Japanese knotweed

Jonathan Downing bought his three-bedroom house in affluent Raynes Park, in south west London but quickly found invasive Japanese knotweed lurking behind a ...

He knew what it looked like and he had not seen any in the three years he had been there. "Mr Henderson told me on oath that he genuinely did think there wasn't any Japanese knotweed in his garden. His barrister said there was no way that Mr Henderson could prove that he had a "reasonable belief" that there was no knotweed present at the time he filled in the seller's forms. Giving evidence, Mr Downing told the judge that - had Mr Henderson said it was "not known" whether the property was affected by knotweed - he would have looked into it further. Mr Henderson had himself moved in in 2015, before selling up to Mr Downing in 2018, stating specifically in sales forms that there was "no" knotweed affecting the property. Mr Henderson, 41, had answered "no" to the question on the TA6 property information form asking if the property had been affected by knotweed and argued that he "reasonably believed" he was telling the truth when he did so.

A furniture designer who found Japanese knotweed behind the garden shed after he moved into his £700000 dream home has successfully sued the seller, ...

He knew what it looked like and he had not seen any in the three years he had been there. His mother was a keen gardener and she made no report to him of Japanese knotweed. But he went on to say that Mr Henderson’s case had been undermined by his admission that he ‘didn’t know what was behind the shed’ where the knotweed was lurking. ‘No previous owners had mentioned Japanese knotweed to him and none of the neighbours had Japanese knotweed in their gardens. His barrister said there was no way that Mr Henderson could prove that he had a ‘reasonable belief’ that there was no knotweed present at the time he filled in the seller’s forms. But in his own evidence, Mr Henderson said he had no reason to think that there might be knotweed in his garden. Giving evidence, Mr Downing told the judge that – had Mr Henderson said it was ‘not known’ whether the property was affected by knotweed – he would have looked into it further. Mr Downing sued for £32,000 to cover the costs of investigating and excavating the plant, as well as the diminution in value of his home caused by the knotweed incursion. ‘The defendant could have ticked “Yes”, “Not Known” or “No” – by ticking “No”, the defendant chose to positively assert there was no knotweed at the property and thereby made a misrepresentation,’ said Mr Carter. Mr Henderson had himself moved in in 2015, before selling up to Mr Downing in 2018, stating specifically in sales forms that there was ‘no’ knotweed affecting the property. Mr Henderson had answered ‘no’ to the question on the TA6 property information form asking if the property had been affected by knotweed and argued that he ‘reasonably believed’ he was telling the truth when he did so. But it emerged in court that the knotweed may previously have stood at up to 2 metres tall, and there was also evidence it had been treated with herbicide in the past.

A furniture designer has successfully sued the seller of a £700000 house he bought because there was Japanese knotweed in the garden.

He knew what it looked like and he had not seen any in the three years he had been there. It can also reduce the capacity of channels in flood defences to carry water. If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner. ‘No previous owners had mentioned Japanese knotweed to him and none of the neighbours had Japanese knotweed in their gardens. His mother was a keen gardener and she made no report to him of Japanese knotweed. Although it rarely sets seed in this country, Japanese knotweed can sprout from very small sections of rhizomes.

Furniture designer Jonathan Dowling successfully sued chartered accountant Jeremy Henderson who claimed not to have known about it.

Mr Henderson told the court: “I got a surveyor’s report when I moved in and it didn’t find any knotweed. “The main reason is it was hidden by the bush and quite likely to have been hampered by the bush.” Mr Henderson had answered “no” to the question on the TA6 property information form asking if the property had been affected by knotweed and argued that he “reasonably believed” he was telling the truth when he did so.

Jonathan Downing bought his three-bed house in affluent Raynes Park, south west London, but was shocked to discover invasive Japanese knotweed lurking ...

I had lived there for three years and spent quite a lot of time in the garden and hadn't seen knotweed," he said. No one identified any knotweed to me and I didn't see any knotweed. The weed is an invasive species known for its propensity to spread and cause damage to building structures.

A furniture designer who found Japanese knotweed behind the garden shed after he moved into his £700000 dream home has successfully sued the seller, ...

He knew what it looked like and he had not seen any in the three years he had been there. His mother was a keen gardener and she made no report to him of Japanese knotweed. But he went on to say that Mr Henderson’s case had been undermined by his admission that he ‘didn’t know what was behind the shed’ where the knotweed was lurking. ‘No previous owners had mentioned Japanese knotweed to him and none of the neighbours had Japanese knotweed in their gardens. His barrister said there was no way that Mr Henderson could prove that he had a ‘reasonable belief’ that there was no knotweed present at the time he filled in the seller’s forms. But in his own evidence, Mr Henderson said he had no reason to think that there might be knotweed in his garden. Giving evidence, Mr Downing told the judge that – had Mr Henderson said it was ‘not known’ whether the property was affected by knotweed – he would have looked into it further. Mr Downing sued for £32,000 to cover the costs of investigating and excavating the plant, as well as the diminution in value of his home caused by the knotweed incursion. ‘The defendant could have ticked “Yes”, “Not Known” or “No” – by ticking “No”, the defendant chose to positively assert there was no knotweed at the property and thereby made a misrepresentation,’ said Mr Carter. Mr Henderson had answered ‘no’ to the question on the TA6 property information form asking if the property had been affected by knotweed and argued that he ‘reasonably believed’ he was telling the truth when he did so. Mr Henderson had himself moved in in 2015, before selling up to Mr Downing in 2018, stating specifically in sales forms that there was ‘no’ knotweed affecting the property. But it emerged in court that the knotweed may previously have stood at up to 2 metres tall, and there was also evidence it had been treated with herbicide in the past.

Sellers are being warned to check their home for Japanese knotweed and disclose any details after a former homeowner was sued when the property he sold was ...

The only way to confidently state that a property is unaffected is to commission a professional knotweed survey, backed by a warranty.” “It’s the seller’s duty to determine if their property is affected by knotweed. It also takes on a completely new appearance if chemicals have been applied in an attempt to kill it, making it harder to recognise.

An accountant who sold a £700000 property that was riddled with Japanese knotweed faces a £200000 legal bill after the buyer successfully sued.

Jonathan Downing, a 30-year-old furniture designer, purchased a three-bedroom house in London and only discovered the virulent and damaging plant was growing ...

The plant, known as Japanese knotweeds, are known to cause property damage, potentially depreciating the value of the home and even stopping other plants from ...

The seller was also required to pay legal fees of up to £95,000. furniture designer sued the seller of his home after finding Japanese knotweed in his garden Japanese knotweed: What is it, what does it look like, and how to get rid of it

Japanese knotweed, grey squirrels, and American signal crayfish are just some of the invasive species endangering native biodiversity in the UK. But what if we ate them? Kate Ng piques her appetite for the pests that plague Britain. in 10 hours.

“I think that eating it would be like bringing a dustpan and brush to the aftermath of an earthquake,” Pemberton says. This is a gross understatement – grey squirrels are driving their native counterparts in the area to extinction, so much so that the red rodents are afforded the highest level of protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. There is also the risk that putting invasive species on menus could downplay how dangerous they are for the native environment. It sounds hyperbolic, but we genuinely care and want to make a difference and talk about these things that no one else will… This is due to people not realising they have Japanese knotweed in their soil, digging it up and dispersing it elsewhere, or some who purposefully get rid of contaminated soil by fly-tipping or hiding it in skips. It might be more commonplace to have squirrel on the table at some point in the future.” Even in the UK, it’s not so uncommon to consume grey squirrel in some parts of the countryside. The chef, who was named Great Britain’s best young chef in 2009, has dreamed up a dizzying array of ways to serve up the pests, such as a grey squirrel kofte, with black ketchup and chicken neck garum. They have the same thick stem that tapers into the shape of a spear, but instead of the rubber-soft clusters we know and love, the tips of Japanese knotweed shoots appear distinctly spiky. So fearsome is Japanese knotweed that seeing its name on a restaurant menu may send chills down the spines of anyone who owns or deals with property in the UK. “It’s a radical act of sustainability, that’s how I see it,” he tells The Independent. Without the checks and balances of its native land that kept it under control, the knotweed thrived in the UK, growing stronger, larger and more fiercely.

Japanese knotweed is notorious for its habit of growing between brickwork and tarmac, ruining homeowners' driveways, patios and drain.

He knew what it looked like and he had not seen any in the three years he had been there. He will also have to shoulder his own legal costs. The court heard that during the sale, Mr Henderson had answered “no” on a form asking if the property had been affected by knotweed. But the judge heard evidence that the knotweed had been previously treated with herbicide, and may have once stood at around 2m tall. His mother was a keen gardener and she made no report to him of Japanese knotweed. His barrister said there was no way that Mr Henderson could prove that he had a “reasonable belief” that there was no knotweed present at the time he filled in the seller’s forms.

Jeremy Henderson, 41, sold his three-bedroom house in affluent Raynes Park, south-west London to Jonathan Downing, 30, but was locked in four years of legal ...

He knew what it looked like and he had not seen any in the three years he had been there. [READ MORE: Is THIS the key to ridding gardens of Japanese knotweed? He added: 'With hindsight, I should have paid the £16,000 because I'm going to have to pay out a lot more. 'I had no reason to believe that there was knotweed when I sold the house. Pictured: An example of the form Mr Henderson would have filled in I almost called Mr Downing to ask him why he thought I had misled him because I've got nothing against him. His mother was a keen gardener and she made no report to him of Japanese knotweed. When I bought it in 2015, I had a survey done and there was no evidence of any knotweed. His barrister said there was no way that Mr Henderson could prove that he had a 'reasonable belief' that there was no knotweed present at the time he filled in the seller's forms. He fumed: 'The letter accused me of lying and being fraudulent. 'The defendant could have ticked "Yes", "Not Known" or "No" – by ticking "No", the defendant chose to positively assert there was no knotweed at the property and thereby made a misrepresentation,' said Mr Carter. It was ruled that Mr Henderson made a misrepresentation when he specifically stated in sales forms that there was 'no' knotweed affecting the property – when he could have answered 'yes' or 'not known'.

The plant's arrival in the UK is all thanks to German physician and botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold. Siebold, who is credited with introducing vaccination to ...

Full advice about how to tackle Japanese knotweed and the law surrounding the plant is available from the Among the most notorious cases of Japanese knotweed in the UK was on the site of the 2012 Olympic Park. Among them was the first example of Japanese knotweed in the UK. According to Environet, the only parts of the UK that don’t have much of a problem are Northern Ireland and the north of Scotland. And how did the non-native find its way into the UK in the first place, if nobody wants it here? The court heard the knotweed had grown to at least two metres at one point near the home in Raynes Park,

Accountant Jeremy Henderson, 41, described the judge's decision as "totally outrageous" after being charged more than £200000 over Japanese knotweed found ...

He said: "It's just been very stressful and a total nightmare. It's had a massive effect on my life and my family's lives, and it's going to take a long time to get over it." It wasn't obvious." It's just a ludicrous amount of money. How can everyone be expected to look in every inch of their garden? It's totally ridiculous.

The invasive plant species is responsible for damaging homes, pavements and drains and can spread up to seven metres horizontally. With the Japanese knotweed ...

[Bromley](/news/bromley/) has 66 occurrences within 4km tall whereas Lewisham has over 145 occurrences also at 4km. They will be able to tell you where it originated, and the best way to tackle it. While serious damage to property is rare thanks to regulation which requires knotweed to be dealt with, it commonly impacts use of the garden, causes legal disputes between neighbours and can impact a property’s value by around five per cent. [Japanese Knotweed](https://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/20128723.environet-reveals-hotspots-japanese-knotweed-worcestershire/) survey and find out the extent of the infestation. [Environet UK](https://www.environetuk.com/exposed-japanese-knotweed-heat-map) has revealed the [knotweed hotspots](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20128840.japanese-knotweed-hotspots-across-dorset-revealed/) for spring using data from its [online map.](https://www.environetuk.com/exposed-japanese-knotweed-heat-map) [New data](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20128840.japanese-knotweed-hotspots-across-dorset-revealed/) has revealed the South East London hotspots where [Japanese Knotweed](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20128840.japanese-knotweed-hotspots-across-dorset-revealed/), the UK’s most invasive plant, is running wild.

It can crack tarmac, block drains and undermine foundations, making life difficult for homeowners. Heavy-duty weed killers or excavations are often required to ...

The plant can grow to about two or three metres if left unattended. The leaves will grow bigger and have distinctive ribs and veins. A common issue is that the plant lies dormant in the winter before starting to grow again in the spring. The stems will start to resemble bamboo shoots and you may see small purple specks. In the autumn, the leaves will start to go yellow and wilt as winter approaches. In the summer, the plant grows quicker and can take over parts of the garden.

Following a homebuyer's £200000 Japanese hogweed payout we take a look at where the invasive weed has been found in Manchester.

[Environet](https://www.environetuk.com/exposed-japanese-knotweed-heat-map) interactive map which has a hotspot checker, updated using data collected from around the country. The stems die back to ground level in winter, but the dry canes remain for several months or longer. Japanese Knotweed can be found from spring through to autumn, and should be treated in the summer months. Keeping it contained and treating it quickly are perhaps easier said than done, but there is plenty of help out there. Japanese Knotweed is one of the biggest headaches for gardeners across the UK as it can grow at rapid speeds and take over gardens and buildings. [Following reports of a homebuyer successfully ](/read-this/man-successfully-sues-previous-homeowner-for-ps200000-for-japanese-knotweed-issue-4001590)suing the former owner of the house after discovering large quantities of Japanese hogweed on the property, it could be worth a check to see where the invasive weed has been reported in Greater Manchester.

Japanese knotweed has recently emerged in the news after an accountant was handed a £200000 legal bill after he was found guilty of selling a home riddled ...

The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). Even governments have outlawed the growth of Japanese knotweed on your land and spread it onto other properties. Small clumps of Japanese knotweed are fairly easy to manage and can be removed by home gardeners by digging or spraying with weedkiller. Moreover, the seller was also required to pay legal fees of around £95,000. Other structures susceptible to its growth are water pipes, and cabling as these plants are known to cause environmental and legal implications. They cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.