Japanese Knotweed found near the house we are planning to buy

[Amitc]

Dear members,
I need your expert advice on my matter. I am buying a property in Southend on Sea and everything nearly done to exchange contract when surveyor report came as Japanese Knotweed present nearby. Estate agent arranged a specialist to survey and they reported that Japanese Knotweed present in rear alleyway 21 meter from the property boundary and there will be no problem getting mortgage. But I am really worried about the future of this property if Knotweed invade the property. Do you think it can spread to this property? Is there anything council can do to eradicate this from public land? Do you think I should avoid this property?

Please help me to take decision.

DS1 was refused a mortgage on an otherwise excellent house because the surveyor spotted JK beyond his garden, i.e. not on his property at all. Their line was that he would have no control over it spreading.
You should bear in mind that even if you buy the house, you might have difficulty selling it.

Polyethyl that's fine if you're going to stay in the house forever. If you sell, and assuming you declare it, it will become an issue.

Just to update you that after getting mix reactions from this forum I have discussed with few expert companies and they suggested me that it is very common problem and soon or later most of the properties will have this weed. The option they give me is excavation inside garden so that I can carry out garage construction with root barrier to stop future encroachment and herbicide treatment in the alleyway infestation which is communal area (not council). It will come with 10 yrs insurance backed guarantee. The cost will be estimated 5000+. The vendor agreed to pay majority of the cost and I have to share little bit. I am planning to go ahead as the property ticks all the boxes we are looking for and its within our budget.

Property lawyer here as well. I've seen lenders lend on it, but tbh if it isn't on your land it's not as much of a crisis. I've also acted on sales with japanese knotweed who have a pretty firm eradication plan in place. I think you need to find out who owns the land, how far it has spread and what they are doing with it before exchange

I cannot believe I have just commented on a zombie thread. Good lord

I've never heard of it; I'm familiar with a weed in the US called kudzu which sounds similar. Kudzu is a huge problem here, especially in the South - it can grow several feet a day. According to Google, it's illegal to transport either Japanese Knotwood or kudzu in all 50 states. That would give me pause about buying a property with it growing so near. Google did say that goats are really effective at getting rid of it.

OMG, it's a zombie?! Damn.

Start your own thread - people will just reply to the original OP not the question you have asked

@Amitc any update?

Pm the OP hesterton might be easier than the off chance s/he's browsing mn.

Hi Guys, Thanks for your interests on knot weed update. I went ahead to buy that property. Spent around 5.5k (seller paid 70%) on professional knot weed company with insurance backed guarantee. They have excavated inside garden area and herbicide outside area. All problems solved. This year not a single bud came out. My suggestion is, if you find a good property with JKW infestation then go for it but always bargain with seller for a good price. Treatment can cost you 5-10k depending on the area and treatment plan.

We've just sold a property where our next door neighbour had massive amounts of knotweed. Estate agent advised us it would be difficult (but not impossible) to sell as many (not all) mortgage companies refuse to mortgage a property that had KW on or nearby.

Neighbour refused to deal with it. Council said it's nothing to do with them. Police said they could have a word and issue an anti-social order asking them to deal with it, ultimately if neighbour can't afford it they can't make him pay. So we contacted a couple of places and set up a management plan that would help new buyers get a mortgage. Plan would stay with the property and the KW be treated 3-4 times a year every year until it was gone. Guy said it would take 3-4 years.

So we sorted out a plan, signed contract, paid £1700. Ended up with cash buyers who weren't bothered by the KW!

It's a pain in the arse to deal with but not impossible.

what does JK look like? Id like to know, (Im no Alan Ti chmarch!)

any pictures?

Lots will pop up if you google It!

Thanks for coming back, OP. That's really interesting,

Estate agent advised us it would be difficult (but not impossible) to sell as many (not all) mortgage companies refuse to mortgage a property that had KW on or nearby.

I suspect it depends on the area as well - some places in the Rhondda in South Wales have Japanese Knotweed everywhere.

Big thing with it is not to disturb the roots. We had it in the unadopted lane behind the house we used to live in, and I was keeping it check by spraying it with glyphosate four times a year. Then some idiot drove through it, churned up the ground and there was four or five times as much of it the following year.

Hi

Only just joined. Would be interested to know what you did.

Re. the alleyway - look at the Title Plan and Deeds. I think you will find that each house owner is responsible for the bit of alleyway adjoining their garden.

The distance of the alleyway to your house is not a problem. However, many people are too mean to pay for knotweed spraying and the whole alleyway needs to be sprayed. Generally, companies will spray the alleyway inclusive of their charge for your property.

You need to ask the owners if anyone is spraying the alleyway.

The Council will not act as it is private land.

If no-one is spraying, then ultimately the knotweed will spread into their gardens and they will have to act. Hard to know without seeing it. Find out if they are all private owners - housing associations and buy to let landlords are notoriously difficult to deal with and do not want to spend the money.