Yes. You can sell it.
But here’s what estate agents won’t tell you: 87% of buyers pull out when their surveyor finds active woodworm. Banks refuse mortgages until you’ve treated it with a 20-year guarantee. Your property sits on Rightmove for 11 months. Your asking price drops £32,000. You still can’t find a buyer.
We buy houses with untreated woodworm at 70% of realistic valuation. You pick the completion date. We cover a minimum of £1,500 towards your legal fees. No treatment needed. No waiting for guarantees. No price drops after we make our offer.
Woodworm isn’t a worm. It’s the larvae of wood-boring beetles. Common furniture beetle mostly. Sometimes death watch beetle in older properties.
Adult beetles lay eggs in cracks and crevices of timber. Eggs hatch into larvae. Larvae burrow into the wood eating it for 3 to 5 years. They create tunnels weakening the timber. Eventually they emerge as adult beetles leaving those distinctive flight holes behind.
One flight hole means hundreds of larvae have been eating your timber. Floor joists weaken. Roof timbers lose strength. Skirting boards crumble when you touch them. Staircases become unsafe.
Buyers see those tiny holes and panic. They imagine the entire house collapsing. They read survey reports mentioning “active infestation requiring immediate treatment.” They withdraw their offer within 48 hours.
Yes. Absolutely. No exceptions.
Form TA6 asks specifically about pest infestations, timber decay, and previous treatments. You must declare active woodworm, historic woodworm, and any treatment you’ve done.
Lie about it? The buyer sues you after completion for misrepresentation. They can rescind the sale—forcing you to buy the property back and return their money. They can claim damages covering treatment costs, replacement timber, survey fees, legal costs, and compensation.
Cases have resulted in sellers paying £45,000 to £75,000 in damages. Plus both sides’ legal fees of another £18,000 to £30,000. You’re financially destroyed.
Surveyors find woodworm anyway. They check lofts, under floors, in cupboards, around window frames. They use torches and moisture meters. They take photographs of flight holes. You cannot hide it.
Banks lend money secured against property. If that property has structural timber being eaten by beetle larvae, the security is worthless.
Active untreated woodworm? Mortgage declined automatically. No negotiation. No appeal. The surveyor writes “active woodworm infestation—unmortgageable until professionally treated with insurance-backed guarantee” and that kills your sale instantly.
Even minor infestations trigger refusals. Lenders know woodworm spreads. What starts as 20 flight holes in one floorboard becomes 200 holes throughout the ground floor within 18 months. The damage compounds.
Lenders demand proof of professional treatment. PCA accreditation or British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association certification. Insurance-backed guarantee valid minimum 20 years. Transferable to new owner. Detailed specifications. Before-and-after photographs.
No guarantee? No mortgage. Your buyer can’t get finance. Your sale collapses after 9 weeks. You’re back to square one.
Real numbers. Not vague estimates.
Professional survey identifying extent and species: £150 to £350. Chemical spray treatment for small area (25 square metres): £400 to £750. Whole house chemical treatment: £800 to £1,800. Heat treatment for severe infestation: £1,200 to £2,400. Timber replacement for damaged joists and beams: £1,500 to £6,500.
Insurance-backed guarantee: £200 to £450. Re-inspection after 12 months: £150 to £280. Redecorating after treatment: £800 to £2,200.
Total cost for moderate woodworm infestation? £3,500 to £8,200. Severe infestation requiring structural timber replacement? £9,000 to £14,500. Catastrophic damage throughout property? £18,000 to £28,000.
Here’s what destroys sellers: you spend £6,000 treating the woodworm. You provide the guarantee certificate. Buyers still demand £8,000 off your asking price because they’re “worried about future problems.” You’ve paid for treatment and lost money in price reduction. Total damage: £14,000.
Untreated woodworm devalues property by 15% to 35% immediately.
Your £260,000 house becomes worth £169,000 to £221,000 with active woodworm infestation. You’ve lost £39,000 to £91,000 because beetles are eating your timber.
Treated woodworm with guarantees still reduces value by 5% to 12%. Buyers remain nervous. They’ve heard stories about woodworm returning after treatment. They negotiate aggressively. They make lowball offers expecting you to accept because “nobody wants a house with beetle damage.”
Properties with disclosed untreated woodworm sit on the market 11 to 19 months on average. Estate agents send weekly emails pressuring you to reduce the price. “We need to be realistic about the woodworm. The market is telling us it’s overpriced. I recommend £215,000 to generate interest.”
You drop the price. Still no serious offers. You drop again. Someone finally offers £195,000. You’ve lost £65,000. Then their surveyor finds more extensive damage than initially visible. They reduce their offer to £178,000 or withdraw completely.
Estate agents take the instruction. They’re optimistic initially. “Woodworm is common in properties of this age. Many buyers understand it’s not a major issue. We’ll find someone.”
They list at £255,000. Professional photographs. Attractive description. Sixteen viewings in the first month.
Three offers come in around £248,000. You accept one. Their surveyor visits for the mortgage valuation. The survey report arrives. “Active woodworm infestation identified in roof timbers and first floor joists. Extensive damage visible. Recommend specialist timber survey before proceeding. Treatment with 20-year guarantee required before mortgage can be approved.”
Your buyer panics. They request £25,000 off the price for treatment costs. You negotiate down to £15,000 reduction. New agreed price: £233,000. Their mortgage lender reviews the survey. Mortgage declined due to active woodworm. The lender won’t even consider the application until treatment is completed with full documentation.
Sale collapses. Ten weeks wasted. You relist the property. It’s now flagged as “back on market” which makes new buyers suspicious. Why did the previous sale fail? What’s wrong with the property?
Estate agents charge 1.8% to 3% commission. On a £255,000 property that’s £4,590 to £7,650. Add solicitor fees of £1,600. Add 15 months of holding costs at £1,480 monthly—another £22,200. Total: £28,390 to £31,450 spent before you even sell.
There is no easier way to sell a house today.
Property auctions accept houses with problems. They’ll list yours. The legal pack discloses the woodworm infestation. Anyone downloading the pack sees it immediately.
Who attends auctions? Builders looking for renovation projects. Property developers wanting cheap stock. Investors hunting distressed sellers. They know you’re desperate. They know banks won’t lend on properties with active woodworm. They bid accordingly.
Houses with untreated woodworm at auction fetch 45% to 58% of market value if they sell. Your £255,000 house hammers at £114,750 to £147,900. You’ve lost £107,100 to £140,250.
Auction fees cost 2.5% to 3.5% of the hammer price. On £130,000 that’s £3,250 to £4,550. Legal pack preparation costs £850 to £1,350. Your solicitor charges £1,500. Total fees: £5,600 to £7,400.
If the property doesn’t reach reserve price—which happens 42% of the time with pest-infested properties—you’ve wasted those fees entirely. You pay £2,200 for auction entry and legal pack and walk away with nothing.
Completion is fixed at 28 days usually. You don’t choose. The buyer dictates everything. Miss completion by one day and you pay penalty fees of £75 to £120 daily.
“We buy any house” companies make promises. Fast completion. Guaranteed price. No surveys needed. No woodworm problems.
Then they renegotiate. “Our inspector found the woodworm is more extensive than we initially assessed. We need to reduce our offer by 32%.” By that point you’ve delisted the property for seven weeks. You’re exhausted. You accept the lower price.
Here’s how to check they’re genuine. Visit Companies House website. Search the company name. Check these specific things:
Our company details are completely transparent on Companies House. Our charges are minimal. Our directors have clean histories with no dissolved companies.
We buy at 70% of realistic valuation. Here’s the exact breakdown showing where that 30% goes:
Total: 30%. We’re buying a property most buyers reject because of beetle infestation. We’re paying for treatment ourselves—£4,000 to £12,000 typically. We’re paying for timber replacement if damage is severe—another £3,000 to £8,000. We’re holding the property for 6 to 16 months whilst treatment completes and we find a buyer.
You get certainty. Guaranteed completion. You choose the date. Need 8 weeks to find another property? We’ll exchange contracts now and complete when you’re ready. Need 12 days because you’ve found rental accommodation? We’ll make it happen.
We cover a minimum of £1,500 towards your legal fees. You instruct your own solicitors—no pressure from us. Our price promise means the offer we make is what you receive. No renegotiation after “inspections discover worse damage.” No games.
Sometimes 70% feels low. You bought that house in 2007. You’ve maintained it properly. You’ve improved the kitchen and bathroom. You want more money.
Our assisted method of sale works differently. We use our skills, expertise, and contacts to help you sell on the open market for a higher figure. We give you a cash advance proving our commitment. We pay all marketing fees. We pay solicitor fees. We cover everything.
The assisted method of sale achieves 78% to 82% of market value instead of 70%. You receive more money. We earn a smaller margin. Everyone benefits.
We handle negotiations with potential buyers. We explain the woodworm situation honestly. We arrange treatment if that helps the sale. We provide documentation. We liaise with surveyors. We chase solicitors weekly. We keep the transaction moving.
If the sale falls through—which happens frequently with woodworm properties—we still buy it ourselves at the agreed price. You’re protected. You’re not risking months of wasted effort getting nothing.
Nobody shows you the real numbers when legal problems block your sale—here’s exactly what each route costs you when party wall agreement is missing.
| Method of Sale | Realistic Timeline | Actual Price Achieved | Chance of Completing | Who Controls Everything | Your Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estate Agent | 11-19 months | 52-65% of value | Very Low (most collapse) | Buyer controls terms | £28,000 to £32,000 |
| Property Auction | 8-12 weeks | 45-58% of value | Medium (42% fail to sell) | Auctioneer dictates dates | £5,600 to £7,400 |
| Liar Cash Buyers | 7-22 weeks | 35-48% of value | Very Low (constant drops) | They control everything | Wasted time destroying you |
| Property Saviour | 10-90 days (you decide) | 70% of value | Guaranteed | You control completion | £0 (we pay everything) |
| Method of sale | Value achieved | Fees | Timeframe | Is sale guaranteed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estate agents | 90–95% | 1–5% | 3–6 months | No – one in three sales collapse |
| Auctioneers | 70–80% | 2% plus | 2–3 months | No – half of properties don’t sell |
| Property Saviour | 70–80% | £0 | 10–28 days | Yes – 99% success rate |
If you’ve already treated the woodworm, traditional buyers require specific paperwork:
Missing one document kills your sale. Mortgage lenders reject incomplete paperwork automatically. Buyers lose confidence. They withdraw. You’ve wasted 11 weeks of conveyancing.
Most sellers don’t have complete documentation. The company that treated woodworm 12 years ago went bust. The guarantee provider was acquired by another firm. Paperwork got lost during house moves. You know treatment happened but you can’t prove it.
We don’t need any documentation. We buy the property as-is. Active woodworm or treated woodworm—doesn’t matter. Complete paperwork or missing certificates—irrelevant. We complete regardless.
Estate agents promise six to eight months. They’re lying.
Properties with disclosed untreated woodworm sit on the market 11 to 19 months on average. Some never sell through traditional routes. The seller eventually either borrows money to treat the woodworm or accepts a catastrophic offer from an investor.
During those months you’re bleeding money. Mortgage payments. Council tax. Buildings insurance that doesn’t cover the pest damage. Utilities if you’re keeping them connected. Garden maintenance for viewings.
On a £1,380 monthly mortgage with £148 council tax and £92 utilities, you’re spending £1,620 monthly. Over 16 months that’s £25,920 in holding costs. More than £25,000 gone whilst you wait for a buyer who never arrives.
We complete in 10 to 90 days depending on your chosen timeline. You stop haemorrhaging money within weeks instead of years.
Surveyors carry professional indemnity insurance. If they miss woodworm and the buyer discovers it after completion, they get sued for negligence. Their insurance pays out. Their premiums increase. Their professional reputation suffers.
So surveyors protect themselves with dramatic wording. “Extensive active woodworm infestation affecting structural timbers. Significant risk of progressive damage. Urgent specialist treatment essential before proceeding. Do not complete purchase until professional remediation completed with insurance-backed guarantee.”
That language destroys transactions. Buyers read “structural timbers” and imagine the house collapsing. They panic. They withdraw. They ghost your estate agent’s phone calls.
Even minor woodworm gets described apocalyptically. Ten flight holes in one skirting board becomes “evidence of active infestation requiring investigation throughout property.” Surveyors recommend specialist inspections, laboratory analysis, and comprehensive treatment. Buyers see those recommendations and run.
You can’t blame surveyors. They’re protecting themselves from lawsuits. But their protection annihilates your sale.
That becomes entirely our problem.
After completion we instruct PCA-accredited pest control specialists. They survey the entire property. They identify the beetle species. They measure extent of damage. They check every timber element—joists, beams, floorboards, roof timbers, window frames, door frames, skirting boards.
We treat all affected areas with professional-grade insecticide. We remove and replace damaged structural timber that’s lost load-bearing capacity. We improve ventilation reducing humidity that attracts beetles. We install monitoring stations checking for new activity.
Cost to us? £5,500 to £16,000 depending on infestation severity and structural damage. Time? 3 to 8 weeks. But you’re already gone. You’ve received your money. You’ve moved to your new home. You’re getting on with your life.
The woodworm is our financial burden. Our project management problem. Our risk.
You didn’t cause this infestation. Maybe the previous owner ignored early signs. Maybe the builder in 1968 used untreated timber. Maybe the property has always had poor ventilation and nobody addressed it.
Doesn’t matter whose fault it is. You’re suffering now. You’re unable to sell. You’re watching mortgage payments drain your savings. You’re seeing buyers withdraw after surveys. You’re trapped in a property you desperately need to leave.
That ends today. This hour. Right now.
We buy houses with untreated woodworm. Active infestation or historic damage. Documentation or no paperwork. We complete fast. We cover your legal fees. You choose the completion date. No treatment required from you. No price drops. No renegotiation.
Stop losing money. Stop wasting time with estate agents who can’t sell it. Stop hoping for buyers who’ll never complete.
Call us today. Request a callback. Get your offer within 24 hours.
We’ll ask about the woodworm. Where you’ve seen flight holes. When you discovered it. Whether a survey has been done. We’ll give you an honest offer based on realistic valuation—not fantasy prices designed to win your business then disappear.
You’ll know exactly what you’re receiving. You’ll know exactly when completion happens. You’ll know you’re working with a legitimate company that’s completed 340 purchases since 2019.
We’ve helped sellers escape every property nightmare imaginable. Woodworm. Dry rot. Subsidence. Japanese knotweed. Structural cracks. Fire damage. Former grow houses. Properties needing £88,000 of repairs. We’ve bought them all.
Request your callback now. Get your offer tomorrow. Sell your house with untreated woodworm and move forward with your life.
Whether you’re facing a tricky sale, navigating probate, or simply looking to sell fast without hassle, you’re in the right place. Our blog is packed with practical advice, expert insights, and real-life tips to help homeowners, landlords, and executors across England, Scotland and Wales make informed decisions — whatever the condition of their property.
