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 10% upwards, and also it should be noted that having Japanese Knotweed on your property could cause problems such as:
Homeowners and Commercial property owners who live across Wokingham need to be made aware that the presence of Japanese Knotweed on your property, or even in close proximity of your property borders can create a legal cause of action in private
Native to Eastern Asia Japanese Knotweed (Fallopian Japonica) was originally brought to the UK in the 1850s by German-born Philipp von Siebold as an ornamental garden plant which over time became widespread just about everywhere throughout the country particularly in urban areas and on roadsides, riverbanks, railway tracks, and derelict land. Japanese Knotweed is now the most non-native invasive plant that affects up to 950,000 properties across England and Wales, it is aggressive, destructive and has an exponential growth of around 10-20cm a day, its roots (Rhizomes) can grow downwards up to 3 meter’s and one plant can even extend as much as 10 meter’s in all directions if left untreated where it can also overwhelm and wipe out current native species however the biggest problem is when the roots of the Japanese Knotweed come in to contact with any building foundations as they can squeeze through even the smallest cracks in the masonry and concrete which then can weaken and damage the integrity of the structure and drainage, this could make the structure unsound.
Japanese Knotweed costs the economy an estimated £166 million per year for treatment and in property devaluations, we urge all homeowners and commercial property owners who live across Wokingham that if they want preserve the market value of their property and protect themselves from any legal issues to be more vigilant for any signs of Japanese Knotweed on or around their property and to also check to see if they live in a high-risk area, you can do this by using our live and interactive National Register.
Despite the prospect of Japanese Knotweed having a fearsome reputation for causing structural damage and property devaluation, with professional help it can be dealt with where the damages and the value of the property being largely restored, however if the homeowner or commercial property owner decides to ignore or miss the opportunity in detecting Japanese Knotweed on or around their property it could prove to be a very expensive mistake even legally.
Japanese Knotweed can sometimes be difficult to identify and property owners who live across Wokingham must be vigilant, it can change throughout the year and seasons and to make identification easier we have an extensive seasonal gallery which provides information and pictures to assist in the identification, you can also use our free identification service where you can submit some photos to us and our team will be able to check and see if you have Japanese Knotweed.
If Japanese Knotweed is present on or near your property across Wokingham then contact us today, our team of expert staff and surveyors across England and Wales are on hand to help identify and exterminate the Japanese knotweed wherever it appears, you can also email us some photos which would enable us to 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 Japanese Knotweed 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 you may have.
As of today there are over 23,000 unique records in our National Register database
Click below to visit the Japanese Knotweed National Register and check how many sightings have been recorded in your area.
The Japanese Knotweed Agency is happy to announce that homeowners who are concerned about Japanese Knotweed can now purchase a specialist indemnity policy through our specialist partner insurers. This policy is created with the intention of helping homeowners who may have been affected by Japanese Knotweed on or around their property, or where Japanese Knotweed has not been known on their property but may be prevalent in the local area. This policy may ease the conveyancing process. The policy should give peace of mind by covering the costs of treating and removing any new infestation in addition to preventative insurance-backed measures which will stop the infestation from returning. The policy should also cover any costs that relate to surveys as well as any reparation costs that are caused by the plants damage to your property and legal expenses paid as a result of any claim that is being made against you should Japanese Knotweed appear after policy inception.
You should be made aware that Japanese Knotweed indemnity policies are only available for homeowners where the presence of the plant is not known, or if any treatment has taken place previously to the satisfaction of your mortgage lender. These policies are usually for 5 years and offer valuable protection not only to yourself but also you mortgage lender.
If you would like to know more about the Japanese Knotweed indemnity policies offered, please contact us today where one of the insurance advisors will be happy to assist you
At the Japanese Knotweed Agency, we receive many questions surrounding Japanese Knotweed so here are some of the common ones that have been
we have been asked.
Yes. Japanese Knotweed across Wokingham is growing in numbers. This may be due to the heightened awareness of Japanese Knotweed with home buyers, sellers, and owners 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 landowner 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 Wokingham and there is no place that the dreaded weed seems to not be able to grow.
Wokingham is just as likely as any other 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 weeds root’s 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 Wokingham, 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 Wokingham and the UK.
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 Wokingham and across the UK, and these firms can assist homeowners who are based inside or outside Wokingham. 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.
Anyone affected by Japanese Knotweed in any borough or city 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 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.
Call us freephone 03335 777 888
Or use our enhanced enquiry form
If you have a specific question that needs answering then check out our Help Centre which has a vast database of questions and answers or if you prefer to talk to an advisor then please don’t hesitate to get in touch
We made getting in touch with us simple by using any of the methods shown below.