FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESouth Wales, UK - Property or Development Land with Japanese Knotweed
Japanese knotweed on your land, property or development land can cause a huge amount of time and money to resolve and you should always use the services of a qualified NCPT Japanese Knotweed specialist. Our Property or Land with Japanese Knotweed article tells you everything you need to know if you are in this situation.
Japanese Knotweed causes financial difficulties for developers from the planning stages, the delays to construction and the cost of removal so knowing and understanding what you should do if you’ve never been in this situation before can ensure your building work starts as quickly as possible.
Japanese Knotweed is one of the UK’s most invasive plants and is also sometimes be referred to as Fallopia Japonica, Bamboo or Peashooters. It is a perennial weed which grows and spreads quickly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome (its root) if it isn’t controlled. The crown and rhizomes root system will suppress other plants growing around it and will spread quickly and extensively underground. Well-established shoots can grow more than 3 metres high above the ground and it can colonize the soil within a year. In the height of its predominant growing season, 60% of its roots are underground making its removal very difficult if you don’t have the specialist skills, knowledge and equipment.
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Can new development sites build on land with Japanese knotweed?
If there is Japanese Knotweed present on development land then it has to be declared and accounted for in the planning process of the construction in order to legally start development. When selling your home you complete a TA6 form which is a general questionnaire for property sellers which includes declaring if you have Japanese knotweed on your property or if you are aware of it being present on neighbouring properties making sure the buyers are fully aware. The TA6 forms part of the pre-contract documents and this makes it’s content legally binding. However, it’s shocking to know that new-build developers are not required to fill in a TA6 Property Information Form and this enables them to sell a property affected by knotweed without them declaring it and them making the buyer aware of it.
When buying a new build property the only way you can protect yourself from this is by asking your conveyancing solicitor to formally ask the developer about any history of Japanese knotweed on the site. This means if they are aware of Japanese knotweed being present or being previously present on the land then they legally need to declare it to you, giving you an option to consider your purchase.
Do you have to declare Japanese Knotweed is present if you are selling your property?
You should make any potential buyer of your property aware about the presence of Japanese Knotweed as you can be liable for misrepresentation. If you live in a property or own land affected by Japanese Knotweed then you are legally responsible to ensure that it doesn’t spread to neighbouring properties or land. If the Knotweed is not controlled and allowed to spread the owner of the land will be liable for significant fines and, or imprisonment.
Find out everything you need to know here: southwalesknotweedremoval.co.uk/property-or-land-japanese-knotweed/