd had a prob with JK. I'd presume there had been rumours...


As worrying as it is, try not to get too caught up in the Daily Mail hype!

eddddy

ric1982 wrote: »

Or is the home buyers survey is waste of time and money If you are happy about general condition of the house?

Maybe 95% of the time Homebuyer's surveys don't find anything significant, so people feel they haven't got anything in return for their money.

But as an example of the other, maybe, 5%... Many years ago, I got a homebuyer's survey on a house. The house looked fine, but the surveyor lifted a manhole cover and noticed some recent drain repairs - that looked like they could be subsidence related repairs.

Sure enough the house had a subsidence insurance claim and repairs a few years earlier, which the seller had not declared.

telemarks

Knotweed is growing strongly at this time of year. Whats to stop you looking yourself (and peering discretely over the fences to check neighbours gardens)?

moneyistooshorttomention

A friend of mine that moved to this area had a survey - and the surveyor didnt mention JK - but it has turned out to be there and they are still fighting to get rid of it at present.

I had a survey - and could have done with the surveyor saying the place needed complete rewiring - and he didn't.

From this - I've now come to conclusion I need to be very well-informed myself and "be my own surveyor" should I ever swop house again and feel very cynical about employing a surveyor again.

If you do do so - then I'd suggest going for the highest level of survey (not the mid-level Homebuyers Survey - as I did on both previous and current house and believe I wasted my money in effect).

First and foremost thought re JK being to have a general look-around the area where the house is and see what the prevalence (or otherwise) of it is. I wouldnt bother myself too much in my home area. In my current area - I have seen a LOT of it and now know what sort of locations it's likely to be. I would say the "suspect" locations are:
- by streams and rivers here (as it tends to get carried downstream)
- by railway lines (anywhere in Britain)
- on farmland round here
- in gardens of neglected-looking houses

From experience - I've yet to meet someone with it on their land that doesnt know what it is...but that doesnt meet they are treating it (ie most of the ones I've encountered so far aren't).

Marvel1

In my back garden, I can see alone:
* Next door neighbor
* Next door but one other side
* Opposite gardens

None in mine for the past 11 years - so far.

moneywasternomore!

As a seller, you have to declare the presence, within the last 3 years, of JK on or near your property. If you buy somewhere, and that box has been ticked no, and you subsequently find it, would you have grounds to sue the vendor?

hazyjo

moneywasternomore! wrote: »

As a seller, you have to declare the presence, within the last 3 years, of JK on or near your property. If you buy somewhere, and that box has been ticked no, and you subsequently find it, would you have grounds to sue the vendor?

If you could prove that they knew about it and what it was, yep probably.


Recent thread re that: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5846169/japanese-knotweed

AdrianC

If you're that worried about JKW, educate yourself on what it looks like, and save yourself a lot of time and hassle by avoiding the cycle of offering, paying for a survey, walking away.

Rambosmum

moneywasternomore! wrote: »

As a seller, you have to declare the presence, within the last 3 years, of JK on or near your property. If you buy somewhere, and that box has been ticked no, and you subsequently find it, would you have grounds to sue the vendor?

Only if you can prove they knew about it.


Thing is, if it's there then it's there. If you can't see it and it's there then it suggests that either a) they are having it treated or b) they have cut it down to hide the fact it is there. A survey will only show it's there and growing. So now that's fine, but in winter, when it's dormant you can barely tell it's there.


Why is it such a concern to you?

Dawn1966

I had a survey done and bought my house in June, I've yet to move in though.
My Homebuyers report stated:
We saw no sign of invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed in either the
garden or on adjoining land. Japanese Knotweed is, however, known to exist in
the area and may become a problem in the future. These plants are not always
detectable because in the dormant season they may not be physically present or
difficult to distinguish from other dormant vegetation. In the growing season they
can grow rapidly and, therefore, may not be visible above ground on one day, but
visible shortly afterwards the following day/week.
Today I climbed onto the wall at the back to look over my fence at the adjoining agricultural land, and there it was blowing in the breeze, in full flower!!
Is the landowner under any obligation to stop it spreading to my garden?