As the mercury rises in the spring, so too do the chances of Japanese knotweed growing.
The invasive weed is a fast-growing and strong perennial with tall, dense stems. Although the plant dies back to ground level in winter, by early summer, the bamboo-like stems shoot up to over 7ft.
We worked with pensioner Mary Jones, from Preston, after she discovered the plant growing through fencing in her garden.
She was awarded £27,000 in compensation from her local council, which owned the land where the weed was growing.
One of our directors, Paul Hampson, who specialises in Japanese knotweed claims, spoke to The Times about Japanese knotweed and how it can affect homeowners.
He said: “One of the main things to establish is also where the weed is coming from. We work with a large number of homeowners who have found that their infestation has encroached on to their property from a nearby public space, and are therefore eligible to claim against the landowner to help pay for its removal.
“We’re also seeing a rise in the number of people buying properties and finding they are entitled to a claim, as the vendors and/or surveyors have failed to declare the presence of Japanese knotweed.”
Note, Ms Jones’ name has been changed to protect her identity.
For the full article, visit: TheTimes.co.uk
