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Japanese Knotweed - should I buy this house?

juliet.cawleyjuliet.cawley Posts: 3
in The potting shed
Hi, I was wondering if anyone can advise me. We are looking to buy a house, but it has Japanese Knotweed by a stream that is not too close to buildings. It has been treated for 5 years so far, but I'm not sure if this ever goes away. Is this a problem that can be contained, or is it best to avoid like the plague? Thanks
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Posts

  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    Has it been treated by certified experts or the previous homeowners?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Welcome to the forum. Avoid the house like the plague.
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    There is certainly a price that would make it worth it... but do they sell it for that price?
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    If it's by a stream then it's likely to be washing down from upstream on every flood so you'd just be throwing money away trying to get rid of it. If it's no where near the house though and you're happy for treatment to be an on-going cost then containment might be an option. If bits get blown around the garden in the wind or washed about by flood water then it could start a new patch anywhere.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • PyraPyra Posts: 152
    It never goes away and spreads like wildfire. Treating it is very expensive and something that would be ongoing. But if you know that going in, and the rest of the house is perfect and the spread of it isn't too big, it's your choice. I wouldn't, but I'm not you. 
    How big a patch of it is there? And has it been brought up by the surveyor or the current owners? Do they have certificates or documents about the treatment? 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited July 2020
    walk away and be glad you've been made aware before buying.
    I'm not sure I'd by a house " by a stream" either. 
    Devon.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    My stream does cause us some worries. The garden floods most winters [ plus some summers ] and we have come very close to having the house flooded.
    On the plus side, we get fantastic wild life: trout, Crayfish, Water Shrews etc.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    punkdoc said:
    My stream does cause us some worries. The garden floods most winters [ plus some summers ] and we have come very close to having the house flooded.
    On the plus side, we get fantastic wild life: trout, Crayfish, Water Shrews etc.
    My nerves couldn't stand the whole flooding thing,plant loss, hard work ruined. We've got plenty of wildlife here, just different .
    Devon.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Walk away.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    The OP hasn't said how much the garden slopes down from house to stream.  It may be a case that the land the opposite side of the stream is even lower so any flooding would not affect the property.  That said, I wouldn't buy a house with a known knotweed infestation.
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