Property surveyors examine all visible aspects inside and outside a property that you are looking to buy. So, how do they relate to Japanese knotweed?
Property surveyors will likely encounter Japanese knotweed on a semi-regular basis. Experts say that there is at least one stand of Japanese knotweed in every 6-mile square area within the United Kingdom. Here are some tips that property surveyors (plus anyone looking to buy or sell a house) should follow:
> Check that the plant in question is knotweed – as you may be aware, Japanese knotweed shares many features with other invasive weeds and many plants can be commonly misidentified as knotweed. We would recommend ensuring a PCA approved surveyor completes a Japanese knotweed site survey to confirm whether the plant is or is not Japanese knotweed.
> Ensure everyone is informed – it is important that the buyer, the seller, the mortgage lender and the property surveyor are all kept informed of any potential Japanese knotweed on the property. Where possible, this should also be confirmed in any paperwork.
> Make sure the impact of the knotweed is clear in the paperwork – if the property cannot be recommended for a mortgage due to the knotweed, it is important that these comments are made clearly on the property surveyor’s paperwork. These comments may also set out several options for the mortgaging of the property – for example, a knotweed management plan may need to be in place and fully paid for before the property can be mortgaged.
> Leave the knotweed alone – it can be very tempting for surveyors, or for anyone viewing or visiting the property, to get close to the knotweed and try and have a good look. Any disturbance to the knotweed, or the soil surrounding it, can lead to the knotweed spreading. Please do ensure the knotweed is left as undisturbed as possible so that the treatments can be completed successfully.