Japanese Knotweed: Knot in my backyard again!

Japanese Knotweed

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Huge legal bill after selling home with Japanese knotweed

Many will have read the recent case in which a furniture designer pursued his seller successfully after he moved into his £700,000 South-West London home and found Japanese knotweed behind the garden shed.

It transpired that the knotweed stood up to 2 metres tall, and there was also evidence that it had been treated with herbicide. The implication is the seller was well aware of its existence. The judge found that the seller did not genuinely believe his property had not been affected by the knotweed and found in the buyer’s favour.

This case serves as a reminder to all those selling a property that the question should be answered carefully when completing the Property Information Form, which specifically asks if the property is affected by Japanese knotweed. The options are ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘not known’. In this case, the seller answered ‘no’ and therefore positively asserted that there was no knotweed at the property, thereby misrepresenting the situation when the evidence showed that he must have known of its presence at the property.

Of course, if the seller had responded to the question by saying “not known”, which is quite possible if you are unfamiliar with the plant, the responsibility would have shifted to the buyer to investigate the matter further.

What is Japanese Knotweed?

It is a plant which has bamboo-like stems and small white flowers. It was native to Japan and was brought to England by the Victorians to line railway tracks.

Websites are available where you can search if knotweed can be found in your area. If left to grow freely, knotweed can cause significant damage to buildings by infiltrating and weakening foundations and growing through paving and tarmac.

What should I do if I discover Japanese Knotweed on my property?

If you find Japanese knotweed on your property, you must stop it from spreading off your property. You can be prosecuted for allowing Japanese Knotweed to spread into the wild or onto neighbouring privately owned land. However, you do not legally have to remove it from your property unless it is causing a nuisance. You should not treat knotweed yourself, but you can find companies specialising in its removal.

Who should I notify?

Certainly, if you sell the property, you must notify potential buyers to avoid a possible claim for damages for misrepresentation. Also, if you are a tenant in a property, you should notify the landlord in writing with as much detail as soon as possible. It is quite possible that, depending on the terms of your agreement with the landlord, you are responsible for the treatment costs.

If you see Japanese Knotweed on neighbouring land, your first step should be to write to your neighbour to inform them of the position and their duties. If your neighbours do not take the issues seriously, you can approach your local authority, which can issue Community Protection Notices under the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. These notices can be issued to individuals or organisations to compel them to control invasive species in situations where they are detrimental to the quality of life of others.

In summary, Japanese Knotweed must be taken seriously, and anyone who discovers it on the property ignores it as their peril.

If you have knotweed on your land, you need to act now! If it spreads onto another property, you could be liable for a claim in nuisance. You risk having to meet the cost of treatment and paying compensation for other losses. If a neighbouring property has Japanese knotweed, you may be able to take action to force the owner to deal with it to limit the risk to you.

Speak to our Property Dispute Lawyers

If you would like legal advice regarding this or a similar matter, don’t hesitate to contact Shilpa Mathuradas, a specialist property litigation lawyer at Osbornes Law. 

To speak with one of our solicitors, contact us by:

  • Filling in our online enquiry form; or
  • Calling us on 020 7485 8811

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