Japanese Knotweed may affect your eligibility for equity release.

Consider this next time you landscape or purchase a home!

The problem is that this plant grows in many private gardens, which means many homeowners have Japanese knotweed growing on their property.

Some people may think that owning Japanese knotweed does not matter because they are not doing anything wrong by having it in their garden, but what does this mean for their eligibility with equity release?

Therefore...

Japanese Knotweed Explained

Japanese knotweed is a herbaceous perennial plant¹ that originated in East Asia.

It can grow up to twelve feet tall with an underground rhizome system that enables the plant to regenerate after being cut back, dug up, or burnt off.

This overgrowth occurs most often next to houses or buildings in Japan due to their proximity to water.

The invasive² weed spreads quickly and has been found all around Europe, where it grows on roadsides, riverbanks, near watercourses, and on waste grounds.

The weed thrives particularly well in temperate climates, including the United Kingdom and other countries like France, Belgium, and Ireland.

The weed is known to cause problems for homeowners looking into equity release options because it can have a negative effect on the equity release qualification criteria.

This is because the root system of this plant may penetrate through foundations and weaken brickwork or concrete walls, affecting structural stability.

This means that if a homeowner has Japanese knotweed on their property, they could be less eligible for equity release due to its negative effects on the property's condition.

Where Is Japanese Knotweed Found in the UK?

In the UK, Japanese knotweed is found particularly in the South West of England in Cornwall and Devon, and in Wales around Swansea and Cardiff.

Wales' hotspots are mostly located in the Cardiff area and in Swansea and Aberystwyth, and in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Powys counties.

Knotweed can also be found in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee in Scotland, though these areas seem to be more sporadically affected.

What Does Japanese Knotweed Look Like?

Japanese knotweed is a herbaceous plant³ with heart-shaped green leaves and white flowers in the early summer months.

A key identifying feature of this invasive weed is its hollow, bamboo-like stems that can grow up to 12 feet tall and have been known to reach heights of 30 feet or more when left unchecked.

The flower heads on Japanese knotweed plants are small spiky clusters that start as light purple before turning into pink, then deep red towards autumn time.

At the same time, the stalk remains erect throughout winter until it dies back again around April or May.

It is worth noting that many different species have varying characteristics, including those that produce large black fruit from their stalks and others that contain wiry hairs.

How Can I Get Rid of Japanese Knotweed?

You can get rid of Japanese knotweed by cutting the root system and removing any visible plants.

Burning, digging up, or using chemicals are also effective methods to do this, but be aware that these options may affect nearby property if not done with care.

You should never dispose of weed-infested soil in a compost heap.

This is because it will simply spread further into your garden while contaminating other growing plants, among them vegetables, fruit trees, and flowers.

Therefore, make sure that weeds are removed completely before spreading them on the ground again.

If you want to get rid of this weed completely, then a good option is to use herbicides⁴ such as glyphosate, Gordon, and picloram.

These can all be purchased from garden centres in liquid form or paint-on cakes that should last up to 12 months.

Alternatively, if your are looking for methods without chemicals, you can try an organic approach by using vinegar soaks (a bucket / sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar) or clove oil infusions.

Still, these options will only kill off new growth and not target deep roots as other chemical-based solutions do.

You could also opt for manual removal.

You will need to dig out small plants near your property's foundation before extracting bigger ones with a fork and then applying a herbicide to the root system for extra protection.

What Problems Does Japanese Knotweed Cause?

Japanese knotweed is a major problem for homeowners in the UK.

It affects residential and commercial properties, damaging foundations, ruining lawns and gardens, and disrupting water supplies (it can interfere with drainage).

It does this by getting into buildings via drains or cracks in external walls using it's fast-growing underground shoots, and blocking gutters.

The weed thrives on disturbed soils, so it tends to grow along roadsides where there have been construction works.

This includes widening schemes or other landscaping projects that disturb ground levels.

In Scotland, Japanese knotweed has also appeared at sites where coal was previously mined.

The plant's giant rhizomes are very difficult to control as they produce more weed year on year.

Even if it is cut off from the main plant, the rhizome may continue to grow.

Cutting away as much of the weed as possible is a prudent step, but there are no guaranteed methods for eradicating it.

How Can You Tell If Your House Is Affected?

If you live near an area where construction has been carried out recently, then the chances are that Japanese knotweed could be present.

It is also possible to identify the weed by sight.

It has a distinctive, bamboo-like appearance and can grow up to four meters high if given the space (although, in most cases, it will only reach one metre).

Often an infestation of Japanese knotweed goes unnoticed until there is significant damage.

For example, lawns become bald or plants die off without obvious cause.

You may encounter small patches where weeds have appeared on your property, but you will not know whether this weed caused these at first glance.

The plant prefers damp conditions, so it is often found near water features such as patios and ponds, drains, or low ground alongside rivers.

If you see some signs of this weed, it is worth contacting a specialist landscaping company to confirm whether or not you have an infestation.

Containment measures involve wearing protective clothing, spraying the weed with glyphosate, and digging up as much of the plant as possible (remembering that there will be multiple rhizomes).

The process can take months or even years, so homeowners need to act quickly to avoid expensive repairs and restoration work in the future.

Which Equity Release Lenders Accept Japanese Knotweed?

In the past, most equity release lenders have been willing to offer mortgages that cover Japanese knotweed-affected homes.

However, some now refuse to do so because they are concerned about the weed's ability to grow up walls and through gutters.

In a worst-case scenario, it could enter into the house via these routes or interfere with drainage pipes, causing serious structural damage over time.

It is estimated that approximately 41% of equity release providers will not normally extend mortgage loans⁵ for properties affected by this invasive plant.

However, there is no definitive list available at present.

Rather, each company has it's terms and conditions when considering applications.

Common Questions

In Conclusion

If you are considering equity release, be aware of the guidelines when it comes to Japanese knotweed.

To protect yourself from any unwanted surprises, make sure to consult with experts on how the Japanese Knotweed may affect your eligibility for equity release before making any decisions.