Japanese knotweed

[furryleopard]

Hi, having sold our house last Friday we've found a great house which we liked. There is not a single house in the market apart from this one in our price range, location etc... But it has a small patch of Japanese knotweed outside of the boundary of the property in the park at the back of the garden. It's under treatment by the council and we couldn't even see it when we looked at the viewing. DH thinks we should leave it because he's worried the roots are under the house he's read they can grow 20 feet, we won't sell the house on if we ever wanted to, if it came into our garden we'd get stuck with it. I think it's under a treatment plan that means it's a minimal issue. Anyone any advice? Thanks.

If it's a small patch and under treatment I wouldn't worry too much, but see what your mortgage provider thinks. Also, you could ask the council about their treatment plan and prognosis. It's only really a problem if it's left to grow unchecked, because it spreads so rapidly. There are quite a few myths about jkw, it's not going to suddenly appear metres away from where its currently growing but being actively treated. Some small patches in our area have been treated by the LA using glyphosate, and they were gone within a year.

Would the vendors be prepared to have a knotweed survey by a specialist company?
If this issue is giving you cause for concern, it will probably concern others so may ultimately be in the vendors' interest.
If that comes back clear, would that reassure your DH?
Or, make an offer, pending survey, and arrange your own survey re:knotweed.
You would then know one way or another and if you do go on to buy, will have paperwork etc for potential future buyers.

Are you planning on using the same solicitor for the purchase as your recent sale? Ask them their opinion, it's unlikely they won't have had a similar enquiry before.

The survey should tell you all you need to know then make offer accordingly, there are specialist contractors who guarantee it’s removal

i wouldnt buy-- japanese knotweed is vicious, but more importantly I dont trust the council to do anything properly and would hate to have to liaise with them on such an issue.

JK is not as bad as they make it out to be. if it is not on the property or adjoining, you should be ok. The adjoining land is being treated.

I think we're going to leave it, I feel very sorry for the vendor I think she's already had a sale fall through because of it.

Use it to negotiate a lower price. It is a great house. JK really isn't that bad. If the council are treating it, it should not affect the house.

We bought a property with a small amount of JK which was already under a 5 year treatment plan, paid for by the vendor. It didn’t bother us because it was already being treated and was at the end of the garden, not close to the property

I think a fairly recent study found that Japanese knotweed cannot ever be completely eradicated. For that reason I’d leave it.

They have a patch at Myddleton gardens for research, there is a sign up saying the recent research seems to think it is not as bad as originally thought.It was planted by E A Bowles in victorian times. We visit it regularly and it does grow very quickly but they seem to keep it in check.

this seems to back this up

Japanese knotweed really isn't that bad. For a start, banks only care if it is closer than 7m to the building. But there was a great article in the telegraph last year reporting research that basically said its reputation is completely undeserved. Roots don't grow more than 2.5m of the plant, and it hardly ever actually causes damage to property anyway. The researchers did a case study with derelict properties abandoned for more than 10yrs and found knotweed was only an accessory after the fact - ie only exploiting existing cracks caused by other damage (by a tree falling over and a buddleias). Apparently its incapable of pushing over a wall never mind tearing or sneaking through intact concrete/brickwork.

I'll try to link the article but you need to register (for free) to read it.

Https:www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/problem-solving/japanese-knotweed-really-bad-think/