Japanese knotweed alert to householders

Deep cleaning and redecoration are part of selling a house - but check your garden too.

Invasive plant Japanese knotweed has been known to make it impossible for people to sell their homes.

Its thickly matted stems reach  three metres in height and will  exacerbate existing weaknesses in  drains or patios.

Steven Greenwood, a surveyor at Wildscapes CIC, said:  “It’s not uncommon to see Japanese knotweed on a property that has grown so much underground that it’s present on neighbouring land also."

Legally binding

Potential sellers must disclose by law if their property has, or ever has had, a Japanese knotweed issue. Many mortgage lenders  refuse to lend against a property that has such a problem.

Others may see the presence of Japanese knotweed as having a detrimental effect on its value and lower the amoung that buyers are able to borrow against it.