Tiny holes are appearing in your wooden beams.
Woodworm is eating through your floors and joists. The damage spreads silently every day.
Most sellers call treatment companies first. That costs at least £1,000. But dead beetles leave weakened timber behind.
I’m Saif Derzi. I buy properties with pest damage that scare traditional buyers away.
Woodworm terrifies surveyors. They spot the holes during inspections. They check for structural damage. Mortgage lenders see the report and reject applications fast.
Your sale collapses overnight.
Treatment kills the insects. But it doesn’t fix eaten joists. Sometimes you need new timber fitted. That adds thousands more to your bill.
Buyers still walk away.
I’ve bought woodworm properties before. I understand which damage matters most. I know what repairs actually cost.
This guide shows you both options. Treat and repair, or sell as-is. You’ll learn honest prices and real timelines.
Simple help for a hidden problem.
- Understanding Woodworm Infestation and Its Impact on Property Sales
- Ways to Sell a Property with Woodworm
- Common Challenges When Selling Properties with Woodworm
- Legal Disclosure Requirements
- Identifying Woodworm Infestation and Damage
- Woodworm Treatment Options and Costs
- Should You Treat Woodworm Before Selling?
- Woodworm Treatment Guarantees and Protection
- Why Choose Property Buyers Today for Selling Your Property with Woodworm
Understanding Woodworm Infestation and Its Impact on Property Sales
Woodworm are beetle babies that eat wood from the inside.
Common Furniture Beetles cause most UK problems. Deathwatch Beetles attack old oak beams. Active woodworm can cut property values by 5-15%.
Fresh holes with sawdust show active problems. Old holes without dust mean past issues. I’ve seen buyers pull out when surveyors find active woodworm.
Roof beams and floor joists get the worst damage. Beetles weaken structural wood, causing safety risks.
Signs of woodworm:
- Small round holes
- Fine sawdust piles
- Weak crumbly wood
Damp and poor airflow encourage woodworm. Southern England has more problems. Older properties face the highest risks.
Untreated woodworm spreads throughout your house. Structural beams can fail over 5-10 years. Bad cases make properties un-mortgageable.
Selling houses with pest problems needs treatment first. Want to know your house’s worth with woodworm? Factor in treatment and repair costs.
Ways to Sell a Property with Woodworm
Here are the 3 primary methods to sell your property when woodworm infestation exists…
Estate Agents
The conventional route creates significant challenges for houses with woodworm:
- Average sale duration: 6-12 months (extended timeframe – buyers worry about structural damage and treatment costs)
- Many sales fall through when surveyors identify active woodworm infestation
- You need agents willing to market woodworm properties and address structural concerns
- You’ll encounter these costs:
- Agent commissions (up to 3%)
- Solicitor fees (up to £4,000)
- Timber surveys and specialist inspections (£200-£500)
- Woodworm treatment and spraying (£500-£2,000)
- Timber replacement for damaged areas (£1,000-£10,000)
- Limited buyers interested in properties with woodworm
Property Buyers Today
When woodworm infestation makes your property difficult to market:
- We can complete within just 7 days
- No financing complications or treatment requirements needed
- What you receive:
- No agent fees
- We handle legal costs
- No property viewings – we buy woodworm-affected houses as they stand
- No treatment expenses – we manage woodworm removal ourselves
- We understand woodworm and timber repair processes
- Completion date you can trust
- Consideration: Receive up to 85% of property value (often better after treatment costs and prolonged delays)
Professional cash house buyers like Property Buyers Today understand woodworm complications and handle all procedures.
Property Auction
Auctioning attracts purchasers who deal with woodworm-affected properties:
- Duration: 3-4 months
- Sale finalises instantly when gavel drops
- Key factors:
- Property sold as-is – bidders review timber surveys
- Attracts renovators and property developers
- Perfect for restoration projects – draws suitable buyers
- Woodworm issues disclosed in auction legal pack
- Wait 4-8 weeks until auction date
- Wait 28 days to finalise transaction
- Registration fees (up to £1,000)
- Auction house charges (up to 6%)
- Bidders assess woodworm damage through surveys and viewing days
Check our guide on selling a house at auction to understand how this process works for properties with woodworm.
Common Challenges When Selling Properties with Woodworm
Selling a home with woodworm is really hard. Buyers get scared, and banks won’t lend money. These problems slow your sale and lower offers.
Survey-Flagged Timber Damage
Surveys always find woodworm.
Surveyors spot exit holes, wood dust, and weak timber. This means buyers need specialist reports costing £200-£500.
These reports show the full damage. Often it’s worse than first thought across the roof timbers and floorboards.
Buyers demand £3,000-£15,000 or more off, or pull out completely.
Mortgage Lender Treatment Requirements
Banks refuse loans until woodworm is treated.
Lenders won’t give mortgages until active woodworm is professionally treated with guarantees lasting 20-30 years.
Untreated problems cut out 85% or more of buyers. Only cash buyers remain, and they push prices down hard.
Structural Timber Replacement Costs
Bad infestations need timber replacement.
Replacing joists, roof timbers, or floors costs £5,000-£25,000 or more.
Buyers take off full costs plus 25-35% extra for hidden damage. Structural issues from woodworm really worry buyers about safety.
Damp Association Amplifying Fears
Woodworm means damp problems, too.
Woodworm needs damp wood to survive. This suggests damp problems costing £2,000-£10,000 to fix.
Buyers see woodworm as a sign of neglect. Damp issues alongside woodworm multiply buyer worries dramatically.
Deal Collapse Post-Timber Survey
Sales often fall through after timber surveys.
40-50% of sales collapse when surveys reveal worse damage. Banks impose last-minute treatment demands.
Each failed sale adds months. New buyers become more suspicious and offer less.
Legal Disclosure Requirements
You must tell buyers about woodworm problems.
The TA6 form asks directly about pests and timber issues. Hiding woodworm breaks the law. I’ve seen sellers face court for not disclosing infestations.
Tell buyers if woodworm was treated previously. Provide all treatment guarantees and certificates. Most woodworm guarantees last 20-30 years and transfer to new owners.
Surveyors spot woodworm during inspections. They check lofts, floors, and all timber carefully. Buyers discover problems whether you mention them or not.
Documents buyers need:
- Treatment certificates
- Guarantees
- Survey reports
- Company details
Hiding woodworm can kill your sale. Buyers can pull out after surveys reveal active infestations. Worse, they can sue you after completion.
Your solicitor handles disclosures during the conveyancing process. Local authority searches sometimes reveal enforcement notices for serious timber problems.
Check guarantee company is still trading. Some went bust, leaving certificates worthless. Visit HSE guidance for treatment standards.
Always disclose woodworm problems and past treatments early.
Identifying Woodworm Infestation and Damage
Look for small round holes, fine sawdust, and crumbly wood.
Active problems show fresh sawdust and pale clean holes. Old problems have dark holes without dust. I’ve seen surveyors poke timber with screwdrivers to test strength.
Professional surveys cost £200-£500. Inspectors check lofts, floors, and staircases carefully. They work out which beetle you have by hole size.
Damp and rot often come with woodworm. Wet timber attracts beetles.
Check these areas:
- Loft spaces
- Floor voids
- Staircases
Beetles emerge from April to October, leaving fresh holes. This shows active problems.
Badly damaged beams need replacing. Light damage just needs treatment.
Woodworm often appears with dry rot problems. Both like damp conditions.
Selling houses with pest problems needs professional surveys first.
Get a timber inspection before listing your property.
Woodworm Treatment Options and Costs
Treating woodworm has several options with different costs. Professional treatment makes your property sellable again. Understanding these choices helps you decide what to do.
Professional Spray Treatment
Chemical spray is the most common treatment.
Professionals spray all accessible timber. This costs £500-£2,000 or more, depending on property size.
Work takes 1-2 days. You must leave for 24-48 hours while the chemicals dry.
Treatment includes 20 to 30-year guarantees that banks need. Specialists provide certificates that buyers demand.
Structural Timber Replacement
Badly damaged timber needs replacing.
Replacing joists, roof timbers, or floors costs £2,000-£10,000 or more. Work needs temporary support and takes 1-4 weeks.
Scaffolding costs £800-£2,000 extra. Plaster repairs cost £500-£2,000 more.
Building regulations approval is essential for structural work.
Heat Treatment
Heat kills woodworm throughout the whole property.
Raising the temperature to 55-60°C for 24-48 hours kills all woodworm. This costs £3,000-£8,000 for typical houses.
No chemicals used. Heat reaches hidden timber, but spray can’t. You must remove items that can’t handle heat first.
Treatment Guarantees
Guarantees are absolutely essential.
Professional treatments must include insurance-backed guarantees lasting 20-30 years. Documentation costs £100-£300 extra.
This transforms properties from unsellable to sellable. Banks reject promises without formal guarantees.
For more about wood preservation, visit the British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association.
Fix Damp Problems Too
Treatment fails without fixing moisture.
Woodworm needs damp wood. Fix moisture sources like leaking roofs or rising damp costing £1,500-£8,000.
Dehumidifiers, better ventilation, and roof repairs prevent woodworm from coming back.
Guarantees become invalid if the timber stays damp. Fix the damp first, or the treatment won’t work.
Should You Treat Woodworm Before Selling?
Treating woodworm before selling usually makes financial sense.
Professional treatment costs £500-£2,000 for typical homes. This often recovers your full asking price. Treatment certificates with 20 to 30-year guarantees reassure buyers hugely. I’ve seen untreated woodworm knock £5,000-£10,000 off sale prices.
Buyers expect pest-free properties. Banks often refuse mortgages on homes with active woodworm. Treatment takes 1-2 days, so it doesn’t delay urgent sales much.
Treatment benefits:
- Full asking price achieved
- Mortgage approval
- Transferable guarantees
- Faster sales
Provide treatment quotes to buyers if selling as-is. This helps with price negotiations. Minor inactive woodworm might not need treatment depending on market conditions.
Location matters too. Desirable areas sell despite woodworm, but you’ll still lose money. Hot markets accept problems more easily.
Some issues aren’t worth fixing before selling. Woodworm usually is worth treating, though.
Get a house valuation comparing treatment costs versus price drops.
Treat active woodworm before listing. The investment pays back quickly.
Woodworm Treatment Guarantees and Protection
Understanding guarantees is crucial when treating woodworm. Proper guarantees make your property sellable and protect buyers. These guarantees are essential for mortgage lenders.
Insurance-Backed vs Company-Only Guarantees
Insurance-backed guarantees protect you even if companies go bust.
Guarantees through schemes like Property Care Association (PCA) cost 10-15% more (£100-£300 extra). But they’re essential for selling your property.
Company-only guarantees become worthless when contractors fold. Buyers have no protection if woodworm returns.
Insurance-backed guarantees remain valid regardless of the company’s status. This makes your property much more attractive to buyers.
Standard 20-30 Year Coverage Periods
Reputable specialists provide a minimum of 20-year guarantees.
Good guarantees last 20 years minimum, with 30 years increasingly standard. They cover retreatment if woodworm reappears and replacement of damaged timber.
Shorter guarantees from budget operators raise lender concerns. Many mortgage companies refuse properties unless a minimum 20-year transferable guarantees exist.
Longer guarantees demonstrate confidence in treatment quality. They give buyers peace of mind for decades.
Automatic Transferability at Sale
Quality guarantees automatically transfer to new owners.
Transfers happen without fees, re-registration, or re-inspection. This transferability is non-negotiable for mortgage lenders.
You must provide original certificates, treatment specifications, and contractor details to buyers’ conveyancers. Missing documentation potentially voids coverage.
Keep all paperwork safe. Without documents, guarantees can’t be transferred properly to new owners.
Coverage Scope & Critical Exclusions
Guarantees don’t cover everything.
Coverage includes retreatment and timber replacement for woodworm specifically. But excludes damage from new damp, structural alterations, or different pests like dry rot or wet rot.
Buyers must understand that guarantees protect against treatment failure, not all future timber problems. Many discover exclusions only when making claims years later.
Similar to indemnity insurance, guarantees have specific terms and limitations that must be clearly understood.
Inspection & Maintenance Conditions
Some guarantees require annual inspections.
Annual inspections cost £100-£200 each. Guarantees become void if the underlying damp isn’t maintained below 20% timber moisture.
Failure to meet conditions invalidates coverage. Insurers reject claims if you can’t prove compliance.
Keep all inspection records and damp meter readings. You’ll need this evidence for future claims or property sales.
Why Choose Property Buyers Today for Selling Your Property with Woodworm
I’ll level with you here…
Woodworm infestation makes buyers incredibly nervous. Even treated timber raises questions; surveyors will highlight every affected joist and beam, and mortgage providers often demand guarantees before they’ll lend. If you don’t want the hassle of specialist treatments, structural timber surveys, and buyers chipping away at your asking price, I totally understand.
Let’s be transparent—our offer reflects the fact that we have our own costs to cover and need to turn the property around relatively quickly, so it won’t be the full market price.
Yet here’s why homeowners dealing with woodworm still choose to sell their house fast with us…
Speed
Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.
This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse.
Guaranteed Sale
Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?
We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.
When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!
No Costs
You won’t face any costs with us.
We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.
No Stress Or Hassle
Our team supports you through the whole selling process.
We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.
Free Property Valuation
Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.
They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.
No Viewings Required
Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.
We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.
All Properties Welcome
Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.
We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.
Professional Legal Service
Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.
We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.
