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Original poster

Would you buy a property with Japanese Knot Weed?

49 replies

Spicylolly · 28/04/2018 11:45

A house has come on the market that we love, a little on the high side budget wise but we could manage it.
Trouble is it does state there's knot weed on the property and a plan is in place, details available on request.

Would you not touch it with a barge pole or factor in costly removal and offer appropriately?

If it where close to the house I'd steer clear but it gives the impression it's in the grounds, which extend to 1.6 acres. Can't see it in any of the photos so assuming it's not a huge amount.

It would be a forever house for us so worrying about resell isn't a huge problem.

OP posts:
BeyondThePage · 28/04/2018 11:47

NO - run.... you cannot get rid of it. ever.

Insurance becomes more of a problem, management plan has to be in place and rigorously applied. Does not hurt to ask for details, but personally, no, would not touch with a bargepole.

GardenGeek · 28/04/2018 11:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CanIBuffalo · 28/04/2018 11:48

Not a chance in hell.

PinkBuffalo · 28/04/2018 11:50

I would never look at a house I knew had knotweed. Sorry OP

c75kp0r · 28/04/2018 11:50

Are you willing to keep paying to deal with it until it is eradicated and do you know what that will involve? Are adjoining properties actively managing it or are you going to be like King Canute?

Polyethyl · 28/04/2018 11:50

My family and I defeated a knotweed jungle in our garden.
For three years the garden looked like a bombsite, as we dug it out, prevented regrowth, and fought the battle... but it worked.
The knotweed is not 100% eradicated, but where there was jungle now there is a beautiful lawn and flower beds. Every spring one or two knotweed sprouts need digging out, and that's it. So we regained our garden.
If you're willing to put the effort in.... buy the house.

Original poster
Spicylolly · 28/04/2018 11:50

Eeeek scary stuff, thanks everyone. We will avoid! .....remind me I said that when the price of it drops and drops because no one wants it! Haha Wink

OP posts:
FootnerFace · 28/04/2018 11:52

Also it can affect the chances of getting a mortgage or insurance and if you ever need to sell....no.

c75kp0r · 28/04/2018 11:52

Oh shoot re pp Dailt Telegraph article. Blummin ek. That’ll be a no then. I gather it is edible though... you might save £££ on green veg if it is tasty

Original poster
Spicylolly · 28/04/2018 11:57

Ive seen pigs like to eat it, I've always wanted pigs yay!

OP posts:
hedgebackwards · 28/04/2018 11:58

Not in a million years.

I gather it is edible though... you might save £££ on green veg if it is tasty And you won't even have to go outside to harvest it - you'll just need to wait until it forces its way up through your solid concrete kitchen floor.

c75kp0r · 28/04/2018 11:58

Just googled, you can eat the young shoots ONLY the fully grown plant is not edible

GreenEyedGoose · 28/04/2018 12:04

Why would you want to eat something that can penetrate concrete Confused

And no I wouldn't buy a proprty OP that I knew had JNW.

YellowPinkie · 28/04/2018 12:04

I'm pretty sure from that link that this might be what's growing like a maniac in the back yard of our rented terraced house. Shock

GreenEyedGoose · 28/04/2018 12:04

JKW even

GardenGeek · 28/04/2018 12:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dayinlifeof · 28/04/2018 12:14

Not a hope in hell, it might be your forever house now but you have no idea if you will have to move in the future as life takes unexpected turns.

123MothergotafleA · 28/04/2018 12:14

NO. Definitely not. JK is a complete pest, impossible to eradicate.

Stickmangate · 28/04/2018 12:20

Op have you see the thread in chat. There the op have just put house on the market with jk and plan in place. Coincidence if it was the same house Smile www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3230154-Japanese-knotweed

PinkbicyclesinBerlin · 28/04/2018 12:21

Just joining the chorus absolutely no. I used to work as a building surveyor in my early life and it always amused me how people would people would find a way to put a gloss over the worst kind of structural damage imaginable because they had fallen in love with the property. Buy homes with your heads not your hearts imho.

JessieMcJessie · 28/04/2018 12:27

Lots of lenders will refuse to lend on a property with JK. So even if you can get a loan to buy or are a cash buyer, it makes it difficult to sell on, a big deal if not your forever home.

Our chain nearly collapsed because our vendors were buying a place where JK was discovered late in the day.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 28/04/2018 12:27

No, a thousand times no. It can REALLY adversely affect your insurance/ability to get a mortgage/resell (you never know, even if it's not your plan).

It is an astonishing plant, but I wouldn't touch the property with a bargepole, sorry.

MrsDilber · 28/04/2018 12:38

No. Definitely not.

Purplehammer · 28/04/2018 12:45

Not even the house next door!!Smile

L1yr · 29/04/2018 14:15

Yes I would if it was the right house. It isn't that hard to kill off, despite what that recent Swansea University report says.

There's always some horror story every spring with regards to knotweed.