In the Welsh town of Bettws, a three-bedroom classical house recently listed for 250,000 British pounds (approximately 7.8 billion VND). With its idyllic valley views, the price seemed like a bargain. However, most potential buyers immediately withdrew their offers upon learning that the property was surrounded by Japanese knotweed.
Japanese knotweed is a resilient invasive plant. Its roots can penetrate deep into the soil, destroying building foundations, water pipes, and even growing through concrete. In the UK, the presence of this plant is considered a fatal blow to property value.
Neil Williams, a Bettws resident for 40 years, expressed his deep concern. His home sits next to a vacant lot where Japanese knotweed has grown into a dense thicket, neglected by the landowner. To protect his property, Neil has had to dig trenches along his land boundary, filling them with charred root fragments.
"That field is not just full of weeds; it has become an illegal dump, attracting rodents directly into my house", Neil recounted.
Neil had previously valued his home at around 340,000 British pounds. However, real estate agents warned that in a few years, the property could become worthless. "They told me outright that I might not be able to sell my house even if I wanted to. We are surrounded", he stated.
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The house is for sale but is surrounded by Japanese knotweed. Photo: Dailymail |
The house is for sale but is surrounded by Japanese knotweed. Photo: Dailymail
A sense of despair hangs over The Oddfellow Arms pub in town. Melanie, the owner, recalled how Perry, the former owner of the house currently for sale, would often stop by to drown his sorrows after futile daily battles with the knotweed behind his home.
Residents' fears are well-founded. A check on the invasive plant tracking tool Environet returned a stark red warning: the area is completely engulfed by Japanese knotweed.
An anonymous neighbor shared that they had to spend thousands of British pounds to excavate their entire garden and re-lay the foundation before daring to list their house for sale. "The problem is that no one knows how far the roots have spread underground. By the time you realize it, the damage has already occurred", the neighbor explained.
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Neil Williams lives right next to a large area of this plant, which he says a local landowner has left to grow wild. Photo: Dailymail |
Neil Williams lives right next to a large area of this plant, which he says a local landowner has left to grow wild. Photo: Dailymail
According to Emily Grant, Director at Environet, the fight against this plant is challenging. Local laws dictate that residents can do little if the weed grows on a neighbor's land until it actually spreads and damages their property.
Grant advises residents to find landowner information to request treatment. In the interim, the only available measures are to hire specialists to apply professional herbicides or install underground root barriers. However, even after treatment, property values will still be significantly impacted due to buyer apprehension.
Bao Nhien (According to Daily Mail)
