If you've ever experienced any issues involving invasive weeds which have led you to do some research online, the chances of coming across the Property Care Association (PCA) are pretty high. Why? Well, the PCA is an independent trade association that represents professional property care specialists who need to meet stringent criteria before becoming members. Which includes the management of invasive weeds. 

This may not make a whole bunch of sense and could still lead to some confusion, so in this blog, we take a closer look at the PCA, who they are, what they do and why it is important to use a PCA-accredited when it comes to anything related to your property! 

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When it comes to buying a house, Japanese knotweed can really throw a spanner in the works. We've talked about the ways that Japanese knotweed can cause issues for people buying or selling houses time and time again, and it still remains a prevalent problem for homeowners across the country.

If housing surveyors find signs of Japanese knotweed on or near a property that you're interested in buying, then it can prevent you from getting a mortgage. Usually, lenders will put the application on hold until a specialist company has been contracted to deal with the problem. Of course, this can be a real pain for potential buyers who are desperate to get moved into their dream house quickly!

What is the seven-metre rule?

In a recent news report, it has come to light that lenders "informally abide" a seven-metre rule which means that if the knotweed is located more than seven metres (23ft) from your house, then you should be granted a mortgage - no problem. That being said, the lender will still want to know that you & the current owner of the property have come to an agreement about the professional removal of the knotweed. 

After all, Japanese knotweed is one of the most prevalent weeds and has a habit of spreading thick and fast. If the source of the problem is seven metres away from the house today, it could've spread onto the property within a matter of months. For that reason, it's important that both the buyer and the seller work together to find a solution to the problem. 

How can we help?

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we've been called countless times to assess a potential Japanese knotweed infestation at a property on the market. Sometimes, we find plants that look like Japanese knotweed (but aren't), in these circumstances, the house sale can continue without a hitch. However, if we confirm that the invasive plant is in fact knotweed, then we can provide a quote for treatment as well as a 5 or 10-year insurance-backed guarantee which will give your lenders confidence to proceed with the sale.

While you may have seen DIY methods of removing knotweed on the internet, these rarely are effective. Those that are effective, only last for a short period of time before the nasty knotweed rears its head for a second time. That's why if you're buying or selling a house with a Japanese knotweed problem, you should always seek the help of professionals.

Read More: Can You Get a Mortgage on a Property with Japanese Knotweed?

What happens when I request a survey?

If you'd like us to help you deal with a potential Japanese knotweed problem at a property you're trying to buy, you should start by requesting a survey. We will aim to attend the property within 2 working days of your enquiry (dependant on location). At this point, we will assess the knotweed and draft a report that you can take back to your mortgage lender/current homeowner. 

Whether the knotweed is on the property or seven metres away, your mortgage lender will require you to arrange a treatment program before the sale goes ahead. Luckily, we offer a few different treatment plans, all of which are reasonably priced and highly effective. Here's a brief overview of our treatment options:

• Herbicide application program - This is an affordable program that many buyers choose because it's not too invasive. If you choose this treatment, we will attend the property at regular intervals and apply specialist herbicides to the knotweed. Our herbicides are available to specialist Japanese knotweed technicians only and will effectively kill the knotweed at its source.

• Excavation and removal - If you're looking for a quick and effective way to remove the knotweed before it has chance to spread, our excavation and removal program could be the way to go. Our specialist technicians will attend the property and excavate the plant and any affected soil. We also offer a soil sifting service which means the excavated land can be placed back into the ground once the knotweed is removed. 

Request a Japanese Knotweed Survey >

If you have any questions about our Japanese knotweed treatment plans, or if you'd like to arrange a survey at a property you're trying to buy, don't hesitate to give us a call on 029 2039 7554. Alternatively, drop us an email at sales@taylortwc.co.uk and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Warmer temperatures are here again, and while it's nice to be able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine for a change, the pleasant weather unfortunately also means that we can expect a boom in Japanese knotweed growth any day now.

The Property Care Association (PCA) are already warning that Japanese knotweed is ready to "take off", so it's important to be vigilant and keep your eyes peeled for the tell-tale signs of a knotweed infestation.

How to Identify Japanese Knotweed >

Unfortunately, there are people out there seeking to take advantage of the problems that Japanese knotweed can cause. We have heard numerous reports of companies knocking on doors and encouraging people to sue their neighbours for allowing knotweed to encroach on their property.

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A recent news report details how 4 properties were impacted by a Japanese knotweed infestation that had been left to grow wild for almost a decade. All four of the residents were living on the same street when the infestation was discovered.

The Japanese knotweed, which was over 8ft tall, had spread from neighbouring land owned by Network Rail. All four of the homes backed onto a railway line where the Japanese knotweed originated. Since Network Rail had failed to spot and treat the problem before it encroached on to neighbouring land, the four homeowners were able to file claims for compensation.

Did you know that homeowners in the UK can file claims for any Japanese knotweed encroachment that develops over 1 metre onto their land? So, don't be afraid to get in touch with your lawyers if you think your property might have been affected by this troublesome weed!

How was this case resolved? Well, the homeowners settled for a combined £42,500 in damages from Network Rail as they admitted they'd failed to maintain the railway and prevent the spread of the Japanese knotweed.

In a comment, Network Rail said, "We will always take action to manage thee plant whenever it is identified on our land and will look to work constructively with our neighbours to stop it spreading."

There are lots of areas in the southwest of the country that are affected by Japanese knotweed including Bolton, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea. If you think you may have a Japanese knotweed problem on your land, you should seek the help of a professional removal company straight away!

Thankfully, if you're looking for a professional knotweed removal company, you're in the right place! Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we've been treating Japanese knotweed for years, and we offer a range of different treatments to suit your circumstances.

We can even support you through your legal claim with our expert witness services! Give us a call to find out more 029 2039 7554 or check out our treatments below.

Professional Japanese Knotweed Treatments >

Read More: How to Resolve a Japanese Knotweed Dispute With Your Neigbour

One of the major costs when excavating Japanese knotweed is dealing with the contaminated soil. If you've taken a look at our Japanese knotweed removal page, you'll know that knotweed-infested soil needs to be transported and deposited at a specialist landfill site. Soil excavated from a site with a Japanese knotweed problem cannot be mixed with regular waste because there's a chance that the Japanese knotweed rhizomes will grow and spread into unwanted areas around the landfill site. 

As well as being costly, excavating large amounts of soil from a particular site can also leave the ground looking very uneven. This is a real problem if you're planning to build property or if the Japanese knotweed is in your well-kept garden. Thankfully, there's a way to minimise the costs of landfill transportation while also reducing the impact on the excavated site - our Japanese knotweed sifting service!

Our Japanese knotweed sifting service

Here at Taylor Total Weed control, we offer a sifting service that means you can remove all of the Japanese knotweed and its rhizomes from the soil that's excavated. We use a unique mobile plant that's designed to process the excavated soil thoroughly so it can be put back into the ground. 

Benefits of our Japanese knotweed sifting service

So why choose this service? Well, first and foremost, separating the Japanese knotweed debris from the contaminated soil dramatically reduces the amount of waste being taken to specialist landfill sites. Not only will this reduce the overall cost of your Japanese knotweed treatment, but it will also have less of an impact on the environment in the long run because the landfill sites won't fill up as quickly. 

Another great benefit of our Japanese knotweed sifting service is the reduced impact it will have on your premises. A lot of the time, clients have been put off the idea of excavation because they think it will make a mess of their gardens. With our sifting method, we can level the ground back out and you should be able to lay turf, plant into it and return your garden to its former glory.

Our Japanese knotweed removal services

To help you eradicate your Japanese knotweed problem quickly and efficiently, we offer a range of different knotweed treatment plans. All of which start with a FREE survey. We offer both herbicide application programs and excavation and removal plans. Our team of experts will help you choose the right treatment plan for your knotweed infestation and will get to work quickly to prevent it from spreading further. 

Japanese Knotweed Treatment Plans >            More about Japanese knotweed removal >

If you have any questions about our Japanese knotweed sifting service, or if you'd like to book your FREE survey, give us a call on 029 2039 7554.

Read More: Who Can Remove Japanese Knotweed?