Japanese Knotweed

[Dom Johnston]

Hi all,

My wife and I are looking to buy a home and we have just seen a report that says the property that we're very close to completing on has Japanese Knotweed in the garden. There is a treatment plan in place but I was hoping that somebody could help?

Will we need to keep paying for the plan once we move in? Or is it on the Vendor to finish paying for this?

Will a lender still lend on a property if Knotweed has been discovered/disclosed? We wouldn't not disclose it, but just checking.

Is it worth the risk?

I tried to call the company that are currently providing the treatment but they refused to give me any information.

Cheers

[George Orwell]

In my view, if you are desperate to buy it then request the vendor pays for its removal in full.

But, your lender may now refuse to lend and you must disclose it.

If it were me, I'd walk away and be grateful I'd only spent on survey fees etc.

[Mark]

It's not the end of the world and it depends how much you want the property. If it'll cost you a ?1,000 to sort it out do you still want the property?

However I see no reason why you can't ask the vendor to finish paying for the completion of the treatment. If it takes on average 2 or 3 seasons to eradicate it, ask the company how much that will cost and get that taken off the house price, or ask the vendor to pay the company and show you the receipt.

The legal situation taken from https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=218

Buying and selling property

Since 2013, the seller is required to state whether Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is present on their property through a TA6 form - the property information form used for conveyancing. Your conveyancer or solicitor will be able to provide full legal advice, however, here is a summary:

If you are buying, the presence of Japanese knotweed will be stated in the responses to the TA6 form. This often results in your mortgage lender requiring assurances that it will be eradicated before agreeing the funds. A management plan by a professional eradication company, backed by a transferable guarantee, is usually sufficient. It is most common for this plan to be provided by the seller before the purchase is completed

Def. have a read of that article.

[Dom Johnston]

There is a treatment plan in place and 2 weeks ago the specialist went to the property and said there was no new growth, however, I know it can lay dormant for years then come back again.

Just not sure if it's worth pursuing or just walk away before we're too deep in?

[fishbiscuits]

It wouldn't scare me away at all. If the treatment plan is fully paid for up-front then I see no reason to pull out. It's even perfectly possible to treat it as a DIY job if you're persistent.

If you can't get any cooperation from the current treatment company, then get a new quote for a 3 year treatment and monitoring programme, and get the price knocked off.

[Dom Johnston]

We've decided to go ahead with the valuation tomorrow and see what the surveyor says.

Fingers crossed!