Trying to sell a house with Knotweed?

If you’re a gardener, then you know that knotweed is a weed that can be difficult to get rid of. But did you know that it can also be a major obstacle when trying to sell your house with knotweed on the property?

If you have knotweed on your property, make sure to disclose it to potential buyers – otherwise, you could end up losing out on the sale.

If you have knotweed growing on your property, you could be facing some very serious problems including fines from your local government, the infestation of other plants or trees by its seeds, and even damage to your house if it begins growing through cracks in foundations or walls.

We’re here to help! We will come out and eradicate all traces of this invasive plant from your home so you don’t have to worry about any future issues with it. Alternatively, you may wish to tackle the problem yourself and for that, we have a wealth of information on this site.

Are you trying to sell a home that has Knotweed?

First and foremost, do not panic; there are numerous scare stories in the press and on the internet claiming that your home has no value and that you will be unable to sell it.

You may have even been advised by your estate agent that you can sell, but only for cash and at a reduced price. Let’s be clear: these assertions are false! You may sell your home for a fair price by following the right steps and enlisting the help of a trained Knotweed Specialist.

The Knotweed plant is a vine that grows in the wild and can grow up to 12 feet in a single season. It’s most prevalent in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

So, now that you know it’s Knotweed, what do you do?

If you’re still reading, we’ll assume that Knotweed is present on or near your land. You might be tempted to get rid of the plant before putting your house on the market, but you can’t for a variety of reasons.

Knotweed isn’t as easy to get rid of as other weeds, so digging it up or using a store-bought generic garden weed killer won’t help. Add to that the fact that Japanese Knotweed is a restricted waste that must be transported by a licenced waste carrier to a disposal facility that has the proper environmental permits to accept invasive plants, so you can’t just throw it away with your other garden rubbish.

Knotweed is also quickly dispersed, so putting it in your compost runs the risk of spreading it to other parts of the yard.

Finally, failing to mention the presence of Knotweed is a criminal offence, and you will be asked about it directly in the TA6 form when you complete the sale of your home.

How do I go about selling a house with knotweed?

So, what should you do and how can you sell your home when the chances seem stacked against you?

Lenders and buyers are increasingly searching for proof that you’ve committed to treating the Knotweed on your property. How are you going to show this?

With a well-thought-out Knotweed Management Strategy.

The plan will show where the Knotweed is now, as well as a rough estimate of the likely RICS risk level and a detailed plan for managing the Knotweed, including the number of visits and proposed treatment method. Treatment, monitoring, and the guarantee term are all included in a good complete Knotweed Management plan, which will protect you for 10-15 years.

Because knotweed is a tough plant that requires competent and experienced management to guarantee that it is dealt with and controlled effectively, the plans are lengthy. Is this to say you’ll be stuck in your home for another ten years? Certainly not!

You have proved your commitment to treatment by putting a plan in place, and as a result, you have restored the value of your property.

Is it possible for me to sell my home right now?

Once you have a complete knotweed management strategy in place, you have done everything you can in terms of knotweed to be able to sell your home.

Potential buyers will always be turned off by the presence of Knotweed on-site, and depending on where the Knotweed is located on your property, some will conclude that its presence is an inconvenience to them and will not buy.

Taking action even if it is not completely removed will demonstrate to potential buyers that you are treating it and have taken the best action possible to eradicate it from your property.

Is it possible to get a mortgage on my home?

We understand that having Knotweed on or near your property can be concerning, but with the correct plan in place, your buyer will be able to acquire a mortgage.

While they may not have access to the entire market for a lender, after a Full Knotweed Management Plan is implemented, the list of available mortgage lenders will expand.

Putting the plan in place gives the lender the assurance they need that the Knotweed will be properly handled.

In conclusion

Our advice to you, as the seller, is to put the plan in place first. The buyer should inform their broker from the start that there is knotweed on the property, which will be accompanied by a complete Knotweed Management plan and therefore minimise any issues as you go further along in the selling process.

Want to know more about removing Knotweed?

Knotweed Removal aims to provide the most up-to-date information, help and advice for YOU to make informed decisions. If you are unsure or uncertain about how to proceed, please reach out to us and we will gladly come back and advise you as best we can.

Governmental advice can be found here and the UK law covering the removal of Japanese Knotweed as stated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 can be found here.

The best means to contact us is via our email – hello@knotweedremoval.tips

Do not forget we have a library of blogs covering many areas relevant to Japanese Knotweed, our free downloadable How-to Guides and Product Reviews on the latest methods being employed to eradicate or remove Japanese Knotweed.

Knotweed Removal, UK