Japanese knotweed is a bothersome invasive species and, although not poisonous, it can still do plenty of damage to buildings and the natural habitats it overtakes.
More and more people are being made aware of its presence and its dangers, and how it can affect your property. As such, we’ve now reached a point where almost half of potential buyers wouldn’t buy a house with Japanese knotweed.
How Does Knotweed Affect the Property Owner?
If a property is identified as having a knotweed presence, it becomes the responsibility of the land owner to then prevent that knotweed from encroaching on their neighbour’s property. If the land owner allows the knotweed to spread, there may reasonable grounds for the neighbours to take legal action against them, like this London property owner did. They made a claim against land owners who neglected to treat the knotweed on their own land, which resulted in the damaging species being allowed to creep over onto their property boundaries. They won the case and claimed £27,500, along with an agreement for the knotweed to be eradicated by a professional removal company.
You may be wondering why the property owner was able to claim such a large amount of money; one of the main foundations for their case was that the presence of knotweed had devalued their property. Yes, you heard us right; the presence of Japanese knotweed can reduce the value of your house.
If you’re interesting in reading more on how Japanese knotweed can affect the buying and selling of houses, Taylor Total Weed Control has an informative blog on the subject titled “Buying a House with Japanese Knotweed”.
Buying a House with Knotweed Blog
Why Does Knotweed Reduce Property Value?
Japanese Knotweed can cause both physical damage to a property structure, and is also damaging to the natural habitats of the UK and upsets the native ecosystems; in fact, it’s so disruptive that the planting or encouraging of its growth is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
One reason that knotweed is so dangerous is because it’s a super spreader; in peak conditions it can grow over 10cm a day, and once it’s established somewhere, it’s incredibly difficult to get rid of. If even a small amount of root is left in the ground, the entire plant can regrow. When it comes to knotweed, removal is definitely best left to the professionals.
If you or someone you know is struggling with Japanese knotweed on their property and is looking for removal services, Taylor Total Weed Control can help. We offer a first class removal system; if you’re interested in finding out more, click the link below to be redirected to their informational page.
Knotweed Removal Services
If you think you may have Japanese knotweed on your property, it’s best to act fast as knotweed is incredibly fast growing and, as you can see, can massively affect both a property’s value and the process of buying and selling.
Get a FREE survey today from Taylor Total Weed Control today and ensure you’re keeping your property safe.
FREE Knotweed Survey
Read More: How to Spot Japanese Knotweed Shoots
Is It Japanese Knotweed?