Any e.g. of Japanese knotweed actually damaging a property?

Adam Richards

The neighbouring garden of a house I want to buy has knotweed, which has been treated for the last couple of years. It's terraced housing so it's pretty close (within a metre or two) of the extension.

Question is: I know it's a nightmare to treat, get a mortgage on a property for etc, but aside from two stories - one of a couple who's house was devalued massively to c£50k, and another who featured on BBC Inside Out recently (and in Daily Mail stories) I can't find many more stories of where it's grown into a property? Surveyors, estate agents, knoweed companies all seem to think it's a rarity and the most damage it does to structure, if at all, is growing through paving or garden walls. So the rational person in me says the chances of this happening to me are very small.

Thoughts? I really love this property... Thanks!

Obelixx

Watch this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu-Y68W4K5Y It shows it growing through the house............

I would be very very wary and at least ask for  decent discount on teh house as getting it treated can be very expensive, without getting into the costs of repairs if it does invade the house.

Fairygirl

There's another thread on here about knotweed Adam, and I posted on it as my ex husband bought a property with his partner a year or two ago and the woodland next to it has knotweed which the council is treating as it is their responsibility. It was in his garden but no one mentioned it at the time it was surveyed. Up here we have a more in depth home report done by the vendor which covers all the usual stuff plus other features like an energy rating. He has a mortgage but I don't know what the outcome would have been if it had been picked up on the survey. I think you may need to do a bit more investigation and some mortgage companies might be more willing than others to lend. I suppose you have to think of resale value as well. I know how hard it is when you have your heart set on something but a bit of extra caution might not go amiss.

Sorry if that wasn't really very helpful 

Adam Richards

Thanks both.

I've seen the other threads, and I know I can get a mortgage from my bank as long as it's being treated appropriately and there's a guarantee etc.

I've done significant investigation but can only find one or two examples (such as the link you posted obelixx) where there was actually any damage to property. Most forum threads (here and elsewhere) talk about finding it in gardens or the challenges of getting a mortgage, but not that there's been damage to an actual house

 

Farmergeddun

Hi Adam

I think that's the point - it grows through concrete so as soon as it's seen there is a rush to get rid of it.  If it's in your garden you don't wait to see what damage it will do to your house - you pay to get rid.  If it didn't do lasting damage then the mortgage company wouldn't be bothered about guarantees.  

Farmergeddun

I believe you can be liable for any damage it does to neighbouring properties.  

As you're already probably aware it causes damage by the rapid increase of biomass under concrete, stone, tarmas etc. and then grows through the cracks at a rate of up to 10cm per day!

Adam Richards

Thanks. The neighbouring property would be liable for damage, as that's where it has been growing.

I understand the issues but structural damage seems so rare that it seems more hype than anything else (albeit on occasion causing serious damage, but in reality far less than would seem the case from reading the news!)