Frequently Asked Questions by Home Owners

Yes, sadly this is now quite common with most major lenders refusing mortgages not only where knotweed is on the property but also on adjoining land. We have helped many home owners by removing the knotweed either before or after completion, issuing a guarantee to satisfy the lender and assigning the guarantee to the new owner. Click here to contact us and discuss ...

You are quite at liberty to remove any knotweed from your land, subject to it being done in accordance with law. This might fool some surveyors, but a good one will still be able to identify its presence. Also, if during the conveyance process you withold or give false information regarding knotweed you could be sued for misrepresentation. Funding could be withdrawn. Conveyancing solicitors should ask vendors whether knotweed is or has been present on a site or in adjoining land. Click here to contact us and discuss .... 

The presence of knotweed should not necessarily put you off buying the property, although you should be aware that the risk of spread of knotweed into your property is real. Since you will have little control over the treatment of the knotweed in the adoining land you may find a possible dispute situation arising with your new neighbour. We have one client who has actually managed to also acquire the adjoining knotweed infested land at a price that reflects the liabilities that the land contains. The advantage of this is that the treatment of the knotweed is in his control. Click here to contact us and discuss ....

Take a look at Identifying knotweed, which shows photographs of Japanese knotweed at different growth stages and times of the year. Alternatively, email a digital photo to us and we'll identify it for you. To some people, the leaves and flowers look attractive, but the underground rhizome or root system certainly is not! Click here to contact us and discuss ....

No - in fact, you can find internet recipes containing knotweed! It contains a substance called resveratrol, and is used in anti-aging supplements.

The Victorians brought back cuttings from South East Asia in the late 19th century because of its attractive flowers. If its in your garden, it’s either spread or encroached from adjoining land, or soil containing rhizome has been deposited on your land. It does not spread by seed in the UK.

That depends on how much knotweed is present and how quickly you need it eradicated. There are several methods we employ for our clients. Herbicide treatment is likely to be the most cost effective and least disruptive, but other options such as Xtract™, Dig & Dump and use of root barriers for containment may also be available to you. Click here to find out more ...

That’s not advisable! Japanese knotweed grows deep into the ground, typically 2m deep. If you don't dig it all out, it comes back. You must be extremely careful with any Japanese knotweed you do dig out. Both the green vegetation and the rhizome system is likely to re-grow and infest other areas. If you allow this to happen anywhere other than your garden you will be in contravention of the law.

As a general rule, the faster you want it eradicated, the higher the cost. There are lots of other variables that affect price, so please contact us for a budget cost or a detailed quotation.

Methods involving excavation are generally quick and not affected by seasons. Chemical herbicide methods can take three or more years if undertaken by a non-specialist. We are often called to sites where treatment has been unsuccessful. A professional specialist firm should be able to achieve eradication in a single season, if conditions are right. Treatment should commence prior to May for completion in October.

That depends on the method employed. Chemical treatment is likely to be the least disruptive but non-target plants close to the knotweed may be affected.

Knotweed is a major and growing problem in the UK because it is so hard to eradicate and spreads so fast. If knotweed is not treated, it continues to spread, its underground rhizome/root system will strengthen, and it becomes even harder and more expensive to eradicate in the future. If it's located close to structural work, like walls, fences, drainage systems and paving, it can cause extensive damage. If it crosses your boundary into adjoining land, your neighbours could take legal action against you for civil nuisance.

We've seen knotweed grow through concrete slabs and asphalt, as well as through cavity walls, roofs, brick work and drains. You can see its destructive power on our Knotweed Video.

Certainly, and especially if identified during the conveyance process. Several leading mortgage companies currently refuse to offer mortgages on property infested with Japanese knotweed. It's relatively easy to overlook knotweed, particularly in winter when it looks like a dead plant, so property owners or buyers may not know it is there. If you're buying a house, get your solicitor to ask the vendor specifically if knotweed is present. If they knowingly do not disclose its presence, you may have legal redress for mis-representation.

It takes an expert to make that judgment as the knotweed root/rhizome can remain dormant in the ground for a long time. In reality, it is impossible to verify with 100% certainty that all rhizome is dead, unless you physically excavate all infested soil and check every piece of rhizome. Clearly that is impractical. If you employ someone to eradicate knotweed, rather than control it, there should be some form of validation or guarantee upon completion of the work.

That depends upon the company issuing the guarantee. You need to check out their track record, take references, and if necessary, get a lawyer to check the guarantee wording. Environet has offered 5 year guarantees for its eradication treatment since 2004. These state that if the knotweed comes back, so will we at no further cost to the customer. Where our Xtract™ method is used, we offer extended guarantees for 20 years.

That depends on the exact wording of your policy, but our belief is that it's unlikely to be covered. Insurance doesn't appear to cover damage caused by gradual events, and we recommend you speak, very specifically, to your insurance provider if your property is being damaged by Japanese Knotweed.