Introduction (by Andrew McColl):
Back in March, we highlighted the rising threat of Bamboo in our newsletter ("Is Bamboo the New Knotweed?"). At the time, we announced a fantastic partnership with Environet, the UK's leading invasive plant experts.
Before we dive into their latest update, I want to remind you of the priceless benefit this partnership offers you as an RPSA member. If you are ever on-site and unsure about a suspicious plant, you don't need to guess. You can snap a photo and email it to RPSA@environetuk.com for free identification from their specialists. It’s a brilliant tool to have in your back pocket to save time and reduce risk.
However, as we know, the landscape of surveying is becoming increasingly data-driven. With the changes to TA6 forms making "Not Known" a common response regarding Knotweed, the burden of investigation is shifting firmly onto the buyer—and by extension, us.
Environet has just launched a new desktop-based solution to help tackle this. It’s a forward-thinking approach using live heatmaps to assess risk before you even step foot on the property.
Here is the latest update from the team at Environet on how this new data tool works.
Also, please check the wealth of information and the blogs on their website. Click Here
New desktop report instantly assesses knotweed risk.
Determining whether a property is at risk from Japanese knotweed has never been straightforward. But the challenge facing homebuyers has intensified since 2020 when The Law Society updated the TA6 form guidance, effectively discouraging sellers from answering “No” to the knotweed question unless they are certain no rhizome is present underground or within 3m of the boundary - even if there are no visible signs above ground.
In practical terms, the resulting rise in “Not known” responses has left many buyers in the dark and effectively shifted the investigative burden from sellers to buyers.
Powered by data
Now, for the first time, surveyors can get an instant, evidence-based desktop report assessing the risk to any given property, before committing to a physical on-site Japanese knotweed survey.
The KnotSure™ Report, launched in 2025 by invasive plant specialists Environet, evaluates the likelihood of knotweed being present and enables solicitors and surveyors to make confident, early decisions about knotweed risk during a transaction.
Powered by Environet’s live knotweed heatmap, which currently holds over 100,000 known incidences of the plant across the country, it provides a risk rating ranging from High to Medium to Low, including the number of known incidences with 2.5 miles of the address and a regional ranking. It also provides a value impact assessment, indicating how an unmanaged knotweed infestation could impact the property’s value and how that could be mitigated by herbicide treatment or ‘gold standard’ excavation.
Practical tools for surveyors
With surveyors on the front line when it comes to assessing property condition and any issues that could impact value, a KnotSure™ report offers a quick, cost-effective and reliable way to flag a high-risk property early on. Costing just £30+VAT, it also provides recommendations for next steps if needed, such as instructing an on-site knotweed survey or considering indemnity insurance.
If further investigation is recommended, a JustCheck™ survey is the next step. An expert surveyor will check the property for any sign of knotweed, including within 3m of the boundary - and if no knotweed is found, a 5-year £20,000 warranty is provided in the unlikely event it should later appear.
For more information about these tools, or to discuss cost-effective bulk purchase agreements for surveying firms, visit Environet or call 01932 868 700.
