Japanese knotweed
If you have japanese knotweed in your home, your landlord must put it right. The law that covers this is Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 + Environmental Protection Act 1990. Your landlord must put it right within a reasonable time. How much you could claim depends on how long it lasted, how serious it was, and any effect on your health. Most cases take 20 to 52 weeks. There is no upfront cost.
Symptoms
- Bamboo-like green shoots in spring (April to June)
- Reddish-purple stems with zig-zag pattern
- Heart-shaped leaves up to 14cm long
- Growth pushing through paving, tarmac, or foundations
- Cream-white flowers in late summer
Health impact
- Reduces property value by 5% to 15%
- Can void mortgages and insurance
- Stress of long, expensive eradication process
Evidence to gather
- Photograph the plant from multiple angles + the source (boundary, fence line)
- Get a PCA-qualified surveyor identification, costs ~£150, recoverable
- Note how close it is to your home, garden, or shared boundaries
Frequently asked questions
How much money can I claim for japanese knotweed?
How much you could get depends on how bad it is, how long it went on, and how it affected your health, so we cannot promise a figure. The fee only comes out of your compensation if you win, never out of your own pocket.
How long does a japanese knotweed claim take?
Most japanese knotweed claims take 20 to 52 weeks. Once you report the problem, your landlord must put it right within a reasonable time.
What proof do I need for japanese knotweed?
Photos and videos with the date on them. A note of when you told your landlord and what they said. A letter from your doctor if anyone has been ill.
Can I claim if I owe rent?
Yes. Owing rent does not stop you making a disrepair claim. They are separate things in law. We will talk through your situation honestly.
Read more about japanese knotweed
This is worth a claim
Tenants are owed real money when a landlord leaves problems like japanese knotweed unfixed. This is what landlords were made to pay across England in one recent year, and it is what we help you claim.
- £5.4m
- compensation ordered for tenants in one year
- 26,901
- orders made to put things right
- 40%
- of it for damp, mould and leaks
- £32,000
- the largest single award
Figures from the independent statutory review, Annual Complaints Review 2024 to 2025. These are sector-wide outcomes for social housing tenants in England.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.