Agents invited to Japanese Knotweed webinar as legal claims rise

Legal claims over Japanese knotweed are on the rise, agents are being warned.

Invasive plant consultancy Environet UK estimates that around 900,000 homes in the UK are affected by Japanese knotweed and it has warned that it has seen a rise in legal claims against estate agents, conveyancers and surveyors relating to misrepresentations and enroachments.

To help, Environet UK is hosting a webinar on 21October 2022 at 10am aimed at property professionals to provide the latest insight into Japanese knotweed and its impact on the sale or purchase of residential property.

The hour-long webinar, which will be repeated on 14 February 2023, will cover common issues arising from the presence of Japanese knotweed when buying or selling property and how to deal with them - plus important clarification on recently revised RICS Guidance.

In January this year, RICS published a new Guidance Note, Japanese Knotweed: Guidance for Professional Valuers and Surveyors. 

The new guidance scrapped the “seven metre rule” in favour of a more nuanced approach and placed an increased focus on control methods of treating knotweed such as herbicide treatments. 

This webinar will help property professionals apply the guidance to everyday situations, avoid common pitfalls and keep property transactions on track, Environet UK said.

It will be led by Environet director Mat Day, who is regularly called upon as an expert witness in legal cases relating to knotweed misrepresentation, negligence and encroachment. 

There will also be a Q&A session answering participants’ specific questions, with every registered attendee receiving a full delegate pack along with a copy of Japanese Knotweed: Unearthing the Truth, written by Environet founder Nic Seal.

Day said: “This webinar offers the opportunity for property professionals to get to grips with the latest guidance and best practice relating to Japanese knotweed, a problem which we estimate affects around 900,000 homes in the UK. 

“With legal claims relating to misrepresentation and encroachment on the rise, it’s more important than ever that estate agents, surveyors and conveyancers are armed with the facts and are clear on their role in protecting the interests of their customers.”

To sign up, at a fee of £49 plus VAT, visit: https://www.environetuk.com/webinars-seminars