Can Japanese Knotweed Affect My Mortgage?
Moving home is one of the most stressful times of your life. Between the massive expenditure, securing a mortgage, choosing the right furniture and arguing with your spouse, the last thing you need is more stress. With all this to worry about, you’d never imagine that a simple plant known as Japanese knotweed would be the thing that ruins everything and prevents you getting a mortgage.
What is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese Knotweed, also called Asian Knotweed, is a type of highly aggressive and invasive plant species which is classified as a pest here in the UK. During peak growing season, it’s possible for stems to reach a height of 3-4 meters (10-13ft).
Japanese Knotweed Mortgage Problems
Japanese Knotweed is strong. Very strong. So strong in fact that it can burst through tarmac and concrete. It grows fast too, as much as 10cm per day during the summer season.
For this reason, mortgage lenders are scared of it.
They know the damage it can cause to the foundations of a property when left unchecked. Lenders worry that the damage caused by the plant will lower the value of the property when you come to sell it. Leaving you unable to pay back the borrowed capital and the interest.
Will I be refused a mortgage because of Japanese Knotweed?
It’s possible. Lenders have been known to refuse mortgages due to the presence of Japanese Knotweed at a property. The plant grows at such a fast rate that the presence of it in a neighbouring property can cause problems with securing a mortgage too.
Lenders carry out risk assessments to determine whether or not the plant will be an issue.
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) created a Risk Assessment Framework to help.
Category
4: Japanese Knotweed is within seven metres of the habitable property either in the boundaries or in neighbouring properties or is already causing serious damage to outbuildings, drains and walls, etc.
3: Japanese Knotweed is present as in category 4 but damage is minor
2: Japanese Knotweed is not in the properties boundary but is seen in neighbouring properties. It is within seven metres of the boundary but more than seven metres away from the property.
1: Japanese Knotweed is not seen on the property but can be seen in neighbouring properties and is more than seven metres away from the boundary.
If you fall under category 3 or 4, you need to contact a professional Japanese Knotweed removal specialist immediately.
If you do not deal with the infestation, itʼs likely that mortgage lenders will refuse to give you the funds you require to secure your home.
You need to contact experts in the treatment and removal of Japanese Knotweed as soon as possible.
JBB Knotweed Solutions Ltd provide specialist services for the professional identification, surveying, treatment and removal of Japanese Knotweed.
All of our work is fully compliant with the strictest of industry standards. Not only that, but our guarantees will be accepted by banks and mortgage lenders. Therefore, you will be able to secure a mortgage after we have started treatment of the plant.