Get knotted!
As seasoned estate agents, Hollywell Homes understand only too well the possible issues that Japanese Knotweed, an incredibly invasive plant, can cause. Even going as far as being the ‘root’ problem (sorry) when it comes to many property sales falling through. Japanese knotweed has been responsible for an estimated £11.8 billion of value being wiped from the UK housing market, which is still prevalent in the UK, is reported to be present in almost every 10 square kilometres of the UK and continues to spread and crop up in new places every day. It goes without saying that this can make the process of selling property much harder to complete.
If you are worried about knotweed here are some tips, tricks, and advice from the CEO of Japanese Knotweed Specialists, Adam Brindle:
When and how to spot Japanese knotweed
During the autumn and winter months, Japanese knotweed is observed as brittle canes poking out of the ground, however, the rhizome system, which are fleshy underground stems, remains active and spreads underground. This makes it much harder to detect as the weed loses its trademark heart-shaped leaves and white flowers as shown in the image above.
The growing season predominantly starts in March/April and can grow up to 10cm a day. It then begins to blossom its heart-shaped, medium-size leaves which are light green in colour. It is only from August to October that white flowers appear, which are comparatively small and similar in stature to a foxglove stack.
Japanese knotweed doesn’t discriminate and grows pretty much anywhere. It can work its way through pavements, walls, gravel, and even the very foundations of properties. It can commonly be found in parks, gardens, building sites, and the side of railway banks.
From late August to October, you can spot the heart-shaped leaves and white flowers or, if you have a keen eye, you may be able to spot the reddish shoots that appear at ground level. The best way to confirm any suspicions you may have and to give you peace of mind is to have a RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) survey or a dog detection survey, which is arguably the only way to say with high certainty that a property or site is clear of knotweed.
Spotting Japanese knotweed should be treated as a priority because of the multitude of issues it can cause. Building works can grind to a halt, mortgage applications can fail or have delays, and can even lead to a property taking a reduction in price, in certain extreme cases the value can be reduced by up to 25% if it affects the foundations of your home.
A landowner who due to lack of care or intentionally allows Japanese knotweed to spread onto neighbouring land or allows it to grow in the wild if found guilty under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 could be liable for a hefty fine of up to £5000. For more information regarding this, legislation is referred to under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.
These are just some examples of the importance of taking into consideration the impact that Japanese knotweed can have, especially if you are looking to put your property on the market for sale. If you have concerns, Hollywell Homes can provide you with a free valuation of your property with an accompanying free consultation that would detail any cause for concern. You can speak to the team today on 01905 948848 or email us at info@hollywellhomes.co.uk.
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