Can I sell a house with Japanese Knotweed in the garden?

[AccioPinotGrigio]

My sister and I lost our father earlier in the year and we are now in the process of trying to sell his house. It went on sale about a month ago. His next door neighbors called me last week to say that they had spotted Japanese Knotweed in the garden. I have been to look and confirmed that it is indeed knotweed and I am now in panic because (a) it could cost us 8-10K to get it removed and (b) many mortage lenders will not approve a mortgage on a property where knotweed is present.

It is the second point which worries me the most, we can scrape together the money to treat the problem but for all sorts of reasons we cannot afford not to find a buyer for the house.

I am so sad about this and wonder if anybody has experience of this sort of situation and could share it with me.

Well the people who sold us our house did.

We've still got it. Its not that much of a problem to be honest although I suppose anyone who knows vaguely what they're doing in the garden might mind, but not all people do and not all people want to garden - they may want a garden for kids to play in.

Shebear

Hmmm. Not sure. Is it worth getting some legal advice? How much knotweed and how near the house is it?

Dp has been researching the Japanese Knotweed thing for a while now, and has even joined forums about it on the interweb!

One thing everybody said on there is to try Roundup when the weed is flowering. Apparently, since the weed has hollow stems, the pesticide goes all the way down to the roots.

Worth a try before forking out 7-8 grand methinks!

I would ask your local council for advice. I work in Building Control and we have a list of contractors who specialise in Knotweed removal.

It is a nuisance but it's not the end of the world! Remember it's not an offence to have it on your land (if you didn't plant it) nd it's not a notifiable weed.

I don't think its a problem in terms of selling. I don't know why a mortgage company won't lend on a house with this in the garden. In fact most surveyors probably wouldn't even see it considering they only go round the house. Its not illegal as long as any disposal is done so it doesn't cause it to spread. It would stop the avid gardener buying the house I think.

We bought a house with it in,and the surveyor didn't spot it.I did though,as I'm a professional gardener.Don't panic,it can be got rid of.What you need is Roundup Biactive-not normal roundup.Follow the instructions-from memory it is 1/5 Roundup 4/5 water.It is best to treat it in May,then again in Sept when it is in flower.It may throw up distorted plants after treatment,so make sure you get it all.If it is on a border near your neighbours plot and they have it,offer to treat theirs too,otherwise it will just spread back into yours.I did the above and it has taken 3 years-this year none came back at all,but I'm keeping an eye on the area as the stuff is tenacious.

Let me know if you need any more advice.

Thank you all for your calm and helpful advice. I have let myself get into a state about this and have probably not been thinking rationally to say the least.

I think talking to the knotweed removal specialists yesterday didn't exactly fill me with confidence. They advised that when selling a house with knotweed it needs to be treated professionally in order for mortgage lenders to be satisfied that the problem is being managed. This is only a recent move on the part of mortgage lenders apparently.

The terrifying 8-10K price was for excavating the root - this would entail digging 2-3m down through the driveway and 2m all the way around the root. However, I have since spoken to a couple of companies who will treat with a herbicide spray. One company would like to charge 4K for a 5 year spraying programme the other just under 1K. I am thinking of going for this option to reassure potential buyers and their mortgage lenders.

Thank you all for responding and effectively talking me down!

FuriousGeorge - good to hear from a professional gardner! From what you say a long term treatment plan starting next spring is required. We have already had two offers on the house and may well sell before then. This makes me think I should definitely put a long term treatment plan in place now as a gesture of goodwill.

Thanks again.

SP: gardener!!!!

Unless the buyers' surveyor actually sees the knotweed, I don't think you really need to worry, do you? As far as I recall, there's no section in the fixtures and fittings/getting on with neighbours etc form that asks you about knotweed.
Just chop it down and shove something heavy on top of it. Like a shed.

Oh, and bribe your neighbours not to tell....

AwesomeWellies - If the neighbours didn't know I would most likely just chop it down and pretend I knew nothing about it. However, I couldn't ask the neighbours to lie, they are so sweet and they are Catholics, the guilt would be too much for them - still that's what the confessional is for