WWYD if you knew a builder had built on knotweed...

[Slarti]

...and was trying to sell it to unsuspecting buyers?

Part of me thinks "not my circus" but another part thinks someone is going to be royally screwed by cowboy builders making a fast buck and that I should do something (though not sure what).

Report it to your Council - just the general admin email, or to one of your local councillors if you know who they are. I’d feel rubbish if I knew and didn’t mention it to someone.

The council already know as I called them when work began because the builder cut the knotweed back and loaded all the cuttings in a truck to go who knows where. I was concerned about the fragments being spread in the local area, and while the council said it was illegal to cut and move knotweed in that way they didn't do anything about it. So in short they do know the house has been built on knotweed but it will be sold regardless and the buyers won't know.

I would really want you to report this but basically I don't know who to. Perhaps you need to contact the council again and various departments. That poor unsuspecting buyer and surely this is illegal.

So it’s a new build property?

It’ll come up when the buyer has their survey though?

I did an audit once where the company was fined by the Environment Agency for not disposing of knotweed correctly. Perhaps you could report it to them?

@Passthecherrycoke
I wouldn't count on it being picked up in a survey unless the knotweed is actually visible. If it's been cut down/dug out, it may not have grown back yet (although, in theory, knotweed should be actively growing and growing at this time of year).

@Slarti, I'd definitely want you to report it if I was buying the property. You could try speaking to the Environment Agency for further advice, details in this link: www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading

Cross posted with trilbydoll, I'm slow!

The council passed me on to the environment agency when the knotweed was being disturbed and disposed of, they didn't want to know either. My understanding was that knotweed was treated as a toxic substance and that hacking away at it and disposing of it willy nilly was a big no no, and I was quite horrified at it being done close to my own land, but there was simply no inclination from anyone I spoke to to do anything about it.

I suppose I can try the council again but I really don't know who's responsibility it is at the council to intervene in a house sale

BTW the council were already aware of the knotweed before I brought it up because the plot of this new build is adjacent to council land and the whole lot was infested with it. The council come out and treat the stuff on their land every now and then but can't treat the stuff on private land so it was all a bit futile, but basically yeah they've known about the knotweed for years and have let someone build a house on it and put it up for sale.

poppins just to address the comment about the knotweed actively growing, the majority of it is under the foundations but there will be shoots coming up in the back garden before long. However, in sure the builder will maintain a tidy appearance until its actually sold!

How close is this site to your own land?
Can you put up a sign warning "Knotweed >>>>> over there" ?

I wouldn't risk it. The builder and his family have been quite verbally and even physically aggressive with some locals. God knows how they'd react if they knew someone was sabotaging their sale.

Anonymous letter to the local newspaper? They could do a FOI to the council if they thought it was a good story. At least you might feel you had done something.

The builder could also do a FOI though. We did this when a noise order came up against our neighbours in the searches when we sold our home- the council promptly emailed over the information and it was fairly obvious who had reported them. I’d be worried the FOI request would include the details of the OPs previous contact reporting the builder, and she says he’s threatening

As someone who had knotweed bursting through the concrete poured over their uni back garden I think you need to tell as many people who will listen. Building control maybe?