mullethunter Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 We're supposed to be about to exchange on our new house, but it now looks very likely that the whole thing is going to fall through because on the council owned verge between the property and the road there is a record of Japanese Knotweed. There's nothing there to see at the moment, and the vendor has been treating it with the approved weed killer whenever it rears its head, but our mortgage lender (HSBC) are saying we have to provide a certificate of completion for eradication and a certificate covering the work for 10 years. Neither of these are likely to exist because the council haven't done anything themselves. It is not on the property, more than 7m from the building, but much less than 7m from the property boundary. Does anyone have any experience of anything like this? If the sale falls through we could be in trouble because the landlady of where we are now is having the house valued to sell it. My chickens are going to have to go to my mums before the photo's for marketing are done , then how do we find somewhere to live with a garage big enough for OHs car and that will allow cats and chickens? We'll keep looking for somewhere else to buy but I havent seen anything suitable for a while. I feel like after I've worked so hard for this everything is now falling apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I wouldn't want to buy a house with a history of Japanese knotweed so this may be a blessing in disguise. Your landlord can not sell your rental propery if you have no where to go. They will have to get a court order and then eviction to get you out which can take up to six months. I'd explain to your landlord what's happened and that you will need to start looking again. Lots of properties will be added to the market now the weather is getting better. You are in a good position as a buyer because you are not selling. Don't be bullied. Keep us updated. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 So sorry that this has cast a spanner in the works for you but, as has been pointed out, it may be a blessing in disguise?! Do speak to your landlord.......these are exceptional circumstances and they certainly can't just throw you out! Spring is the traditional time to put houses on the market and things usually get busier with sellers so, hopefully, you will be able to find something lovely to suit you. Good luck...let us know how it progresses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 So sorry to hear that Mullethunter I will keep my eyes and ears peeled for any animal friendly rental properties in the area. Hope that you find somewhere suitable soon if this sale falls through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 Thankyou all and especially Groovychook. I know you're all right in that now we know about the knotweed it may be best not to buy this property anyway - it just felt right I hadn't thought that more places should be coming onto the market now but of course you're right, so perhaps things not as bleak as they seem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Chin up! Its a big disappointment for you, of course, after you had got ready to go but there is a silver lining to every cloud and this is what the searches are for, after all. No doubt there is something even better around the corner, tho its not easy to be patient when you had got so close to 'the off'. I feel sad for the seller too as it seems they will be in a very difficult position now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 I feel REALLY bad for the seller. He's moving to a place in Shropshire which is empty and waiting for him. He's packed and has his removers booked. I'm pretty sure he can't actually complete until he has money from the sale though and I guess now unless he can get a cash buyer he may struggle full stop, and has no chance of making his current dates. He's a lovely man and doesn't deserve this. We haven't had a definite 'no' from the bank yet but I think that's what's coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 What a shame for you, hope you manage to find something soon . Sounds like the Council have fallen well short of their responsibilities . What a shame that the poor house owner is suffering because of their incompetence . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I'm sorry to hear that I remember a conversation about a year ago, with a horticulturist friend; Japanese knotweed is very fast growing and difficult to get rid of with conventional weedkillers. The council needs to get a specialist company in to inject the herbicide into the stems. It isn't a notifiable plant, but if the council has taken action to remove it from that land, then they should be able to provide a certificate to prove that it has been eradicated. I wouldn't buy a property with active Japanese Knotweed in the garden, or near it as it can cause lots of damage to your house. Good luck, and I hope that you can get it sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I thought that it was a notifiable plant. It certainly is now a common question in conveyancing enquiries. Our first property here had knotweed that had spread from an old railway embankment. I would never buy any where in the winter just in case I bought a property with it again. It is a nightmare, I have never seen anything that grows so fast and spreads so fast. It can grow through concrete floors, roads etc. sounds like you have had a lucky escape. Just think that it wasn't meant to be and your dream property is just around the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I can't believe that it doesn't have notifiable status, but it is an offence to plant it... not a lot of help for an innocent party which has to cope with the fall-out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 I don't really know whether I hope it works out for us or not. But if not I hope the vendor sorts something out but as he'll be relying on the council (as its on their land) I don't fancy his chances Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 The vendors solicitor should be able to do something you would think if it is the councils fault.A friend was selling her property and there was something in the deeds that said local council had right to demolish her property if they wanted to put road in area.The council said that would be very unlikely to happen ever but would not remove it from plans.A local counsellor then said the councils decision meant her property was blighted.Ended up council paid asking price and friend is free to move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 The trouble is its not illegal to have it on your property and there is no legal requirement to eradicate it so I don't think the owner can make the council do anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I can't believe the hysteria surrounding Knotweed. It is actually quite easy to eliminate using glyphosate. I bought a house six years ago at a real premium price because people were getting their knickers in a twist over knotweed that was going to undermine everything. It took me one season to remove it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 This is what the RHS has to say about it. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=218 I expect it depends how much of a hold it has had on the land. I have enough hassle with bindweed (although the ground elder we seemed to completely remove in one session) so I'd rather not tackle it on my own or bear the expense of getting specialists in. But even so it does indeed seem possible to eradicate. The concern is how much damage has been done to foundations because of the root system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 the council does' have an obligation as land owner/manager to control knotweed as does' any land manager. We've got it in 2 areas of the allotment coming in from neighbouring land and we were told at an EGM by a council officer that it at least has to be registered they'll take care of that. also that if it's cut down it can't leave the site or the area it's cut from as to not help it spread. and as said the only control is glyphosate weed killer not the domestic ones but the trade ones (ebay is all I say on that bit), the guy that treats it for my council has moved away from injection and back to spraying and by all accounts is having a fair bit of success with it my local church has a really bad infestation on part of the old grave yard and they're work crew have been told to cut it back and burn it were it's growing they only started it in October so it'll be a while before their done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Bees like it and it makes red honey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 I can't believe the hysteria surrounding Knotweed.It is actually quite easy to eliminate using glyphosate. Interesting comment, we found some here when we moved in 15 years ago, I found it reasonably easy to get rid of as well and it hasn't reappeared for over 10 years. Also, when I was at horticultural college a lecturer asked me to bring a root in so he could grow it and show other students exactly what it looked like. However there is a huge swathe of it about a mile away, by a, now empty, farm cottage. It is quite apparent the farm have no interest in removing it as they are frequently up there doing other field works and the area just gets bigger every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 That's irresponsible of them sjp is right; it either has to be burned on site, or got rid of by specialist disposal bods. Like Bindweed, even the smallest bit of root can start up again. As an aside, a homoeopath I know says that it contains a compound which shows excellent results in trials against cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share Posted February 15, 2015 I have no problem with it at all. It's nowhere near (7.2m away actually) the actual house and is a tiny bit, and yes I know we could get rid of it fairly easily. That's why it's so frustrating!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Your vendor is going to have a problem selling the house because people will be scared to go ahead. If you really want this house talk to him about him how to tackle the council and get advice from a knotweed eradication specialist - they will have experience in forcing/encouraging councils to take responsibility. And you should approach other mortgage lenders to see if they will give a mortgage on agreement of an approved plan of action. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 sjp is right; it either has to be burned on site, or got rid of by specialist disposal bods. Like Bindweed, even the smallest bit of root can start up again. the problem is that there's apparently only one site that's licenced for hazmat in the country at the moment talking to a mate who works for a skip company who tips there it's a right pain it's best part of the day for one load with getting there and all the on site precautions before they tip then the clean up afterwards truck and driver no one wants to pay the fees to tip what is at the end of the day only weeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 There is a sign up on a byeway near here where the council have sprayed a patch of knotweed. I have no idea how they knew it was there as it is in the middle of nowhere I wouldn't have known it was Japanese Knotweed if I had not been told. Anyway, it has been sprayed once and is a dead as a doornail. Sorry, probably doesn't help you but it just doesn't seem like something that hard to kill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 From all these comments it does seem as tho your mortgage lender is being particularly hard about a problem which does seem to have a solution I wonder if there is any scope for getting them to reconsider if a plan was put in place to get rid of the problem as Willow suggests. Would it be possible you could contribute to financially if necessary, in order not to lose the house? I know the odds are stacked in favour of the mortgage lender, and lets face it, not many of them are willing to extend credit where there is any degree of risk, but perhaps it is worth a final conversation, especially as I presume you may have already paid for a survey, and incurred solicitors fees for searches etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
