Selling a house with woodworms can feel like you’ve been dealt a really rubbish hand. Just when you thought you were ready to move on with your life, these tiny timber-munching pests show up on your survey and suddenly potential buyers are backing away faster than you can say “it’s only a few little holes!” We’ve seen it happen time and again, and I know how utterly deflating it can be.
But don’t worry, here at Property Saviour we buy any house if you can’t wait to sell.
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Early Signs of Woodworms: How to Spot an Infestation?
Catching these beetles early can make the difference between a quick, affordable treatment and eye-watering repair bills. Keep your eyes peeled for:
Tiny round exit holes in your timber (about 1.5-2mm across – think ballpoint pen tip)
Fine, sawdust-like powder around these holes (what the pros call “frass”)
Weakened or damaged wooden structures that crumble easily
Dead beetles near affected wood, particularly on windowsills
Live beetles, usually spotted between May and September when they’re active
If you’re wondering “why are there holes in my wood floors,” woodworm is the likely culprit. That said, holes on their own don’t necessarily mean you’ve got an active problem – fresh frass is the real giveaway that you’ve got current lodgers drilling through your timbers.
What Does a Woodworm Look Like?
Before you panic too much, let’s get clear on what we’re actually dealing with. Despite the name, woodworm isn’t actually a worm at all – it’s the larval stage of several wood-boring beetles, with the Common Furniture Beetle being the usual suspect in British homes.
These little blighters are off-white or yellowish grubs with small brown heads, usually around 6mm long. They use tiny black pincers on their heads to bore into your timber, wiggling through with their ridged bodies. The adult beetles are small (about 3-5mm), brownish-red, with a distinctive hump and pitted markings.
For such tiny creatures, they can cause havoc way beyond their size, potentially weakening your timber over time. I’ve seen homeowners absolutely devastated when they discover the extent of damage these microscopic munchers have caused.
Can Woodworm Destroy Your House? Understanding the Risks
It sounds a bit like something from a horror film, doesn’t it? “The House That Woodworm Destroyed” – coming soon to a cinema near you! But in all seriousness, yes, woodworm can cause significant structural damage if left untreated for years. How bad it gets depends on which bits of timber are affected and how extensive the infestation is.
When woodworm gets into structural elements like joists, beams, or roof trusses, things can get properly dicey. Woodworm in roof joists is particularly worrying as these support your entire roof. In worst-case scenarios, serious infestations can lead to dodgy floors, sagging ceilings, or even collapsed structural bits.
But don’t have sleepless nights just yet – such catastrophic damage typically takes many years to develop. Most woodworm problems can be sorted before they reach that nightmare stage, though I won’t sugar-coat it – the treatment costs can still make your eyes water.
How Much Does Woodworm Treatment Cost in 2025?
“How much does it cost to get rid of woodworm?” – it’s one of the first questions people ask me when they discover they’ve got these unwelcome guests. The answer, as with most things in life, is “it depends.” Here’s the rough damage to your wallet:
| Treatment Type | Average Cost | Typical Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Professional woodworm survey | £80 – £250 | 1-4 hours |
| Boron treatment (per 25m²) | £30 | 1 hour – 2 days |
| Fogging treatment | £500 – £1,000 | 1-2 days |
| Fumigation treatment | £500 – £1,000 | 1-3 days |
| Loft treatment (3-bed house) | £400 – £900 | 1-2 days |
These are ballpark figures as of April 2025, but prices bounce around depending on where you live, how bad the infestation is, and which company you go with. Worth checking your home insurance too – some policies with emergency cover might include woodworm treatment, so you could save yourself a few quid there.
When you’re weighing up treatment costs, think about the potential drop in your property’s value and the possibility of sales collapsing if the issue pops up during a buyer’s survey. Sometimes spending the money upfront makes sense, other times it’s throwing good money after bad.
Should I Worry About Woodworm When Selling My House?
If you’ve just discovered woodworm in your property, you’re probably feeling a bit sick. I get it. But should you be losing sleep over it? Well, that depends on a few things – how extensive the infestation is, which bits of timber are affected, and how quickly you need to sell.
In many cases, woodworm isn’t the absolute disaster it might initially seem. Most infestations can be treated effectively, and plenty of buyers will still go ahead if they understand the issue and have a clear treatment plan. But there are some realities to face:
Mortgage lenders can get a bit twitchy about properties with serious infestations
Savvy buyers often use woodworm as a bargaining chip to knock down your asking price
Some buyers will simply walk away rather than take on the hassle
Untreated woodworm continues munching away while your house sits on the market
At Property Saviour, we’ve helped loads of homeowners escape the stress of selling woodworm-affected properties. If you’re worried about your chances of selling, give us a ring for a friendly, no-pressure chat about your options. We don’t bite (unlike the beetles!).
Does Woodworm Affect a Mortgage Application?
This is the million-pound question when you’re selling, isn’t it? Can your buyers actually get a mortgage on your woodworm-affected property? The honest answer is: it depends how bad it is.
Minor cases that have been professionally checked might not impact mortgage applications at all. But if the infestation is serious or affects structural timbers, lenders might put their foot down and refuse to cough up any cash until the treatment’s done and dusted.
Some lenders make treatment a condition of the mortgage, requiring work to be completed before they release the funds. This creates a proper headache for sellers: you need to treat the property to secure the sale, but you might be selling precisely because you don’t want to shell out for treatments.
If your property has been turned down for a mortgage because of woodworm, don’t despair. At Property Saviour, we buy properties with woodworm issues directly, without mortgage hang-ups. We understand these challenges and can offer a lifeline when traditional sales routes hit a dead end.
Is Woodworm Caused by Damp? Understanding the Connection
There’s definitely a link between damp conditions and woodworm – they go together like fish and chips. While moisture doesn’t directly cause woodworm, it creates the perfect cosy conditions for beetles to thrive and makes timber more appetising to them.
Wood-boring beetles prefer timber with higher moisture content (around 30%) because:
Damp wood is softer and easier to bore into (like how your cereal goes soggy in milk)
Moist timber is easier for larvae to digest
Humidity supports the beetles’ lifecycle
This connection explains why woodworm often shows up alongside damp issues and why proper woodworm treatment typically includes sorting out moisture problems too. Getting good ventilation and fixing any dampness is crucial to stop the blighters coming back after treatment.
If your property has both damp and woodworm issues, you’re looking at potentially eye-watering remediation costs. Rather than facing this double whammy, many homeowners choose to sell to specialists like us at Property Saviour who understand these interrelated problems. We’ve seen it all before, so nothing shocks us!
What to Do When a Survey Reveals Woodworm?
That heart-sinking moment when a pre-sale survey mentions woodworm can throw all your carefully laid moving plans into chaos. If you’re wondering what on earth to do next, here are your main options:
Get a specialist assessment: A general surveyor might spot woodworm, but a timber specialist will tell you exactly what you’re dealing with and how serious it is.
Obtain treatment quotes: Once you know what you’re up against, get multiple quotes from reputable treatment companies – prices can vary wildly.
Consider your timeline: Treatment and any necessary timber replacement will take time – possibly weeks. Ask yourself if this delay works with your moving plans.
Weigh up the costs: Compare treatment costs against how much you might need to drop your price if you sell without treating.
At Property Saviour, we regularly hear from sellers who feel caught between expensive treatments and slashed sale prices. We offer a simpler solution – we’ll buy your property in its current condition, woodworm and all, allowing you to move forward without delays or stressful negotiations. Give us a bell – we’re a friendly bunch!
How to Tell if Woodworm is Active in a House?
One of the most important things to figure out is whether your woodworm is currently active or just evidence of past beetles that have long since buzzed off. Active woodworm needs sorting, while historical damage might not need immediate action.
Here’s how to tell if you’ve got current woodworm activity:
Fresh frass: Look for fresh, light-coloured sawdust-like material around holes – if it’s there, something’s still munching
New exit holes: Fresh holes have clean, sharp edges and lighter colouring inside
Seasonal observation: Keep an eye out for emerging adult beetles between May and September
Tap test: Gently tap affected wood – if it sounds hollow or crumbles easily, there’s active damage
Professional assessment: A woodworm specialist can use fancy gadgets like moisture meters to confirm activity
If you’re not sure whether your woodworm is active or just a historical souvenir, it’s always best to get a professional to take a look. At Property Saviour, we work with timber specialists who can quickly tell you if you’ve got current lodgers or just remnants of past residents.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Treat Woodworm?
Timing your woodworm treatment can make a big difference to how effective it is. While professional treatments can technically be done year-round, many experts suggest scheduling during the adult beetles’ emergence and breeding season (May to September).
Treating during this period gives you several advantages:
Adult beetles are actively emerging and can be directly targeted
Treatment can break the lifecycle before new eggs are laid
Higher temperatures help some treatments penetrate better
Conditions are typically drier, which works better for certain treatment methods
If you’re umming and ahhing about whether to treat woodworm before selling or to sell your property as-is, bear in mind that the best time for treatment might not line up with when you want to sell. This is another reason why many homeowners choose to sell their woodworm-affected properties directly to companies like us at Property Saviour – we’ll take on the treatment timing headaches so you don’t have to.
How to Get Rid of Woodworms Naturally: DIY Alternatives
For smaller infestations, some homeowners prefer trying natural or DIY approaches before bringing in the chemical big guns. While these methods probably won’t cut it for severe or structural infestations, they might be worth a go for furniture or limited areas:
Heat treatment: Woodworm larvae can’t survive temperatures above 55°C. For smaller items, heating in an oven or using a heat gun can do the trick.
Freezing: Similarly, popping infected items in the freezer for several days can kill larvae.
Borate solutions: Natural borate products are less toxic than some commercial alternatives while still being effective.
Essential oils: Cedar, neem, and tea tree oils have shown some effectiveness as repellents.
Vinegar application: Good old white vinegar can help create conditions that woodworm doesn’t fancy.
Just be aware that DIY treatments might not reach deep enough to get all the larvae, and they’re not guaranteed to work completely. For structural timbers or serious infestations, I’d strongly recommend calling in the professionals.
Maggots in House: Is It Woodworm or Something Else?
It’s easy to get your household pests mixed up. If you’ve spotted what look like small white “maggots” around wooden areas, you might be dealing with woodworm larvae – or something completely different.
True woodworm larvae typically stay hidden inside the timber until they emerge as adult beetles, so visible “maggots” on surfaces are more likely to be:
Common housefly larvae (usually found near food waste)
Moth larvae (particularly in carpets or clothes)
Pantry pests like meal moths (check your flour and cereals)
Fruit fly larvae (hovering around fruit bowls or bins)
If you’re still worried about potential woodworm, look for the characteristic exit holes and frass rather than focusing on visible creepy-crawlies. A professional pest controller can tell you exactly what you’re dealing with if you’re not sure.
Can Woodworm Devalue My Home?
We won’t beat around the bush – yes, woodworm can and does knock value off your property. Woodworm typically reduces property value by around £1,273, though this can be much higher if structural timbers are affected.
The financial hit comes from several factors:
The cost of treatment and repairs
Buyer jitters and concerns
Potential mortgage restrictions
The risk of the problem getting worse over time
Beyond these direct costs, woodworm can extend how long your property sits on the market and increase the chances of sales falling through, creating extra financial pressure through delayed moving plans or the nightmare of double mortgage payments.
At Property Saviour, we understand these financial realities all too well. Our offers reflect the woodworm situation, but we provide certainty and speed that the open market often can’t match for affected properties. Sometimes a bird in the hand really is worth two in the bush!
Selling Your Woodworm-Affected Property to Property Saviour
Discovering woodworm in your property doesn’t have to throw a spanner in your moving plans or leave you facing eye-watering treatment bills. By understanding what you’re dealing with, what it might cost, and what your selling options are, you can make a decision that works for your particular circumstances.
Whether you choose to treat the woodworm before selling, negotiate with traditional buyers, or sell directly to a specialist buyer like us at Property Saviour, the key is taking action rather than letting the situation drag on and potentially get worse.
Don’t let these tiny beetles hold you back from your next move. Give us a ring at Property Saviour today for a friendly, no-obligation chat about how we can help you sell your woodworm-affected property with minimum fuss and maximum peace of mind.
We’re real people who’ve helped countless homeowners in exactly your situation – and we’re ready to help you too.
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