The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 has been reformed and a community protection notice may now be issued when a person’s conduct is having a harmful effect on the quality of life of those in the area, and the behaviour is unreasonable.

This “behaviour” could include allowing Japanese Knotweed to grow on your property untreated.

You can now be criminally sanctioned and fined up to £2,500 if you are served notice relating to your knotweed, and then ignore its instruction.

You can see that it is important therefore to know the difference between invasive and non-invasive weeds. If you are concerned about suspected Knotweed growing on your property or you would just like some information surrounding the topic please contact the Invasive Weed Agency.

During the conveyancing process at Battrick Clark we can advise on the consequences of purchasing or selling a property with Japanese Knotweed.

This seems the right time to get control of those weeds!

Katherine Muldoon  – Trainee Solicitor