Japanese knotweed alert as weather change means 'super growth'

Property owners should be on high alert for the destructive Japanese knotweed in their gardens, warns property expert Terry Fisher as rain fuels the potential for explosive weed growth. After a spell of parched weather across Britain, the recent rain is a boost for greenery, but it also creates prime conditions for the feared plant, notorious for its rapid expansion and potential structural havoc.

Terry, from , said: "We've been basking in the glorious sunshine, but now the rain has made an epic return. This combination of wet and warm creates the ideal conditions for Japanese knotweed to thrive and even go into a super growth, meaning homeowners might unearth a beast in their gardens this spring."

This troublesome flora, introduced as a decorative addition in Victorian times, is renowned for its formidable resilience and can encroach on buildings with ease.

Mr Fisher continued with a stark warning: "The invasive plant is a nightmare - it's relentlessly durable, fast-growing and can cause damage to nearby structures."

With removal costs sky-high and the process complex, tackling Japanese knotweed isn't a job for the weekend gardener.

"Avoid attempting a DIY removal as you could accidentally spread it further. It requires a multi-pronged approach, often involving herbicides and potentially excavation, depending on the extent of the infestation. This is all best left to the professionals," Terry advised.

"Costs can add up, especially if you have to pay for repairs to your own home or your neighbour's, on top of treatment. Your neighbours can seek compensation if it breaches onto their land and you can be fined if it starts to grow in the wild."

The urgency to act swiftly

When selling a property, sellers are legally obliged to disclose if a property is, or ever has been, affected by the plant. Surveyors have a legal duty to look for it as part of their report.

"If you're buying a house and a survey flags that a property has Japanese knotweed, you could negotiate the price or ensure the seller treats the plant before the sale goes through," Terry added.

"After that, it's your responsibility to keep an eye on your garden for any signs of the plant returning. It tends to die back in autumn, but start to grow again in spring.

"Some homeowners don't know about the existence of the invasive plant until they find it in their garden. In which case, it could be a surveyor was negligent in their duties or you could have a case for misrepresentation."

The plant can also encroach onto property from neighbouring land, growing at an alarming rate.

Terry said: "Japanese knotweed can reach two metres in height within weeks, and if it has encroached from neighbouring land, you have the right to pursue legal action against the landowner for compensation, covering both damages and removal costs. Whatever the case, homeowners need to act quickly if any signs of Japanese knotweed appear."