How to avoid getting tied up in knots
Japanese Knotweed. It’s not something anyone wants to find in their garden or growing through their basement. This invasive plant was first brought over from Japan and spread throughout the country before anyone realised how damaging it was. That was a big mistake and one we now have to live with.
Bristol has recently been identified as one of the UK’s Japanese Knotweed hotspots. While that’s, of course, far from ideal, it’s far from the UK’s only problem area. Here, Martin Taylor, our chartered surveyor in Bristol and Bath, shares a few Japanese Knotweed things to know when you view a home…
What is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed native to Japan (surprise!), China, Korea and Taiwan. Its natural habitat has plenty of predators, keeping it at bay. Over here in the UK, though, the environment is far less harsh. That means it survives, thrives and gets absolutely everywhere. It was declared to be an invasive threat in 1981.
Japanese Knotweed is a problem because when the plant grows underground, its roots and rhizomes expand quickly. If left untreated, this can eliminate all the surrounding vegetation and work their way through foundations and other walls.
I’ve been to plenty of homes where I’ve found Japanese Knotweed. In spring, rhubarb-like bamboo shoots fly upwards. They can reach 3m tall within three or four months. The dark green or red heart-shaped leaves unfurl in summer, with small cream flowers budding around September. Shortly after, the stem will turn brown, and the plant appears to die. It’s a little trickier to spot in winter as the plant dies back to ground level. Don’t be fooled; the underground rhizome network is alive and kicking.
Japanese Knotweed can be managed – but it must be handled carefully.
Why Japanese Knotweed can be found throughout the UK
Follow this link to see a detailed heatmap of where Japanese Knotweed can be found in the UK. Zoom in to see more detailed area-specific views. In short, you could find it pretty much everywhere, although certain places are far more at risk. These are (broadly speaking) the UK’s industrial areas.
The worst areas for Japanese Knotweed are:
- Bristol
- Bolton
- London
- Manchester
- Nottingham
- Sheffield
- Wales
- Edinburgh
Although Bath hasn’t yet been identified as one of the worst hotspots, you might find Japanese Knotweed there, too.
So, why is it everywhere? Well, when the plant first came over from Japan, people bought clippings. Its fast reproduction rate was evident in Japan, but it was thought that since there was no male plant, it would stay almost dormant. Unfortunately, Japanese Knotweed can grow and spread anyway.
Of course, this became obvious very quickly. Instead of hurriedly trying to remove it, people started using it as soil reinforcement for industrial projects. You often find evidence of it along railways, for example.
Will the Japanese Knotweed hotspot devalue homes in Bristol?
I can’t see the Japanese Knotweed hotspot news having too much effect on the local property market. It’s not like someone recently found it in the area for the first time. We’ve known for quite a while that Bristol suffers from the infestation.
There might be some minimal impact, as is often the result of ‘bad press’. But it should settle down as soon as the story leaves the news (which doesn’t take long these days!).
I should clarify, too, that just because Bristol is a Japanese Knotweed hotspot, doesn’t mean every home is affected. As always, treat each case individually. If there are signs of Japanese Knotweed, don’t worry – a surveyor will spot it. Any reputable local inspector will know to keep a special eye out for it.
Finding Japanese Knotweed at a property used to be a severe problem and could make it difficult to buy or sell. Recently, the Government (and RICS) updated the guidance. Now, even if Japanese Knotweed is found, the classifications are based on management rather than risk. These classifications, ranging from A to D, are assigned at the surveyor’s discretion. Overall, this makes buying a house with signs of Japanese Knotweed much more straightforward. There are now far fewer hoops to jump through, as it were.
As such, I don’t expect the new ‘hotspot’ classification to impact Bristol’s property market too much.
Contact GB Home Surveys to check for Japanese Knotweed
A home survey is the best way to identify Japanese Knotweed and the financial impact it’ll have on you. Although a surveyor will always check, make sure you ask them to specifically look for it.
Are you worried that a house you’re looking at might have Japanese Knotweed? Please don’t be shy. Get in touch with me for an obligation-free chat. I’m always happy to talk you through this invasive plant and explain why it’s so important to be careful.
Thanks for reading through. In summary, if you live in Bristol, don’t worry too much about the ‘Japanese Knotweed hotspot’ news. But remember, it’s always worth getting a home survey to check for it, wherever you live.
