Buyers of new build residential properties are at threat of their houses becoming riddled with Japanese knotweed because of a ‘legal loophole’.
Property owners wishing to sell their homes are required to submit a home information form, called a TA6. In the TA6 form, the seller has a legal requirement to declare whether the property or garden is, or has been, impacted by Japanese Knotweed.
BUT – and this is the crucial bit! Developers and builders have no legal obligation to complete the TA6 form.
As the UK’s leading Knotweed specialists, we believe that this urgently needs to be rectified and that ANYONE selling a property should have to fill in a TA6 form.
Knotweed Services have seen an increase in cases of Knotweed being present in new build homes. Information has not been divulged to these purchasers beforehand.
Due to their being no legal requirement for developers and builders to reveal the existence of the invasive weed, it’s much more difficult for individuals to bring a claim.
The plant can destroy foundations and crack buildings as it looks for moisture, ruining homes and resale values along with triggering years of suffering for owners.
It’s ranked as the number one most invasive plants on the Environments Agency’s list.
In one case, it was recommended to a family to demolish their ₤300,000 house, as it was the only option to eliminate their Japanese knotweed infestation (read more about this story here).
Mark Montaldo from Cobleys Solicitors added: “We currently have a case where the buyer requested that their conveyancing solicitor ask the developer about historical knotweed issues on the site.
“They failed to do so, so the buyer now owns a property covered in knotweed and is suing their solicitor for professional negligence.”
Knotweed Services can help you avoid all this headache, stress and aggravation. We can conduct a simple, in-expensive survey to give you complete peace of mind when purchasing your new home. Letting you know whether or not Knotweed is or has ever been present.
Read our buying and selling guide here to tell you everything you need to know and more.
Knotweed Services UK are PCA approved. The PCA is a government approved trade body for “the damp, waterproofing, wood preservation and invasive weeds industries”. As a member of the PCA we are required to adhere to strict standards in order to receive PCA membership. The application for membership is detailed and thorough. It is for these reasons that any company approved by the PCA can be trusted to provide the most effective solutions for Japanese knotweed removal. To find out more about the PCA please click here.
Please watch the video below to find out the benefits of choosing a PCA approved Japanese knotweed contractor:
If you are trying to sell your property and your surveyor finds Japanese Knotweed on their initial report you are sure to run into problems. The process may be delayed or cancelled all together. This does not have to be the case. In order to sell your property you may need a management plan to be in place; this plan will show that you are dealing with your Japanese Knotweed infestation and that it will not be a problem by the time the plan is completed. We will create a personal management plan for every customer. The plans are very in depth and are backed by our warranty meaning you can sleep easy knowing that your infestation is being taken care of.
If you are a homeowner who has found Japanese Knotweed on or around your property let us know as soon as you can. The sooner we know the sooner we can eradicate your Japanese Knotweed. Or if you are surveyor and need a management plan to be created we can also do this for you, saving you the time.
