Article Loss Prevention

Japanese Knotweed – Professionals should know the law and their responsibilities

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Photo of Japanese knotweed invading a site recorded during a walkover survey.

Japanese knotweed is a non-native invasive bamboo-like plant that is very strong and grows incredibly quickly. It can cause damage to drains, paths, walls and foundations. Many mortgage lenders will not agree to lend against a property that is located within 7m of the plant.

In the County Court case of Waistell v Network Rail (2017), Network Rail was ordered to pay compensation to two home owners whose properties backed on to Network Rail land which was rife with Japanese knotweed. This case potentially opens the way for claims against owners of land containing Japanese knotweed and to property professionals advising them. The AGS have published Loss Prevention Alert No 67 which reminds Members of the law relating to Japanese knotweed, describes the Waistell case and the reasoning behind the Court’s decision, and discusses the responsibility Members have relating to Japanese knotweed when advising their clients on the purchase of land or on construction activities. AGS Members should also be aware of other invasive species such as giant hogweed which land owners could have a responsibility to control.

The case is significant as it holds landowners to account and imposes a positive duty on them to ensure that any knotweed that is on their property is not preventing neighbouring landowners from being able to sell their property for market value.

Damages can be claimed for costs of removing the Japanese knotweed or an order requiring the defendant to remove it, costs of any remedial works to the claimant’s property and diminution in value of the property.

The full Loss Prevention Alert 67 – Japanese Knotweed – Professionals should know the law and their responsibilities can be downloaded here.

Further information on Japanese knotweed and related issues can be found on the following websites.
Environment Agency (www.environment-agency.gov.uk)
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (www.sepa.org.uk)
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (www.rics.org/standards)
UK Government (www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading)
The Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (www.innsa.org)

This article was contributed by David Hutchinson, Honorary Member of the AGS and featured in the March/April 2018 issue of the AGS Magazine, which can be viewed here.

Report Loss Prevention

Loss Prevention Working Group Report

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Hugh Mallett, Chairman LPWG writes:

The group is drafting articles and guidance on a number of issues that are important to AGS members, see below for the list of our ongoing work programme and soon to be available guidance.

General

The LPWG met once since the November Committee meeting – 22nd Jan 2015. No calls have been made to the Legal or Chemical Helplines since the last LPWG meeting.

A Griffiths & Armour publication on claims “Professional Indemnity Insurance: Lessons to be learnt” is to be made available to AGS members via the new website

LPWG generally agrees with putting some documents behind a paywall on the new AGS website. There is also support for a knowledge hub (e-learning) that could be considered as a future initiative for students.

Loss Prevention Alerts (LPAs) are still in high demand for downloading [20 LPAs downloaded >100 times between Oct and Jan].

New member has joined the  group, Nora Fung – Arup legal.

Recently Published

Newsletter

  1. Elvanite Vs Amec- Limitations of Liability
  2. BGS – Deposition of Data

LPAs

LPA 58 – Risks associated with as built drawings.
LPA 59 – The Consequences of Damage to Underground Services LPA 60 – What is meant by Supervision?

Work in Progress

  • LPAs
  • Summaries for the web site being reviewed and edited for accuracy.
  • Permission is being sought for publication of LPA 09 [Mott MacDonald case] online.
  • Contractors seeking contractual indemnities from their Sub Contractors. Ready for publication

Net Contribution Clauses: Newsletter article prepared. Authorisation to publish being sought from Griffiths & Armour.

Document on Ground Investigation Reporting (GIR/ GDR): Initial redraft prepared by J Strange – subject to further review/ comment. Now held to be consistent with revised BS5930.

Asbestos & deleterious materials: Newsletter article to be prepared [may also pick up discussion at Members Day]. Article on insurance cover re asbestos last published in 2011 to be re-published.

Collateral Warranties: Griffiths & Armour being approached to allow their Collateral Warranties – Basic Guide to be made available to AGS members. If permission is granted a short article highlighting its availability to be prepared for the Newsletter.

Expert Advisor and Expert Witness: Newsletter article being prepared. 1 of 2

Copyright Paper on copyright issues: drafted [advice to Members on copyright and on issues arising from use of reports and drawings in planning process].

PI Insurance for Contaminated Land: NEC3 contract requires insurance terms to be on an each and every claim basis. Aggregate cover only available for contaminated land (and asbestos and radioactivity). A newsletter article is being drafted.

Guide to report writing: Newsletter article drafted to advertise the guidance to AGS Members. The Guide itself was up-dated, but never published. Up-dated version to be retrieved, put on the web site and publicised in Newsletter.

Limitation period and defects liability: Article being drafted

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Rights: issues for Staff on Secondment Loss Prevention Guidance drafted to address some of the issues arising from secondment of staff.

Signing contracts under duress: Newsletter article being prepared.

Client Guide: What Institutions, Trade Associations or other organisations might a Client expect a Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Company and their employees to belong to? Paper in preparation.

Piling Damage to Live Railway Tunnel. Paper in preparation.