A first-time homebuyer in Wales was left in a difficult position when they said the seller lied to them about the presence of an on the property.
The person detailed their experience on r/LegalAdviceUK a couple of years ago, noting a neighbor clued them in that Japanese knotweed was growing along the side of the house.
“I’ve checked and can see the remnants of Japenese Knotweed; it’s been cut short,” they wrote.
“I’ve checked with a local Knotweed specialist who has confirmed that it’s Japanese Knotweed, and that he’s seen it there for quite a number of years (he’s lives locally).
“I feel that the previous owner has deceived me by concealing the Japanese Knotweed and lied on the TA6 in order to secure the sale. I would not have purchased the property if I had known about the Knotweed, and I would have commissioned a further survey had the previous owner ticked ‘Not sure’ on the TA6 form.
“… I now feel as though I’ve purchased a property with no value, which I will not be able to sell if I need to.”
The buyer in a comment they were worrying about worst-case scenarios — understandable given the biggest purchase of their life was on the table. Though the position was unenviable, it seemed cut and dried. As , the buyer was likely in a winnable spot.
“My brother purchased a house a few years ago, and the same thing happened to him,” someone . “The vendor claimed there was no Japanese knotweed when there was. Upon discovery my brother was able to take the vendor to court and won, the vendor is still paying for regular treatment of the knotweed.”
Another Redditor they solved their knotweed problem with bimonthly treatment over two years. It didn’t cost much, and it didn’t consume their life.
Determination is the main ingredient in successful eradication, but there is legislation in the United Kingdom to help contain the fast-growing perennial, according to the . No less than three laws are on the books, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to “cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild.”
Like other , it outcompetes natives for resources. The knotweed grows from rhizomes and has bamboo-like stems that exceed 2.1 meters (7 feet).
Importantly, spring regrowth must be targeted, and the plant should be disposed of via a licensed landfill — and certainly not in common trash. Onsite jettisoning starts with allowing the knotweed to dry and then burning it.
One TikToker made with leaves of the invasive, highlighting the innovative ways people are from damaging trespassers. A similar method involves using lionfish to make .
If we all play a part in with steps as small as promoting native species in place of invasive ones, we can help to ensure a more .
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