Would You Buy a House With Japanese Knotweed?

Would you buy a house with Japanese knotweed growing on the premises? You may never have considered this question before, but it’s becoming an increasingly common consideration as the nation becomes more aware of the effects of this invasive weed. One major area of impact is in house transactions.

When buying a house, we’re quick to consider the price, the location, the utilities, and the nearby services. However, where many people fail to pay close attention is the outdoor area. The yard or garden should not be overlooked, because it’s here that you may find some telling signs of a Japanese knotweed invasion. The quality of the soil and the vegetation and flora present in the surrounding areas affects not just the aesthetics of the house itself, but also potential threats to the property.

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Potential Issues

Buying any house is a huge step and if the property happens to be infested with invasive weeds such as Japanese knotweed, then the state of the property will inevitably bring down the price of the house and the property. The main annoyance with Japanese knotweed is that it is an extremely durable weed and its growth is very persistent. Japanese knotweed is able to regenerate very quickly and from only a few roots left behind in the ground, you can end up with an entire plant with a massive root system in a short period of time.

The weed is capable of causing structural damage to properties by invading any weak spots in pipework and foundations. Considering how much effort it is to remove Japanese knotweed and the soaring costs it can impose on a budget, many homeowners may choose to ask for a price reduction or simply decide not to buy the property in question.

Since Japanese knotweed has the capacity of causing structural damage to the man-made objects present on the site, lenders are also cautious when issuing mortgages for the sites endangered by this invasive plant. Even with a good care of the property, some damage could occur and the value of the property could go down, posing certain problems in reselling it.

A few years ago, it would have caused problems acquiring a mortgage even if the infestation problem was a few properties away. Nowadays, there are lenders who are willing to work closer to the infected sites, but they will likely perform a survey and decide on a case-to-case basis. In most cases, you’ll have to have already initiated a treatment programme with insurance backed guarantee or at least be willing to undertake one in reasonable time.

Solutions

The costs of removing any type of invasive species can be high, depending on the magnitude of the problem and the surface area covered. Japanese knotweed has evolved to survive on very limited resources such as water, soil nutrients and light. All of these characteristics make it much fitter for survival when compared to regular ornamental plants. It does not matter how much fertiliser or water you put into your soils, if they contain remnants of the Japanese knotweed, it will eventually cause other plant life in the area to die off by starving it of nutrients.

However, the problem is not unsolvable and it should not put you off from buying a particular house that you like. You should take action and inform a professional removal service about Japanese knotweed if you’re worried about its growth, as you have a legal obligation to prevent it from spreading to surrounding properties. If treated timely and correctly then the problem can be combatted.

If you’re uncertain about identifying the growth of the weed on your property, then JKSL are able to pay a visit to your location for a consultation. We specialise in the treatment and complete eradication of Japanese knotweed and we have over 15 years of experience in dealing with the troublesome weed.

We have a 100% success rate and offer warranty options of up to 10 years, so you can be sure that it will never come back to haunt your property. Get in touch with us today to discuss our services in detail.

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