Japanese knotweed causes a lot of problems in the UK, but you might be surprised to learn that this invasive species is NOT notifiable.
This means that, if you find Japanese knotweed in your garden, you are NOT legally required to notify the authorities. It is not an offence to have Japanese knotweed on your property as long as you are not allowing it to spread.
However, you shouldn't ignore your Japanese knotweed problem entirely. The plant can grow very fast, especially during the summertime (peak growing season for Japanese knotweed), so it's a good idea to act early in order to keep the plant under control. Give us a call on 029 2039 7554 to arrange a FREE Japanese knotweed survey.
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What if I'm selling my house?
While Japanese knotweed isn't a notifiable pest, you do have some responsibilities if this plant exists on your property.
Most notably, if you know that there is Japanese knotweed on your property (or that there was in the past), you must declare this when attempting to sell your house.
The TA6 Property Information Form - which you have to complete when selling a property - includes a question about Japanese knotweed. Read our blog about the TA6 form to learn more.
Remember, it's an offence to allow Japanese knotweed to spread!
One more point: while you're under no legal obligation to report Japanese knotweed, you may be fined up to £5,000 or even sent to prison if you allow it to spread into the wild.
It's not a crime to have Japanese knotweed on your property, and the law doesn't even require you to do anything about it. But you could get into a lot of trouble if you permit the plant to grow into your neighbour's garden, or if you attempt to remove the plant yourself and end up spreading contaminated soil elsewhere.
For this reason, we strongly recommend speaking to a registered Japanese knotweed specialist like Taylor Total Weed Control. Contact us today and we'll be happy to advise you on the best course of action.
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