Japanese knotweed and selling a house

Fleurpepper Japanese knotwood can be present but not necessarily near the house, I think it can be that land adjacent to the property, ie neighbours gardens are effected means that no surveyor could know about it.

I am a bit cynical about surveys. Surveyors only talk about what they see. I am sure yu have had surveyors like those we have received that say 'Renew wiring' if necessary, or in our case 'replace hotwater tank, if required'. So I cannot see them going looking for Japanese Knotweed.

However, one of the house purchase questionnaires has the relevant question so, having seen the answer, the prospective purchaser could ask the surveyor to look for it, but again I suspect the surveyor would tell you to get a plant expert in. They are not plant experts and would need to protect themselves in case they confuse a similar looking plant with JKW, or confuse JKW with another plant.

Yes, I would insist on quotes to eradicate, and ask for the seller to agree to reduce the price to cover.

Really nasty stuff - and can be a major, expensive ongoing problem. I'd want a guarantee of eradication - or I'd simply walk away from that property.

This site looks really useful and discuss exactly this eventuality

www.knotweedhelp.com/japanese-knotweed-law/surveyor-missed-knotweed/

and yes, a surveyor should spot it and report on it.

Monica, do you have real evidence of this 'A home buyers survey will only cover the structure of the house, not anything in the garden unless it is likely to effect the structural integrity of the house.'

Because that is the very point of Japanese Knotweed, it does affect the structure of the house and other buildings like garages, drives, etc. Surely a surveyor should be trained to spot JNW, even if it has been cut. I have no qualifications but can spot it immediately.

Fleurpepper

Did he not visit the house once or twice and see the garden?

Perhaps they had cut it down before visits by prospective purchasers.

Some fairly new houses near here had Japanese knotweed growing just outside the houses and garages but it wasn't there when they were viewed.
It has been eradicated by repeated treatment.

Did he not visit the house once or twice and see the garden?

I suspect because it is so hard to sell a house affected by Japanese knotwood that, while not covering it up, the vendors are not falling over themselves to tell your son about it, so putting it on the forms and leaving it at that. It is probable that they did not tell the estate agent about it either.

A home buyers survey will only cover the structure of the house, not anything in the garden unless it is likely to effect the structural integrity of the house.