Have you noticed an infestation of Japanese Knotweed on your property? Did you know that Japanese Knotweed can decrease the market value of your property by an average of 10% upwards, and also it should be noted that having Japanese Knotweed on your property could cause problems such as:
Homeowners also need to be made aware that the presence of Japanese Knotweed on your property, or even in close proximity of your property borders if ignored can allow a potential claim against you which can run in to tens of thousands of pounds
Japanese Knotweed is an extremely aggressive invasive plant that can be found affecting properties across Cumbria and its boroughs. Cumbria is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria’s county town is Carlisle, in the north of the county. The only other major urban area is Barrow-in-Furness on the south-western tip of the county.
The thick, dense plant can overwhelm other vegetation nearby, grow through tarmac and brick, weaken the integrity of structures and is very difficult to kill. Homeowners across Greater Manchester have found difficulty selling houses or tending to gardens where Japanese Knotweed is present. Japanese Knotweed can also be found nationwide and often causes problems for homeowners, especially when encroaching from a neighbouring property. As a homeowner it’s important to understand your position when it comes to this difficult, invasive species. It is well known that many railway lines and council properties are infected with Japanese Knotweed and this spreads on to neighbouring properties.
The Japanese Knotweed Agency has a team of expert staff and surveyors across Greater Manchester and England and Wales on hand to help identify and exterminate the Japanese knotweed wherever it appears. Send in a photo and the team will begin processing your issue within 24 hours. The Japanese Knotweed Agency will be ready to provide a free no-obligation survey so you can find out whether you have an issue with Japanese Knotweed, and what options are available to you, without obligation.
The agency charges you no fees and will instead refer you to an accredited removal specialist who will provide you with their own quote for the removal. Japanese Knotweed Agency are also on hand to give you all the advice you need around legal matters related to the weed.
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If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our customer services staff. However, here are answers to a few of the most common questions we receive
Yes. The administrative county of Cumbria consists of six districts (Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland) and, in 2019, had a population of just over 500,000 people. Cumbria is one of the most sparsely populated counties in England, with 73.4 people per km2 (190/sq mi). In late 2021, it was proposed that the administrative county of Cumbria would be abolished and replaced with two new unitary authorities; Westmorland and Furness (Barrow-in-Furness, Eden, South Lakeland) and Cumberland (Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland).
Cumbria is the third largest county in England by area. It is bounded to the north-east by Northumberland, the east by County Durham, the south-east by North Yorkshire, the south by Lancashire, the west by the Irish Sea, the north-west by the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway, and the north by Scottish Borders.
Cumbria is predominantly rural and contains the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of England’s finest areas of natural beauty, serving as inspiration for visual artists, writers and musicians. A large area of the south-east of the county is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, while the east of the county fringes the North Pennines AONB. Much of Cumbria is mountainous and it contains every peak in England over 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level, with the top of Scafell Pike at 3,209 feet (978 m) being the highest point in England. An upland, coastal and rural area, Cumbria’s history is characterised by invasions, migration and settlement, as well as battles and skirmishes between the English and the Scots. Notable historic sites in Cumbria include Carlisle Castle, Furness Abbey, Hardknott Roman Fort, Brough Castle and Hadrian’s Wall (also a World Heritage Site).
Cumbria has a lot of open green land, forests and parks and a large infrastructure of canals, waterways and train and tram systems.
Japanese Knotweed across Cumbria is growing in numbers. This may be due to the heightened awareness of Japanese Knotweed with home buyers and sellers now very much more aware as are surveyors, banks and building societies and conveyancing solicitors.
After the Supreme Court Case in 2018 found Network Rail liable for Japanese Knotweed spreading from their land on to privately owned land, the Judge ordered Network Rail to pay the land owner compensation for devaluation of the property by the presence of Japanese Knotweed, and ordered them to pay for a treatment plan and subsequent 10-year Insurance Backed Guarantee.
Japanese Knotweed can appear literally anywhere throughout Cumbria and there is no place that the dreaded weed seems to not be able to grow.
Cumbria is just as likely as any other borough, town or city in the UK to be affected by Japanese Knotweed. It can stem from unkept parkland or woodland, waterways, commercial property or land, railway infrastructure and can be spread by a very small amount of the root’s weeds being spread from one place to another.
Japanese Knotweed can also lay dormant for up to 15 years, and disturbing these dormant roots through building work or renovations etc can easily wake the weed up and start it to spread again.
There is no place that Japanese Knotweed will not spread, and may be more prevalent nearer to green land and railway and waterway infrastructures. It is very important when buying a property to ensure your survey covers Japanese Knotweed and you obtain a Yes or No as to its presence. A ‘don’t know’ answer isn’t helpful. Form TA6 completed by the seller with information about the property is also a good indication and the seller should answer truthfully if they know that Japanese Knotweed is on or near or has been on or near the property. If a seller lies here, or the surveyor gets things wrong, and you later discover the presence of Japanese Knotweed, you would be able to litigate and potentially recover any losses in the property valuation and the costs of treatment and insurance backed guarantee.
You can check the Japanese Knotweed Agency National Register which might give you an indication where Japanese Knotweed has been sighted around Cumbria, but you should not rely on this and should always seek a specialist survey when buying a property.
Yes. Japanese Knotweed Agency have affiliations with the country’s leading treatment firms who are extremely professional and qualified in the treatment and/or removal of Japanese Knotweed, and cover all areas of Cumbria and Greater Cumbria.
These affiliate firms all provide a nationally recognised solution and each treatment plan comes with an Insurance Backed Guarantee for 10 years to give you total peace of mind.
Some firms can also offer staged payments and some offer finance to help spread the cost.
Yes. Japanese Knotweed Agency have affiliations with law firms across Cumbria and across the UK, and these firms can assist homeowners who are based inside or outside Cumbria. These and more specialist panel law firms can offer services to anyone living across the UK, subject to review of the circumstances and those at fault for allowing the spread of Japanese Knotweed.
All our panel law firms offer a Contingency Fee Agreement, better known as No Win No Fee, so if they decide to represent you, there are no upfront costs to you at all, and never any costs if your claim is unsuccessful.
Japanese Knotweed Agency offer a national service and can help anyone around the UK. The administrative county of Cumbria consists of six districts (Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland).
In late 2021, it was proposed that the administrative county of Cumbria would be abolished and replaced with two new unitary authorities; Westmorland and Furness (Barrow-in-Furness, Eden, South Lakeland) and Cumberland (Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland).
Anyone affected by Japanese Knotweed in these boroughs and cities can seek help from the Japanese Knotweed Agency.
Our services are 100% FREE. We never charge you for our services, whether it is identification of Japanese Knotweed, assisting with a treatment affiliate or helping survey and identify the cause and possible litigation by a panel law firm to protect your house value and force a third party to pay you compensation to cover your devaluation and also cover the costs of treatment and an Insurance Backed Guarantee.
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