Japanese knotweed has such a fearsome reputation that many buyers will simply walk away if it’s revealed that a property they want to purchase is affected, or if knotweed is discovered on a survey. But what if it’s your dream home? What if that property alone ticks all the boxes and you don’t want to walk away?

Our research with YouGov earlier this year indicated that buyers are becoming more pragmatic in their approach to Japanese knotweed, with a third saying they would still buy an affected property, as long as they could negotiate a discount on the price. 

This summer, customer Simon Harper took a practical approach when the sellers of the semi-detached house he wanted to buy near Reading revealed that it had knotweed. There was a large infestation, 6 x 4.5 metres in the rear garden which had been there for a very long time. 

Simon was undeterred and pressed ahead with the purchase after instructing Environet to carry out a survey and using the information to negotiate a reduced price that reflected the cost of treatment. Environet excavated the knotweed and put a root barrier in place to prevent it from encroaching from next door where the neighbour is attempting to treat the knotweed on his side of the fence himself.

Simon said: “Environet removed the knotweed within a week of the survey and gave me the guarantees I needed. I’m so pleased with how it worked out and I couldn’t recommend them enough. I’ve got the house I wanted and I’m really happy with it.”

If the house you want to buy is affected by Japanese knotweed, contact us to arrange a site survey in the first instance. We will agree a plan for removing the knotweed, carry out the work and provide you with a ten-year insurance-backed guarantee to satisfy a mortgage lender, underwritten by an A-rated insurer. 

You can read all about Simon’s story in the Reading Chronicle.