The many faces of Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed might traditionally have spelt doom and gloom for homeowners and buyers alike. These days, while the plant is still a problem, the legal processes are much more straightforward.
It’s much easier to get a mortgage to buy a house, even if Japanese Knotweed is present. You’ll need an ongoing maintenance plan (that you stick to), but that’s all. Because of this, the impact on the home’s value is minimal and certainly much less than it used to be.
In this article, I’ve compiled a few pieces of information I feel you should know, whether you’re a buyer or a seller. Enjoy.
What is Japanese Knotweed?
Ah, Japanese Knotweed. In a way, I’m sorry to be talking about it yet again. However, it’s such an important thing to know about, and recent legislative changes are crucial to understand.
Japanese Knotweed originates in Japan. I know, what a surprise. It was brought here in Victorian times, becoming popular and spreading throughout the country as people bought clippings.
But our ancestors made a fairly significant mistake. Japan’s climate is harsh, and the plant has plenty of natural predators. Not so here. It spreads almost uncontrollably through its rhizomes, spreading through the soil.
Its destructive tendencies and fast growth rate are well documented. In severe cases, this plant can even bore through and wreak havoc on driveways, gardens, and the mortar in brickwork. Not good.
Watching out for Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed looks very different at its various growth stages throughout the year. It tends to lay dormant during winter, making it difficult to distinguish from general foliage.
Spring (the time of year we’re coming to) is when Japanese Knotweed is most easily identifiable. It grows in red-stemmed shoots, usually in a significant patch (not just one or two). These resemble a sort of red bamboo.
When late summer rolls around, you’ll see white, shield-shaped flowers blossoming at the tops of these stems. Yellow flowers also sprout up, accompanying the ever-denser green foliage.
It’ll continue growing into autumn, when the leaves will eventually wilt, and the flowers disappear. The red stem turns brown as the plant becomes dormant for winter, when many people cut it back, unaware of what it really is.
The importance of declaring Japanese Knotweed to buyers
When you sell a property, you must declare whether you’ve seen any evidence of Japanese Knotweed on the forms provided by the buyer’s solicitors. This must be filled in accurately, as not doing so counts as misrepresentation and could see significant legal charges.
Japanese Knotweed is difficult to miss as a homeowner due to its red stems. Of course, if you have a large property, an overgrown garden, or simply aren’t familiar with what it looks like, there’s nothing you can do about that.
A recent, high-profile case involved an individual selling a property and declaring they hadn’t seen any evidence of Japanese Knotweed. When the buyer moved in and immediately found some, they sued for damages and won. Evidence of Japanese Knotweed treatment was found on the plant, indicating the seller had, in fact, been aware of its presence.
As a seller, you must tell buyers about Japanese Knotweed. A home survey could help you identify it.
Thankfully, it’s much less of a deal-breaker these days, as ongoing maintenance plans tend to be quite effective at keeping it at bay.
Handling Japanese Knotweed properly
Japanese Knotweed must be dealt with appropriately. This involves removing any potentially affected earth and years of chemical treatments. A property is only considered free from Japanese Knotweed when no evidence is seen for a set number of years.
You’ll need professionals for this process; unfortunately, it’s pretty expensive. Of course, it depends on several factors, but the upfront cost typically sits between the £1,000 and £2,000 mark. Ongoing treatment could add £3,000 to £5,000, depending on the method and how long it’s needed. I’ve heard of a few rare, severe cases that have far exceeded £10,000 (but that would be the exception, not the norm).
Japanese Knotweed can devalue a home by 5% to 10%, so it must be removed. Sellers will most often see a return on their investment by getting rid of it, whereas buyers can offer a lower price if they find it. Thus, whether you’re a buyer or a seller, I couldn’t advise getting a Japanese Knotweed survey enough.
Get a Japanese Knotweed survey from GB Home Surveys
These days, it’s much easier to get a mortgage, even if Japanese Knotweed is present. Laws have been passed to make this process much simpler. Even though the plant is damaging and spreads unerringly quickly, it’s usually containable and doesn’t pose a severe hazard.
As I mentioned, getting a Japanese Knotweed survey during the selling process is a must. Sellers can identify the invasive plant and begin treatment. They’ll declare it on the relevant forms (which won’t impact property value so much anymore) and ensure they’re free from any liability in the future.
It’s also in the interest of buyers to know about Japanese Knotweed. This would knock some money off the asking price and, in some cases, might even mean you pull out of the deal altogether.
Either way, why not get in touch with us at GB Home Surveys to request a Japanese Knotweed survey? With offices spread throughout the South West, West Midlands and South Wales, our local RICS chartered surveyors are here to help.
I can be reached via the contact form below or directly through the Locations page.
