Hi,
I have been googling whether or not termites are an issue in Switzerland and there seems to be very little info (hopefully because it isn't an issue in Switzerland!)
Can someone who has bought a house in Switzerland kindly let me know if they did a professional termite check prior to signing the paperwork?
We have no reason to suspect that there is a termites issue in the house we are looking to buy, I just want to check if this is something that is done in Switzerland or not.
Thanks in advance.
A quick google around brought up this...
From here .
Problem is a know of people who had termites issues with their houses in the UK so don't want to trust the article!
Where in the UK is there a termite problem? I believe (after a quick search) there was only one colony in Devon and that's under control.
Examples please
Outside of sensationalism, not a problem... https://www.google.ch/search?q=termites%20uk
Friends of ours bought 2 adjacent properties in the north of England and came across the issue (the cottages were very old if it makes a difference).
However, this isn't really the point.
If anyone with experience of buying property in Switzerland could kindly let me know if they paid to have a check done, I would greatly appreciate it. The agent informed us this isn't required but I would like to make sure.
Thanks
Never heard of termites in Swiss houses.
Most houses are made of bricks. This fact already reduces the problem.
In older wooden houses you find signs from this guys offspring: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_furniture_beetle
I just googled around (again ) and it seems it could be a vague possibility if you get your wine delivered in wooden crates from termite-infested regions of the world...
If the OP is worried then she should get a full survey done on the house before she buys it. It's the only way to know 100% if there is anything suspicious with it. Having said that, I've never heard of a case of termites here.
Our stone cottage is also old -over 200 years- and in The North. No termites. Your friends may have had ants.
Speaking of checks and surveys: Highly recommended is a check of the electrical installation. Not just from the outside, but actually unscrewing some plates and compare what is there with the plan (hopefully there is one).
Thanks Sandgrounder and SwissintheU.S for the confirmation that this isn't a concern in Switzerland.
Well never say never. I said it is unlikely, but there are likely dozens more relevant issues you probably should expend your energies into.
Termites are so much not a problem in Switzerland, a google search shows only articles about American houses.
Here is official information about them:
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/de/ho...mde-arten.html
In short: there is no evidence that they have established themselves in Switzerland, though there have been sporadic reports in Germany and Austria about some species being found. They "might" migrate to the warmer regions in Switzerland, but no big concerns atm.
Think in the UK the problem with old cottages would be wood worm or death watch beetle not termites
Origin of their name is great
Termites don't eat concrete.
Tom