Knotweed in garden..

jmcg91

Hi everyone 
My partner and I are first time buyers. We've found a house we really like but the Home Report (we are in Scotland) has identified Japanese Knotweed - which has since been professionally treated, and has a ten year guarantee in place. The report is a couple of years old and treatment began May 2018. 
We're consulting our mortgage broker, but if we can borrow ok on the basis of the treatment guarantee (and a new survey confirms the treatment was successful), should we, or should this be avoided at all costs...

Thanks in advance!

Unicorn_cottage

Hi jmcg91
You will get a lot of different of opinions on here about buying a house with Jk. Personally I wouldn't buy a house with Jk as it can come back in the future if disturbed. It would be good to understand if the stand of Jk is an isolated one or if there is lots in the vicinity. What is the house's situation? New build estate surrounded by houses? Houses that back onto fields etc etc. If there is Jk near your property and the neighbouring landowners are not treating then you are really fighting a losing battle. 

Marvel1

Easier to read all the comments here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6165160/japanese-knotweed/p1

This was first posted about a week ago.

ThePants999

IMO, it depends on how long you think you'll be there. If I were buying with a view to being there for aaaaaaages, I'd be perfectly content with that ten year guarantee (as long as it was from a firm that would plausibly be around for ten years). If I expected to be taking another step up the ladder two or three years later, I'd be concerned about how much it might impact my pool of buyers.

jmcg91

Unicorn_cottage said:

Hi jmcg91
You will get a lot of different of opinions on here about buying a house with Jk. Personally I wouldn't buy a house with Jk as it can come back in the future if disturbed. It would be good to understand if the stand of Jk is an isolated one or if there is lots in the vicinity. What is the house's situation? New build estate surrounded by houses? Houses that back onto fields etc etc. If there is Jk near your property and the neighbouring landowners are not treating then you are really fighting a losing battle. 

Thanks for your reply - we need to check the documents but it seems to be isolated - near boundary to a neighbour's garden which is astroturfed but seems to be that it originated in this garden where it is being treated (owner told us she actually planted it before it was the Wrong Thing)