“I would not have bought the property”

A first home buyer in Wales found himself in a difficult position when he claimed the seller lied to him about the presence of an invasive species on the property.

The person detailed their experience on r/LegalAdviceUK a few years ago, noting that a neighbor had pointed out to them that Japanese knotweed was growing along the side of the house.

“I checked and can see the remains of Japanese knotweed; it has been discontinued,” they wrote.
“I checked with a local knotweed specialist who confirmed that it was indeed Japanese knotweed and that he had been seeing it there for several years (he lives locally).

“I feel like the previous owner misled me by hiding the Japanese knotweed and lied on the TA6 in order to secure the sale. I would not have purchased the property if I had known about the Japanese knotweed and would have ordered a more in-depth study if the previous owner had checked “Not sure” on the TA6 form.

“…I now feel like I bought a worthless property that I won’t be able to sell if needed.”

The buyer admitted in a comment that he was worried about worst-case scenarios — which is understandable given that the biggest purchase of his life was on the table. Although the position was not enviable, it seemed simple and cut and dry. As commenters pointed out, the buyer was likely in a winning position.

“My brother bought a house a few years ago and the same thing happened to him,” someone wrote. “The seller claimed there was no Japanese knotweed when there was. After finding out my brother was able to sue the seller and won, the seller continues to pay for the treatment regular knotweed.”

Another Reddit user said they solved their knotweed problem with biweekly treatment over two years. It didn’t cost much and didn’t cost them their lives.

Determination is the main ingredient for successful eradication, but there is legislation in the UK to help contain this fast-growing perennial, according to the Royal Horticultural Society. No fewer than three laws are in force, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which prohibits “growing Japanese knotweed in the wild”.

Like other invasive species, it outcompetes natives for access to resources. Knotweed grows from rhizomes and has bamboo-like stems that exceed 2.1 meters (7 feet).

It is important to target spring regrowth and the plant should be disposed of via an authorized landfill – and certainly not with household waste. The release on site begins by letting the knotweed dry and then burning it.

A TikTok user shared a dip recipe made from invasive species leaves, highlighting the innovative ways people are protecting ecosystems from harmful intruders. A similar method is to use lionfish to make handbags and other accessories.

If we all play a role in protecting the environment by taking steps as small as promoting native species in place of invasive species, we can help ensure a more sustainable future.

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