Over the last month, it’s come to light that the Environmental Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have come up with a helpful and proactive way of tackling the growing Japanese knotweed problem in the UK.

As part of a conscious effort to monitor and reduce the implications of Japanese knotweed across the country, the EA and DEFRA have suggested the implementation of a national database to track the plants reach and whereabouts, as well as monitoring its subsequent effects on house prices.

Plant Tracking

The move comes as a result of findings reported by the Science and Technology Committee, highlighting the impact the invasive plant can have on properties across the UK.

However, this latest step isn’t the first time the Environmental Agency’s first foray into Japanese knotweed monitoring territory.

The Environment Agency had previously attempted to track the reach of the naughty knot with its PlantTracker app, commissioned back in 2012.

The original app aimed to utilise crowd-sourcing as a means of creating a national database; however, it was removed from due to funding issues and development problems.

Mapping it Out

While other independent companies have attempted to chart the knotweed problem in recent years, this new government-led initiative could well be the comprehensive map the general public has needed.

The Environment Agency is set to consult with major national Japanese knotweed removal firms to explore the practicalities of assembling a database and assimilate how these third parties could contribute.

The government has confirmed that the EA will meet with both the Property Care Association and Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (INNSA) to begin this process in early autumn 2019.

As part of the government’s deep-dive into the Japanese knotweed issue, the EA and DEFRA aim to look into the issue extensively over the coming months, with their findings set to be published by March 2020.

Japanese Knotweed Treatment

While the move by the government is reassuring news for the future of (or lack thereof) of Japanese knotweed in the UK, the process is still likely to be a slow and laborious one that’s of little help to anyone already plighted by the wicked weed.

If you are currently suffering from the ill-effects of Japanese knotweed or believe your property may well be under invasion from the Asian vegetation, why not drop us a line today?

Our team of experts have over 15 years’ experience in weed removal and are the premier Japanese knotweed specialists in Wales and the West.

Stop your horticultural headaches before they become a viny migraine by nipping it in the bud today, courtesy of Total Weed Control.

For more information on Japanese knotweed removal service from Total Weed Control, call 029 2039 7554 now to speak to our team or click the button below to request a FREE knotweed survey.

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Recent research has uncovered some insightful stats regarding the Japanese knotweed hotspots in the UK, which could pose a worry to homeowners in Wales and the West. It has been revealed that the most serious Japanese knotweed hotspots reside along the west coast.

Japanese knotweed can make selling a property more difficult, but a PCA-recognised Japanese knotweed control programme (supported by a ten year insurance-backed company guarantee) removes a lot of the concerns and makes it a lot easier.

Whether you're a homeowner or an estate agent, here are some tips to help you deal with this invasive plant and sell the affected property.

First, make sure it actually IS Japanese knotweed.

If you think there's Japanese knotweed on a property you're trying to sell, your first course of action should be to call an expert.

Note that Japanese knotweed looks quite similar to a number of other plants and weeds - including bindweed, Russian vine, broadleaf dock and ground elder, so we recommend contacting a Japanese knotweed specialist and asking them to carry out a survey of your property.

An experienced professional will be able to confirm whether or not you have a Japanese knotweed problem and advise you on what to do next.

READ MORE: How to Identify Japanese Knotweed

Declare the knotweed presence

Japanese knotweed isn't technically classified as a 'notifiable weed', but since 2013, the Law Society's TA6 form includes a specific question on the subject of Japanese knotweed. Failure to disclose information relating to a knotweed infestation on your property can be deemed a breach of Consumer Protection Rights regulations.

Naturally, such a transgression can have legal ramifications, providing solid grounds for misrepresentation and potentially leaving you open to a lawsuit. So it's best to be honest and upfront about the issue during the entire selling process.

Insurance backed guarantee

If it turns out that you do indeed have Japanese knotweed on your property, it's important to take action as soon as possible. The longer you leave it, the worse the knotweed infestation will get.

Mortgage lenders can be extremely hesitant to lend the full amount if a property has Japanese knotweed. However, lenders can be persuaded - you just need to take a proactive approach.

We recommend finding a Japanese knotweed removal specialist who offers a knotweed insurance backed guarantee, i.e. a warranty that will safeguard you in the event that the infestation should return after treatment.

If you can demonstrate that appropriate removal measures have been implemented, this will potentially convince mortgage lenders to overlook the fact that you have Japanese knotweed on your property (or at last lead them to be more sympathetic to your situation).

READ MORE: Mortgages & Japanese Knotweed

Don't expect a quick fix

Japanese knotweed control can be a lengthy process - several visits will be required, and a complete course of treatment often takes around three years. If you want to maximise your home's value, you may want to refrain from selling until after your knotweed problem has been eradicated.

That being said, if you really are in a rush to sell your house despite the presence of Japanese knotweed, you may be forced to take a hit on the sale price in exchange for speed of the sale. This might mean that lenders are put off, in which case you'll have to take the cash buyer route; as a result, you could see the sale price drop by up to 20% below market value.

Call the professional

Essentially, if you're serious about selling a house that has Japanese knotweed (and you don't fancy dealing with a lawsuit or slashing your sale price), your best option is to call in the pros and get to the root of the problem.

Here at Total Weed Control, we specialise in Japanese knotweed removal and have over 15 years' experience under our belts. For a long-term solution with an insurance-backed guarantee, Japanese knotweed removal from Total Weed Control is the smart choice for you and your property.

Contact us to request a FREE survey

An investigation by The Times has revealed some incredible news regarding Network Rail and an apparent ongoing issue with Japanese knotweed.

According to The Times, Network Rail has received around 11,000 complaints about Japanese knotweed since 2011, equating to an average of 1375 knotweed complaints a year.

Worse still, over half of these complaints were regarding the spread of knotweed from the railways onto nearby homeowners’ private properties.

Impact on Surrounding Properties

The state-owned firm is responsible for maintaining the railways and adjoining land, which includes the containment of weed infestations like Japanese knotweed.

Japanese knotweed is notorious for its invasive attributes and can have a serious impact on a property in terms of its structural integrity, commonly targeting weak points in the sub-structure through cracks and openings.

The alleged lack of treatment by Network Rail has reportedly made it considerably more difficult for thousands of affected homeowners to sell their properties as a result of the knotweed making its way onto their properties.

"We Should Do More"

While the story does certainly paint Network Rail in a negative light, representatives for the railway authority are quick to refute the claims of negligence.

However, despite their rebuttal, they also concede that they could do more. Following the revelations, Environment Manager at Network Rail, Neil Strong, had this to say:

“While we meet our legislative obligations, we believe we should do more. We will always treat any knotweed area flagged to us and are working on enhancing our guidance and protocols to be in line with Property Care Association published codes of practice and thus give the assurance mortgage lenders are looking for.”

Professional Knotweed Removal

Regardless of who’s to blame and what’s been done, there’s no denying that Network Rail’s apparent issues with Japanese knotweed have them in quite a bind, both figuratively and literally.

If you suspect Japanese knotweed is present on your property, don’t allow your property to get side tracked like Network Rail. Leaving the dreaded vine to its own devices can allow your JKW infestation to build up a serious head of steam.

Luckily, here at Total Weed Control, we thrive on untangling the messiest of knotweed nuisances. Our first-class team of garden experts have over 15 years’ experience and are more than able to help you get your garden back on track.

Don’t let Japanese knotweed send you off the rails. Give your knotweed woes a one-way ticket out of town with weed eradication services from Total Weed Control.

For more information on Japanese knotweed services at Total Weed Control, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE knotweed survey.

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A couple from Yardley Wood in Birmingham have become “prisoners in their own home” after a Japanese knotweed infestation quite literally took over their back garden.

As reported in the Birmingham Mail, Chris and Marie Moore have endured “five years of hell” in their council home.

The couple has been forced to helplessly watch the rapid recession of their garden, as Japanese knotweed has slowly but surely overthrown their outdoor space.

Despite having a 70ft garden, the knotweed has eaten up over 60ft of space, rendering their external property virtually useless. The problem has become so bad that the couple can’t even hang their washing out to dry.

A Formidable Foe

The couple has been at the property for 18 years; however, the problem arose five years ago when Mr Moore first spotted the curious vine sticking up from the ground behind his shed.

Without knowing its evil identity, Mr Moore logically decided to cut it back in an effort to nip it in the bud. Unfortunately for the Moores, the mysterious plant didn’t take too kindly to its unsolicited trim and came back fighting.

The vine has since claimed the garden for itself and, despite multiple visits and treatments from Birmingham City Council, the unwavering weed has proved to be a formidable foe that simply doesn’t want to budge.

Even hundreds of pounds worth of store-bought weed-killer administered by Mr Moore wouldn’t touch the vicious vine and the garden has now become a jungle that could easily play host to a scene from Predator.

Professional Weed Killer Services

Sadly, while a visit from Arnie and his crack team of special ops commandos may be able to fend off an otherworldly creature, they wouldn’t do much good in ridding the property of the notoriously durable knotweed.

Luckily, there are plenty of professional options available for the Moores if they wanted to rid their property of the knotweed once and for all. While it may seem like an impossible task, professional knotweed removal is the most effective solution to this issue.

Knotweed Removal Specialists

At Total Weed Control, we specialise in knotweed removal and take pride in banishing the demonic garden-dweller from whence it came.

With over 15 years’ industry experience, we’ve built a reputation as Wales’ leading Japanese knotweed removal specialists.

If you think you may have an issue with Japanese knotweed, don’t sit back and wait for it to take over your property. Nip your knotweed problem in the bud and call Total Weed Control today.

Our team of experts has the ability to terminate your unwanted guest, once and for all, and ensure that it definitely won’t be back for a sequel. Hasta la vista, weedy!

For more information on Japanese knotweed removal and professional weed killer services, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 to speak with one of our team or click the button below to get in touch online and request a FREE survey.

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