Can Plants Damage property?

Can Plants Damage property?

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While there are many issues that cause problems in the property market, some are not as obvious as others. For instance, you may not think that plants could damage property or put a spoke in the wheels of your hopes of buying or selling a property. However, there have many cited instances of Japanese knotweed damaging property, and some lenders are not providing a mortgage when the property in question is at risk of Japanese knotweed growing at the property.

To use its proper name, Japanese knotweed is known as Fallopia japonicaidatum. It hails from Japan, Korea and China but it was brought to Great Britain in the 1800s when it was revered as an ornamental garden plant. This is a plant that grows extremely fast, with some instances of growth recorded as between 10 and 20 cm a day. This style of plant can also prevent other plants from growing but it is the fact that it can damage homes that makes it such a concern in the property market.

Find the plant that can ruin your property

If you are looking to spot Japanese knotweed, it is easiest to do so in summer and early autumn. However, you may be able to spot it from spring, as this is when shoots start to appear and these shoots are a red or purple colour. There will be pink buds and spears should grow from them quite quickly.

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Of course, if you want to check your property now or you are not sure of what to look for, you will find that a structural survey of your property will help you out. If you arrange for a survey to be carried out at your home and Japanese knotweed is found, the first step is to enlist the support of a specialist.

Inform your mortgage lender if you find this plant

It is also important to inform the mortgage lender of the existence of the plant. If you are informed of this condition when having a survey carried out at the property before buying a property, it is vital that you inform the lender before contracts are exchanged. This is because many lenders have a policy in place with respect to Japanese knotweed, and its presence may impact on your ability to obtain a mortgage.

Some of the ways that Japanese knotweed impacts on your property come through how it grows through asphalt, how it manages to destroy walls and impact on drains. The fact that the plant grows and spreads quickly is a great concern and it is a notoriously difficult plant to kill off. However, use of the Glyphosate chemical can prevent Japanese knotweed from spreading. You may also be able to dig the growth out.

If you are unaware of this plant and find that it poses a risk to your property aims, it is likely to come as a shock. However, there is no reason to panic and of course, the sooner you find out there is a problem, the sooner it can be resolved. At H.I.C.H Ltd, we aim to provide a range of services and solutions that will help you feel confident about whatever move you make in the market.

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