The thought of buying your first home is exciting, we know, but we want to warn you of the potential for Japanese knotweed on new build plots. It has recently come to light that property developers have been taking advantage of a loophole in the Japanese knotweed regulations, which means knotweed has been cropping up on new build housing plots up and down the country. Let us explain...
When a property developer plans to purchase land with the intention of building homes on it, they are required by lawn to declare any Japanese knotweed and get it treated before work begins. However, they aren't legally required to have the land surveyed by a specialist to detect any Japanese knotweed that may be lying dormant in the soil. Property surveyors are taking advantage of this loophole and turning a blind eye to potential Japanese knotweed problems, which can have devastating effects for new homeowners.
For those of you that don't know, a Japanese knotweed problem can develop from a piece of knotweed only 3cm long, so you can imaging the kind of chaos it can create for a new build estate. Once the Japanese knotweed problem develops it can cause all kinds of problems, for example:
- It causes structural damage because it's strong enough to grow through concrete, cavity walls and drains
- It forms a thick leafy canopy that prevents other plants from thriving
- It creates legal and financial problems if it spreads from one plot of land to another
What should you do to combat the problem?
First of all, you should ask your solicitor to request that the property developer carries out a survey to detect Japanese knotweed. This should then be declared and treated before the property is handed over. By remembering to ask your solicitor to do this during the early stages of the house purchase, you could save yourself a lot of hassle and money later down the line.
Help! There's Japanese knotweed on my property
If your new-build property is in the final stages of development, or if you've recently moved in and noticed a knotweed problem, then we'd recommend getting it surveyed and treated by professionals as soon as possible. We know, it's not ideal to have to deal with the problem on your own, but our team of experts will do everything they can to help you. We offer FREE Japanese knotweed surveys and will be able to advise you on the most effective, least disruptive course of action.
If you suspect you have Japanese knotweed on your new build property, give us a call on 029 2039 7554. We'll help you get the ball rolling on your treatment program so you can get back to enjoying your new home.
Is It Japanese Knotweed?