Knotweed in Clapham or Balham? Post Reply

[tooposhtopush]

Hi
I've heard a lot of the radio recently about Japanese knotweed and how it can cause houses to be unsellable.

A friend reckons a house in Clapham (annoyingly vague as to where) has been infected, not sure if thats the right word.

Has anyone heard anything?

Thanks

[Lovingsleep]

There is some growing near us at the fitzhugh estate sw18. The council are on to it apparently.

[GardenRosie]

There is a lot of it about - I've come across it in two gardens in the last couple of years but I think there is some growing along the banks of the Wandle, so it will always pop up, and it only needs a tiny bit of root material present to spring up again if its been dug out.

It needs to be disposed of very carefully... its controlled waste so you need someone with a licence to deal with it if its being taken away.

There are a few companies around who can help get rid of it, like this one
http://www.japaneseknotweederadication.co.uk/

Good luck!

www.rosienottage.com

[Bubs]

I know of issues with this around Narbonne Ave in Clapham South / Abbeville.

[LKNorthcote]

Our garden was full of it when we bought our house 5 years ago. We live BTC. It was highlighted in the survey when we bought but we were still able to get a mortgage on the proviso that the previous owners pay for its removal. We had a firm come in 3 times a year for 3 years to apply industrial weed killer. (You couldn't see it after the first couple of applications but they keep applying it as roots can grown several metres below the ground). It was actually in 3 of the surrounding gardens too, one of which had a massive bush of it growing which they thought looked good so they wouldn't remove it! Thankfully new owners completely dug out and re landscaped the garden and since then it is nowhere to be seen around us.

[Bovril]

We had it in our garden as well when we bought our home 3 years ago (Nightingale Lane area). We managed to get a mortgage, but had to agree to get professionals in to eradicate it. It seems to have gone now, but neighbouring gardens have it and we are a little concerned about it coming back our way as others seem very uninteresting in tackling the problem sadly.

[J-Dad]

You can get specialists to remove it and they'll provide you with a guarantee or warranty. This will be assignable to anyone who buys your house and your mortgagee can be a registered interest. For a single up front premium they'll come back on an annual basis to make sure it's properly eradicated. Typically the guarantee will last for 10 years.

If you just google Japanese Knotweed specialists you'll find loads of companies who will offer this service.