Japanese Knotweed at new home site

alup100

Hi, 
I am in the process of purchasing a new build home on a small development of 12 houses. I was researching the planning application on the local authority website recently and found that the development contained Japanese knotweed. I have spoken to the developer, and he has said there were three areas of  growth on the site, well away from the plot I am considering purchasing. The knotweed was removed by a specialist company called Elcot three years ago,  it was dug up and removed from site. There is a treatment plan in place, and a two small areas of regrowth have been identified and undergoing treatment. There is a ten year, insurance backed policy in place once treatment is complete.
Should I be concerned  about purchasing the property? Once treated, what is the likelihood of regrowth after the ten year insurance expires? I've read it can lay dormant for up to 20 years.
Thanks.

foxy-stoat

If you plan to keep the property for decades then go for it, but it will make it harder to sell in the future with all the insurance backed guarantees in place.

FinallyStoppedLurking

Knotweed is slightly over hyped in terms of concern however it will put some people off and may cause some to refuse to buy the property in the future.

I wouldn't worry about the risk to your house but more the risk when trying to sell. Only you can decide if you are willing to take the risk. IF you do, I'd suggest keeping a record of insurances etc and possibly a record of having the site inspected annually so you can prove to future buyers it was treated and didn't return.

newsgroupmonkey_

FinallyStoppedLurking said:

Knotweed is slightly over hyped in terms of concern however it will put some people off and may cause some to refuse to buy the property in the future.

Not to lenders it's not. RICS guidance gives category 1-4. Some lenders won't lend on certain categories, treated, insured or not!

FinallyStoppedLurking

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

FinallyStoppedLurking said:

Knotweed is slightly over hyped in terms of concern however it will put some people off and may cause some to refuse to buy the property in the future.

Not to lenders it's not. RICS guidance gives category 1-4. Some lenders won't lend on certain categories, treated, insured or not!

Yes, I was including them in the people who over-hype in. 

jimbog

Not worth the risk. Wouldn't trust the developers to be honest

alup100

jimbog said:

Not worth the risk. Wouldn't trust the developers to be honest

In what respect wouldn't you trust the developer? The site has had an independent survey carried out by a specialist company, my solicitor is in the process of obtaining a copy of the report. The same company has treated the site. If the report suggests the knotweed was more widespread than the developer has stated, or within 7 meters of the plot I'm looking at purchasing, then I would not hesitate in pulling out. 
I was hoping someone could quantify the risk of the knotweed returning after the treating company says its been eradicated, and the likelihood of any return after the ten year insurance expires.  

Sistergold

It looks like the developer has at least “been honest” in that he has told you that it has come up on another area and is being treated. That is where the problem lies, it’s like headlice in a school where it keeps “jumping” from one head to the other and some parents don’t treat it at all or they don’t treat it aswell and most of the time it can not be a coordinated treatment thus causing recurrence in the heads of children whose parents do the right thing to eradicate infestation. In the end the headlice becomes an ongoing problem. 

So Japanese knotweed can be eradicated to a good extent but because when you now purchase your property if it should come up you will do all you can to treat but you can not be sure about what is going on next door and by that time it will not be a coordinated effort by developer. I think you just have to decide how much you like the property and area. 

Also make sure you keep a good budget in place always in the event it becomes a problem again. Like another poster said have regular inspections by a professional and keep a record. Also be aware that the history of knotweed will rule out some people and some lenders. Also keep in mind there will always a chance of getting neighbours who do not treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves.
In trying to buy a house I did find some house where the house was just perfect but the price as too good  to be true for the neighborhood(London) and on making an enquiry I found there was history of Japanese knotweed. The treatment had been done but that history alone will keep the price lower than similar properties with no history of the knotweed. 

So yes you can get the insurance and yes you can be told it has been eradicated but the best reality is that you need to accept that it can be back either right in your yard or next door where you don’t have control. 

rik111

Do you really want the costs and hassle associated with this ? Getting an inspection done every year is not going to be cheap and if you come to sell, it is going to scare off a lot of potential purchasers...

[Deleted User]

I wouldnt buy this house 
Lenders are getting twitchy about all sorts right now, this is just another complication thats not needed 

daveyjp

After a good look around the wider area to check there weren't further large areas of growth nearby (i.e. railway lines or watercourses which will never be cleared), if the site is now clear it wouldn't bother me the slightest.  If it was going to regrow it would have done so by now as it's an annual plant.

The reality is knotweed can appear absolutely anywhere at any time, if it appeared again on this site there is no way of proving it isn't a new outbreak imported by a third party, rather than regrowth of an older outbreak.

Learn what it looks like and an annual inspection is free.