Japanese knotweed worry

Jenny_k94

Hi all, posting here as I can't seem to get any advice elsewhere! 

I've just had an offer accepted on a house. However the seller has disclosed that they discovered Japanese knotweed on the property about six years ago. 

The seller has reassured me they have had it professionally treated and have a  certificate to say so (which I have asked for but am yet to see). They also say that they have had no issues with knotweed since. 

That being said, I am concerned about the chance of reoccurence (I know knotweed can lie dormant in the soil for many years!)and the effect it might have on future sale value of the property. Since we have made a generous offer on the property I want to make sure this isn't going to come back to bite us! 

Has anyone here got any experience dealing with knotweed? Is it a no go or am I worrying over nothing? 

daveyjp

Knotweed can appear anywhere are any time.

If there is no evidence now I wouldn't worry about it, unless I know there are outbreaks on adjoining land which will never get cleared such as waterways and railways, abandoned land etc.

If there is no local evidence of large outbreaks, eradicating a single new growth is very straightforwards,

propertyhunter

The fact that the seller volunteered this information and says that they have a certificate is reassuring. Of course, you will need to see the certificate and check it is legitimate. 

If you want more information about the knotweed, ask them about it - how close was it to the house, for example. If it's gone, it's gone though. Anything structural with the house your survey would pick up. 

charlotteo1988

Ahhh Japanese Knotweed. I feel I’m an expert in this after being told there is knotweed on the property we put an offer in on. 

So our knotweed is 1m x 1m so isn’t very big a company came out and inspected it and done 5 year treatment plan which we have a copy of. 

So your solicitor should ask the question when the seller fills out the TA6 form. They will want proof of a treatment plan. 

It’s all abit of a taboo subject. Everyone straight away says Japanese knotweed do not buy the house it will ruin it blah blah blah. RICS surveyors are actually publishing new guidelines beginning of next year which will basically say if the knotweed is less than 3m from the property then a mortgage company need to be informed of not then you can carry on as normal and make your own decision if you want to proceed. 

If the knotweed has been properly eradicated or has a proper treatment plan then I personally don’t think you have anything to worry about. 

The view on knotweed is changing and after so many years of it will pull your house apart in actual fact the research they done this year it actually doesn’t affect property anymore than any other plant. It just spreads quickly if it is not dealt with but looks like your sellers have done that which is good. 

Hope this helps. 

robatwork

Jenny_k94 said:

 Since we have made a generous offer on the property I want to make sure this isn't going to come back to bite us! 

You're confusing Knotweed with Triffid.

aoleks

I would revise my generous offer. the mere possibility of having japanese knotweed on your property is enough to make a lot of buyers run fast, so you will have to take that into account when you come to sell.

despite RICS changing their advice, treatment plans and insurances, I would not touch a house that has japanese knotweed anywhere near the boundary (no, 7m is not far enough).

daveyjp

aoleks said:

I would revise my generous offer. the mere possibility of having japanese knotweed on your property is enough to make a lot of buyers run fast, so you will have to take that into account when you come to sell.

despite RICS changing their advice, treatment plans and insurances, I would not touch a house that has japanese knotweed anywhere near the boundary (no, 7m is not far enough).

How many metres is enough?

RAS

Having successfully eradicated JK for land that I don't even own..........

Talk to your neighbours, buy some high strength glyphosate and administer as per the National Trust guidelines. There will be some disfigured re-growth the following spring, at which point you wear long disposable gloves and spray glyphosate on the growth.

Keep track over the following years as a small surviving segment could re-grow. Or any contractor you hire could walk in a new bit from a previous job.

Our problem was caused by fence contractors walking very small pieces on boots and tools all along the fence line

charlotteo1988

aoleks said:

I would revise my generous offer. the mere possibility of having japanese knotweed on your property is enough to make a lot of buyers run fast, so you will have to take that into account when you come to sell.

despite RICS changing their advice, treatment plans and insurances, I would not touch a house that has japanese knotweed anywhere near the boundary (no, 7m is not far enough).

Strange because my mortgage company have accepted our Japanese knotweed 6m away so clearly things are changing. 

This is exactly what I mean people are just scare mongering. 

Japanese knotweed does not ruin the foundations of a home. Plus your seller has said it’s already been eradicated. 

@Jenny_k94 Don’t miss out on a house if it is the one you want. Also maybe go on to the RICS survey website and type in Japanese knotweed and look at the video they have made regarding it and what they now think.