Japanese Knotweed – Difference between a Building Survey & a Knotweed Survey

RICS building surveyors are not expected to be fully trained in the management and treatment of Japanese Knotweed, however many RICS building surveyors do receive training often under CPD so that they have the ability to identify Japanese Knotweed at any time of the year. The RICS building surveyors also have the RICS information paper and the RICS Japanese Knotweed risk table to help them identify the real of risk the knotweed presents to the property. This will take into account the some of the concerns of the lenders and insurance companies. Bear in mind that if a RICS building surveyor fails to identify Japanese Knotweed on or near the property then the buyer may be able to make a claim for negligence against the surveyor. Building Surveys or house surveys as they are normally called gives you an overview of the property’s condition and point out defects and subsidence. One of the major issues with a property’s garden is the presence of Japanese Knotweed. Building surveyors have a duty of care to their clients and any loss incurred by the client due the to the surveyor’s negligence may lead to the client having a claim against the surveyor.

Despite the fact that building surveyors have a duty of care to the client and are expected to identify Japanese Knotweed, not all surveyors are trained to do so. This leads to the risk of not identifying the Knotweed before the purchase of the property and then afterwards potentially having to make legal claims against the surveyor after Japanese Knotweed is found present on the property. When purchasing property it is wise to arrange a Japanese knotweed survey along with a normal building survey so that you can be sure whether Japanese knotweed is present on the property. If Japanese knotweed is present then the buyer can re-negotiate the value of the property or ask the seller to have a Japanese Knotweed Management Plan (KMP) in place or get rid of the knotweed completely.

A Japanese knotweed survey will identify whether Japanese knotweed (or other non-native invasive plant) is present or nearby. The survey findings and site plan accurately record the location and area of knotweed contamination and the level of risk it presents to the property in accordance to the RICS knotweed risk table.  If the property is damaged by Japanese Knotweed then this will also be recorded and photographs are taken. Unlike a normal building survey where Japanese knotweed is noted if identified, a specialist knotweed survey goes into great detail about the extent of the knotweed infestation, the level of risk, the most appropriate treatment option and remedial work and the likely cost of carrying this out.

Where applicable, the knotweed survey will provide information and advice to help with cases of encroachment, misrepresentation regarding the Law Society Property Information TA6 Form (3rd Edition) or professional negligence claims.

 

Alex Evans

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

28% Increase in Brits Moving to Australia

The number of people moving to Australia in the summer of 2025 increased by 28% year on year, making it the busiest quarter for Australia-bound movers in recent years. According to data from international movers surveyed through Compare My Move, September 2025 recorded the highest share of moves to Australia for the year, capping off an…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Breaking News

New-build transaction volumes fall by 62%

New-build sales volumes fall by 62%, but market improvements are driving accessibility for homebuyers The latest insight from Yopa has found that, whilst average monthly new-build sales volumes are down 62% so far in 2025, new-build homebuyers are benefitting from improvements to market affordability, with mortgage lenders currently introducing a range of new initiatives and…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Brits could buy a haunted property without knowing

Buyers in England and Wales could unknowingly purchase a property with a haunted reputation, as sellers aren’t required to disclose it. Homebuyers who are unaware are at risk, as this could lead to privacy concerns, nuisance from visitors and impact property value. Louise Ainley, a qualified conveyancer at licensed conveyancer course provider Access Law Online,…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

3 ways a new-build could boost your purchasing position

The latest internal data release from award-winning mortgage adviser, Alexander Hall, has revealed that it’s not just younger, first-time buyers taking advantage of new-build benefits to buy one-bed flats. Multiple homebuyer demographics are purchasing at all levels of the property ladder, buoyed by improvements to the mortgage market landscape, which have seen lenders offer greater…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

‘Outdated’ mainstream homebuying can learn from auctions to give security to buyers and sellers

Andy Thompson, Director at Eddisons part of Begbies Traynor Group, said: “Buying and selling through auctions prioritises speed, transparency and security. By front loading elements such as legal documents, background checks and searches, both buyers and sellers have confidently and fully committed to the transaction, which means when the hammer falls, contracts are exchanged and…
Read More
Breaking News

What the 2025 Party Conferences Told Us About Property

Inventory Base, the UK’s leading platform for property reporting and compliance, has today released its analysis of key housing and property policy developments from all four major UK political party conferences, revealing a clear divide between those prioritising hard targets and those favouring deregulation. With housing a central issue on the national agenda ahead of…
Read More