Before you ring Questions we get asked
We are buying in Beechwood. What should we ask the seller?
Ask whether there is knotweed on the property or next door, and request any treatment records or guarantee.
How do I know if it is Japanese knotweed?
Look at the stem first: hollow like bamboo, speckled with purple, and zig-zagging with a node at each bend. Leaves are broad with a flat base. Small cream flowers appear in late summer and the dead canes stay brown through winter. A photo sent to us is quicker than guessing.
Is it illegal to have knotweed in my garden?
Having it is not an offence. Letting it spread into the wild is, and any cut material counts as controlled waste. If it crosses onto a neighbour's land you could face a claim.
Will knotweed stop me getting a mortgage?
Not on its own. Most lenders will lend against a professional survey, a treatment plan and a guarantee that transfers to the buyer.
How long does treatment take?
Spraying usually runs over three to five growing seasons followed by monitoring. Excavation takes days but costs more.
Can I just dig it out myself?
We advise against it. Tiny pieces of rhizome regrow, and the soil cannot go in a skip or the garden waste bin without proper handling.
Does knotweed damage houses?
It pushes into cracks, drains, walls and lightweight outbuildings. Sound foundations are rarely the issue, but a stand can still affect a valuation or a sale.
What if it is coming from my neighbour?
Have a survey done so the position and direction of spread are on record. That record is what you put in front of the neighbour or their landlord.
