Japanese Knotweed is a bamboo-like plant with hollow stems and green heart-shaped leaves. But why is Japanese knotweed a problem?
As Japanese Knotweed has no natural predators in the UK, it is very hard to maintain. It grows rapidly and can grow up to 10cm a day in the height of the growing season. Its roots and rhizomes can grow up to 7m radius and 3m depth. Also, if it is found near any habitable space, it can undermine the structural integrity of the building. Therefore, it requires methods such as herbicidal treatment and excavation to remove the threat that the plant imposes to properties. If you do not maintain the plant and as a result encroaches onto a neighbouring property, the neighbouring property can sue on private nuisance grounds.
If you are planning to sell your property with Japanese Knotweed present, this can cause many complications. Most mortgage lenders refuse to offer mortgages for properties affected by Japanese Knotweed. Therefore, making it very hard to sell. In fact, in some cases the presence of Knotweed has reduced the market value of properties by thousands of pounds. However, if you have a Treatment plan in place that a PCA accredited company conducts which, also, offers a 10-year insurance guarantee, mortgage lenders will provide a mortgage with the assurance that the weed is under control.
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You can avoid all of the above if you catch the Japanese knotweed problem early. However, you will need to put a management plan is put in place. This would need to be done as soon as possible. Also, the weed will need to be treated by a licensed professional such as ourselves.
If you have a suspocious plant growing on your property which you suspect but are not entirely sure, send a photo. to ourselves at [email protected] for a free identification service.
We will also identify any other invasive weeds that look similar to Japanese knotweed that have been mis-identified by a surveyor as Japanese knotweed. You can use a no-knotweed report as evidence in legal disputes when someone wrongly claims the Japanese knotweed has encroached from your property.
It is imperative to have a survey completed as soon as you discover it. We offer a free initial detection service where our expert will offer free identification of on a picture of the suspected plant. You will get a response to the email within 24 working hours. For more information email one of our client managers at [email protected] and they will be able to answer any queries you may have.