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Original poster

Japanese knotweed and selling flat. Any experiences?!

17 replies

goteam · 10/05/2021 18:06

Has anyone bought a home knowing there is Japanese knotweed present? There is a tiny amount in our garden (actually we are in a flat and in the neighbours section but that doesn't make much difference)

It was likely present when we bought ten years ago but not declared. We are obviously going to declare it so has anyone bought a home with JK declared to be present?

A lot of properties nearby are selling and I suspect the JK is going undeclared.

The JK management company said that banks no longer mind so much when offering mortgages but that buyers still tend to be spooked by it.

The JK has created no issues in our ten years here. Our neighbour says they just pulled it up when they saw it but the flat is now rented out so the tenants appear to have left it.

OP posts:
korawick12345 · 10/05/2021 18:15

It may make the flat unmortgageable with some lenders particularly as there is no management plan in place.

I personally wouldn't touch it with a bargepole even more so with it being in the neighbours area of the garden.

Original poster
goteam · 10/05/2021 18:16

We are paying for the management plan for the whole garden as we are the ones who want to move.

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passmethemilk · 10/05/2021 18:17

So is there a plan to control it or manage it? How close to the property is it?

Original poster
goteam · 10/05/2021 18:20

There is a management plan. They came out to check today. It is about 3 metres from the building

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korawick12345 · 10/05/2021 18:23

And how long has the management plan been in place and how long is it set to run for at the moment?

korawick12345 · 10/05/2021 18:26

at 3 metres from the building you will be considered the very highest level of concern which is knotweed present

Original poster
goteam · 10/05/2021 18:39

Not sure @korawick12345 as DP sorted it.
In the 10 years we have been here and the 20 years the neighbour was here the JK caused no problems. The house (now flats) was built in 1890 and is solid as a rock. I'm not sure why people are so freaked out by Japanese knotweed to be honest.

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Chumleymouse · 10/05/2021 19:10

There’s a lot of mis information and scaremongering about jk , if you’ve got a garden that’s overrun with it and it’s ten foot high then it’s going to be a lot of work/ time to remove it ,but if it’s just a small patch then it’s not going to be a big deal to remove it.

I know someone who got rid of a patch with a diy injection kit off the internet, it just takes patience/time and determination 👍.

Bamboo has a similar bad reputation for spreading but if you know what your doing it’s easy to control/ remove it , all it takes is regular checks/ maintenance.

Original poster
goteam · 10/05/2021 19:18

@Chumleymouse thank you. There seems to be a lucrative industry around JK removal. We are paying 2k and it is a tiny patch which has never spread and another small patch (a few sprigs) at the back of the garden about 8 metres from the house. Again, just alwayscutnever spread. The guy from the JK management company admitted he was basically providing us with a very expensive piece of paperwork.

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korawick12345 · 10/05/2021 19:20

Unfortunately it’s the paperwork you need as it’s an essential for lots of mortgage companies. The actual plant itself is not inherently a problem unless it gets out of control. How long have you been living in the flat and when did you start tackling it?

Original poster
goteam · 10/05/2021 19:37

@korawick12345 moved in 10 years ago but neighbours were here for years before moving and only ever had a tiny amount they used to cut. We noticed a bit at the back of our garden a few years ago but its only as we look to sell we realise it's a big problem for buyers.

Yeah, happy to pay for the paperwork if it helps us sell but I'm worried that potential buyers will just be freaked out by the mere mention of JK even with a management plan in place.

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Chumleymouse · 10/05/2021 19:38

That’s true about the paperwork, that’s what your paying for unfortunately ☹️

It tends to spread more ( as do lots of plants)if you start cutting it back/ down and will start shooting up to produce leaves for more sunlight/ energy.

Chumleymouse · 10/05/2021 19:43

It wouldn’t bother me with a plan in place. Although it wouldn’t bother me anyway 🙂. But like you say some people will be put off by just the mention of the word.

korawick12345 · 10/05/2021 19:57

Yes it’s not going to look great that you haven’t tackled it until now but at least there is a plan in place

Original poster
goteam · 10/05/2021 20:03

@korawick12345 but the guy who came to check said there was barely any and we were basically paying him for the certificate so what impact has it had that we haven't done anything about it yet?! I really think people overestimate how bad it is.

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korawick12345 · 10/05/2021 20:15

[quote goteam]@korawick12345 but the guy who came to check said there was barely any and we were basically paying him for the certificate so what impact has it had that we haven't done anything about it yet?! I really think people overestimate how bad it is.[/quote]
It doesn’t matter what you or I think about it, it’s the fact that lenders can be so difficult about it! Also buyers may think that if there is JK that hasn’t been dealt with there may be other things you haven’t tackled. People can be very skittish about that sort of thing. You see it on MN all the time

Original poster
goteam · 10/05/2021 20:18

@korawick12345 there are definitely other things we havent tackled!! We are on that too....

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