All posts tagged 'apanese knotweed law'

Looking through the blinds at neighbour's property

Japanese knotweed is a notoriously intrusive plant that can rock your property to its very foundation, damaging your home's value as well as its structural integrity.

However, you don't have to have it on your land for it to cause issues. A case of Japanese knotweed next door can be nearly as problematic as having knotweed present in your own garden.

If Japanese knotweed has been discovered on your next-door neighbour's property, the principal concern above all else is preventing the possibility of the knotweed spreading onto your property.

Luckily, we at Taylor Total Weed Control have you covered with our Japanese knotweed monitoring programme. It's tailor-made to keep your property protected in the event of neighbouring knotweed.

'Help! My neighbour has Japanese knotweed!'

From a legal perspective, your neighbour is under no legal obligation to remove or treat Japanese knotweed on their own property (although this can differ under Scottish law).

However, the moment the knotweed creeps over the threshold and into your land, it's effectively classed as a private nuisance. Once this breach has occurred, your neighbours are liable for legal action.

Naturally, taking legal action on a neighbour can lead to all sorts of social issues, and a knotweed-related neighbour dispute can easily turn into an unwanted headache for all parties. As such, it should be considered a last resort.

That being said, Japanese knotweed can spread all too easily, so it's important to keep your best interests protected. Keep potential knotweed drama to a minimum with a Japanese knotweed monitoring programme from Taylor Total Weed Control.

Japanese knotweed monitoring programmes

Japanese knotweed infestation can seriously damage the value of your property, so it's not an issue to be taken lightly. If you suspect your neighbour has Japanese knotweed next door, quick action can lead to an effective solution and minimise cost, damage and headaches along the way.

If you can't come to an amicable solution with your neighbours or they are simply denying that a problem exists, Taylor Total Weed Control's Japanese knotweed monitoring programme can provide your neighbour with documented evidence of Japanese knotweed on-site, highlighting to all involved that knotweed is indeed present.

Keeping you covered

Once we have identified the knotweed, we can inform your neighbours via an official letter of their legal obligation to deal with the issue, in order to prevent it from spreading to your property. This will include the knotweed-specific TA5 and TA6 property information forms.

After we've notified your neighbours, we can also conduct regular visits thereafter to check the development of the knotweed, whether your neighbour has taken action and, if so, how effectively have they dealt with the issue. This includes photographic evidence where necessary.

If your neighbour has neglected to take appropriate action or the treatment has proved ineffective and the knotweed does indeed spread to your property, your back is legally covered. The records of our TWC monitoring programmes will provide ample evidence that you took preventative actions to avoid such a situation arising and you are free to take action as needed.

For more details on our Japanese knotweed monitoring programme or additional advice on how to deal with Japanese knotweed next door, call Taylor Total Weed Control on 029 2039 7554.

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How to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed (Without It Spreading!)

Japanese knotweed didn't become such a widespread problem in this country by pure coincidence. The plant's rhizome root system allows it to spread from one location to another with frightening ease - a single small root fragment can quickly grow into a whole new plant!

This is why you simply can't be too careful when disposing of Japanese knotweed. Failure to follow the law can end up fostering further knotweed growth, and frankly, this species is doing just fine for itself without any extra assistance from us.

Japanese knotweed can't be thrown onto the compost (unless you seal it away to rot for at least 6 months before hand), and you can't take it to the tip. So, how can you dispose of Japanese knotweed safely?

What’s the Right Way to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed?

While it's not illegal to dispose of Japanese knotweed yourself (as long as you know exactly what you're doing), it's usually preferable to hire a contractor who knows how to dispose of Japanese knotweed properly.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to deal with Japanese knotweed, both of which are generally better left to the experts:

Excavation - The Japanese knotweed is dug up using heavy earth-moving machinery, then transported to a specialist landfill site with the relevant environmental permit (taking care at all times not let any contaminated soil or plant matter find its way into the wild).

Herbicide - Over a number of months, the Japanese knotweed is repeatedly sprayed with herbicide to control the plant's growth.

Although there are certain situations where option 1 may be preferable (e.g. if there is a tight deadline for clearing the site of Japanese knotweed), herbicide application is by far the cheaper option and is usually sufficient to prevent Japanese knotweed from causing any long-term problems.

Japanese Knotweed Removal Services From Taylor Weed Control

When it comes to Japanese knotweed, it’s best to ensure that it is removed properly first time around. This is the best way to ensure that Japanese knotweed doesn’t become a recurring issue, or you don’t accidentally get fined for it spreading. Taylor Weed Control specialises in herbicide-based Japanese knotweed control, and we offer this service throughout South Wales, the South West and beyond.

We are registered with the Property Care Association, and our reports are approved by the RICS (Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors), so you can rely on us to handle your Japanese knotweed problem in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.