A pensioner has won almost £10,000 in damages after a ‘monster’ Japanese Knotweed infestation ravaged his house.
Richard Pember purchased the property in Hopkinstown, Pontypridd, eleven years ago but now worries it could be worth a fraction of what he paid after the invasive plant caused havoc on the land.
The infestation which is thought to have spread from a railway line behind the house, was first noticed by Richard in 2016 as it started encroaching on his garden. It soon turned into a nightmare scenario for the 74-year-old as the plant grew over 20 feet by 2020.
Records heard in court indicated that Transport for Wales, the railway board responsible for the land where the infestation originated, failed to adequately treat the growth which led to the eventual intrusion onto Richard’s property. He said:
“It started off so small that I didn’t think anything of it. Then it just grew from nowhere to a point where it was almost coming inside the property. You hear stories about this stuff completely taking over homes and I was terrified that might happen to mine.
It has massively devalued the house in my opinion because nobody wants to move into a property that has a Japanese knotweed infestation. It’s like living with a monster that always comes back.”
The victory came on May 25th at Pontypridd County Court after Richard enlisted the help of Liverpool based Angelus Law to fight his case.
The judge granted damages to be paid by Transport for Wales and the pensioner expressed gratitude toward Angelus Law for their legal support, emphasizing that the outcome might not have been possible without the firm.
Richard, who currently lives in Trehafod, Rhondda Valley while his son rents the troubled Hopkinstown property, acknowledged the ongoing challenge of dealing with the infestation, which he referred to as a “never-ending monster.” He also expressed concerns about the plant’s potential to resurge despite his efforts and financial investments in treatments that will cost him around £800 each. He added:
“Transport for Wales knew about the Japanese Knotweed for a long time, and they should have carried on treating it, but now it is taking over the entire area.
When it began coming closer to the house, I was worried because I thought it was definitely coming inside. My son has since had the garden renovated, but it has already started coming back and it might not go away for years.
The Japanese Knotweed has left destruction in its path to the point where a graveyard local to the property is completely covered in it. You can’t even see the gravestones anymore which is really sad.”
Richard couldn’t make it to court on the day of the judgement and had to listen remotely via a link. He said:
“Just before the decision was given, my device stopped working, so I didn’t actually know we won until Angelus Law called me afterwards to let me know.
I want to thank Angelus Law for winning the case, something I wouldn’t have been able to do on my own.
My message to others who might have a similar Japanese Knotweed infestation is, get it sorted quickly otherwise you’ll pay the price. Also, if you’re about to buy a house, make sure it’s not there to begin with.”
Despite the legal victory, Richard’s property remains at risk, and the ongoing struggle with Japanese Knotweed could carry on for years. Tom Hardwick, Director at Angelus Law, commented:
“We are delighted with the successful outcome of Mr Pember’s case.
The victory showcases the importance of holding responsible parties accountable for their obligations to prevent the spread of such destructive plants. The damages awarded not only reflect the tangible losses suffered by homeowners like our client but also send a strong message about the necessity of proactive measures in tackling invasive species.
As advocates for justice, we stand by Mr. Pember’s side in encouraging others facing similar challenges to take action and protect their properties from the relentless encroachment of Japanese Knotweed and other invasive threats.”
