Moving into a new home should be a happy experience. You're starting a fresh chapter and (hopefully) moving a step higher on the property ladder. But if you've unknowingly bought a house that's affected by Japanese knotweed, your joy may be rather short-lived.
Japanese knotweed is an invasive plant species that grows very quickly and often causes damage by exploiting existing weaknesses in walls and other structures. A knotweed infestation can have a sizeable impact on the value of your home, and it typically takes several years to kill the plant with herbicides. Faster results can be achieved by digging up the knotweed and disposing of it at an approved landfill site, but this is a delicate process - if even a single fragment of the rhizome root system finds its way back into the soil, that tiny piece can grow into a whole new plant.
For all of these reasons and more, selling a property that's affected by Japanese knotweed can be very difficult. When filling out the mandatory TA6 Property Information Form, sellers are required to state whether or not their property is affected by Japanese knotweed; a seller who lies on the TA6 form to cover up the existence of knotweed in their garden may find themselves in court when the problem is discovered.
And let's be clear: homeowners are more than happy to take legal action in this situation. A recent YouGov survey found that 70% of British people would sue their home's previous owner if Japanese knotweed were discovered on the property. This isn't the sort of thing that you just chalk up to experience!
READ MORE: Buying a House with Japanese Knotweed
Should I take legal action if I find Japanese knotweed on my property?
If you believe that you have been sold a knotweed-infested property, there are two questions you must answer before you go after the previous owner for compensation:
- Did the seller know about the about the infestation?
- What was their answer to the Japanese knotweed question on the TA6 form?
Before you try to sue anyone, it's important to know your position and make sure you can back up your claims with evidence. For more information, see The Seller Lied About Japanese Knotweed - Am I Entitled to Compensation?
Get in touch with the Japanese knotweed experts
The assistance of an experienced Japanese knotweed specialist can be invaluable when you're embroiled in a dispute over a knotweed-infested property.
Taylor Total Weed Control is a vegetation management company specialising in Japanese knotweed removal. Our qualified invasive weed experts have been dealing with this plant for many years, and we are more than happy to...
- Survey land affected by Japanese knotweed
- Offer our professional opinion on your case
- Recommend a suitable treatment programme
- Prepare impact and risk assessments
- Provide an expert witness if needed
If you have a Japanese knotweed problem, call Taylor Total Weed Control on 029 2039 7554 and we'll help you to solve it.
Contact Taylor Total Weed Control
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