Japanese Knotweed Claims

Japanese knotweed is not poisonous, so if you are around it, it’s not harmful to your health. However, it is not edible, so ingestion should be avoided. Although it’s not harmful to your health, it is harmful to your home. The growth of Japanese knotweed can cause many disruptions to your home’s foundation and structure, which could result in you having to pay for some costly repairs.

Japanese knotweed can cause damage due to its above-ground canopy exerting pressure on adjacent walls and fences. It can also cause damage due to its expanding network of underground rhizomes and roots and for mature weeds its crown. It can push its way through expansion joints in concrete, cavity walls or weaknesses in the broken mortar between paving slabs and bricks. It can also damage drains and sewers of your home which will have many side effects and knock-on issues. Although long-lasting structural damage is unlikely, a mature infestation can become critical and will cause a lot of inconvenience and financial expenses to correct these issues.

As stated above, the main effect of Japanese knotweed on your property is the potential damage it can do. Serious structural complications and manipulation of the foundation of your home are highly unlikely however, Japanese knotweed is still an issue that should be corrected immediately. Japanese knotweed can be fast spreading, so if you find it, it is very likely that more will sprout and infest your land and property. Japanese knotweed can grow in the cracks of your walls and sprout outwards. This can make the cracks and any pre-existing damage much worse and more noticeable.

Not only can Japanese knotweed worsen issues that were already there, but it can also make new ones. It can break the structure of your walls such as bricks and concrete slabs by pushing its way through. It can also cause damage to drains and sewage by blocking them. This will stop your sewage from having a path and this build-up can cause pipes to break and your drainage system to not function properly.

When you buy a property, certain things must be disclosed on the appropriate forms beforehand. These are all things that should give you an accurate and honest look at the house you are interested in. One of the details that should be included is whether Japanese knotweed is present or not. If there is an indication that this type of weed infestation currently exists in the home, the owner/seller must make this clear to the buyer/renter.

If you have purchased a property and have good reason to believe that the Japanese knotweed infestation was present before you made the purchase, and this was not disclosed to you, you may be eligible to make a claim. If you alert your landlord and they do not put the necessary solutions in place, you could also be eligible for a claim. This would apply if their negligence to fix the infestation has worsened it and has noticeably furthered the problem. This would fall under home disrepair as it is your landlord’s responsibility to ensure your accommodation is safe and up to standard.

If you find Japanese knotweed in your home you must ensure it is disposed of as soon as possible to prevent any spreading and a larger infestation. If you notice Japanese knotweed, you want to alert your landlord immediately. They should be able to organise the removal and disposal of the knotweed for you. A professional should take care of this as just getting rid of it is unlikely to prevent the spread. You need to get rid of the Japanese knotweed from its roots to prevent any spread and further infestation.

A professional can do this safely and efficiently as well as clearing and cleaning your space afterwards. If you believe your landlord has neglected their responsibilities by either not solving the issue earlier or not declaring that the property is having a problem with Japanese knotweed, you want to speak to a legal advisor, like the ones at Claims Bible, as soon as possible and gather evidence that proves your property has been neglected or missold to make a claim against Japanese knotweed in your home.