Should I report Japanese knotweed on my land?
You are not required by law to report Japanese knotweed but you may wish to!
Correctly identifying Japanese knotweed
Though it may sound odd, the first step to reporting Japanese knotweed is actually confirming that what you have found growing on your land is in fact Japanese knotweed. In recent years, knotweed has been spread across the media like a criminal, so it's no wonder we jump to conclusions about unusual weeds growing in our gardens, or on land under development.
However, Japanese knotweed is often confused for similar plants, some of which are not even invasive, or particularly threatening to their surroundings. For example many people report bindweed or bamboo, thinking they are the dreaded Japanese knotweed!
How do you report a Japanese knotweed infestation?
It is not illegal to have Japanese knotweed growing on your land or within your property which means that your actually don't need to report it!
Legally, the only time you are required to report this invasive plant is when you sell your house, or land. Upon selling, you will be asked to complete a legally-binding document (TA6 form) which will ask if there is a present infestation of Japanese knotweed on the property. Here you MUST to be truthful, dishonesty will leave you liable to a misrepresentation claim if you are found out!
And although it is not notifiable, reporting knotweed to your local council won't do any harm. It will alert them to the fact that there is a local problem, helping the government to rid the nation of this invasive species... so our advice is step forward and do your bit to help relief huge problem of Japanese knotweed in the UK.
When to report Japanese knotweed on neighbouring land
Dealing with the neighbours when there are garden issues is always tricky, and a Japanese knotweed dispute is definitely no fun!
If your neighbours have Japanese knotweed in their garden, we'd suggest having a friendly chat with them to politely convey the fact that you've identified Japanese knotweed in their garden, and ask them to remove the growth as soon as possible. They may not be aware of the invasive nature of this plant, so your research here will help you in explaining how damaging it could be, not only to their garden, but also to buildings, driveways, paths and garden walls.
Give your neighbours some time to respond and take care of the situation. If they fail to do so then we suggest contacting your local council who will issue a Community Protection Notice (CPN), a legal document that will force them to comply and eradicate the weed.
If you would like further information or for us to assist in identifying an invasive weed infestation at your location, get in touch today via our contact form.