Japanese knotweed question on property information form - red flag?

[SheWouldNever]

Due to exchange in the next few days and have only just received the property information form (and all other documents) from our solicitor, which is annoying as it’s thrown up a few questions.

One of which is the ‘Is there Japanese knotweed?’ question. instead of ticking ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘unsure’ the seller has left all boxes blank and instead written ‘not that I know of’. My husband thinks maybe the seller knows something and not ticking any boxes is an attempt to cover their back.

We are looking into indemnity insurance for Japanese knotweed just in case. But we may plan to sell in a few years so will be a pain in the bum if it is there. The back of the garden is overgrown, the seller has already stipulated that it won’t be cleared of overgrowth / garden off cuts etc before sale, plus it’s not the best time of year to spot knotweed if it is there.

I think you need to seller to get an indemnity policy not you as a buyer

We bought a house with knotweed and treated it over the last 5 years, it's simple to treat the company come every 6 months and now yearly it's cost a total of £600 quid.. and now we have a certificate to say it's treated.

So my advice is if you do find it just put a treatment plan in place.

That way future buyers can see the treatment and the fact it's under a plan, it won't stop you selling if you are upfront.

It's not such a big deal in the scheme of things, it's just the mortgage companies have decided to be all drama about it.

it's just the mortgage companies have decided to be all drama about it.

They have. To protect their investment. Some knotweed is easier to treat (small isolated patch on your land) than others (wide spread, established, coming in from wasteland). It can be difficult.

A house near us sold recently as unmortagable. Beautiful house. Mix of knotweed and asbestos.

We have been advised to say 'not to the best of our knowledge' or similar rather than no. It's quite common to say this sort of thing.

Am not convinced an indemnity would be your responsibility to take out or that it would cover treatment. What did your solicitor advise?

I would agree it's hard to have Japanese knotweed without knowing it, in one season it will be a large thicket. If they haven't noticed it (and are telling the truth) you are probaby OK. If the garden hasn't been disturbed and it's not coming in from adjacent properties it's unlikely to suddenly appear.