Japanese Knotweed Solutions (and our sister company Invasive Weed Solutions are proud to announce that following the introduction of the INNS Code, covering the provision of services for invasive non-native species, that we are the first code subscribers to be formally approved by the Property Codes Compliance Board.

This represents a quantum leap in the levels of peace of mind and security available to clients purchasing Japanese knotweed remediation and invasive weed services – and, as usual, you should soon see more companies following in our footsteps.

The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) is an independent compliance body, which maintains a register of firms who subscribe to one (or more) of their Codes of Practice. The PCCB independently monitor member firms’ compliance in line with these codes.

What does this mean in practice?

Well, behind the scenes, it means that JKSL’s high standards have been externally audited to make sure that they meet all the requirements of the INNS Code. This will be regularly monitored by the PCCB through further audits and inspections.

It also means that JKSL customers are now protected by the Property Ombudsman Service, which will review any complaints in the event that they cannot be satisfactorily resolved through JKSL’s own stringent complaints procedure.

When you combine this with Japanese Knotweed Solutions’ unmatched experience in the remediation of invasive plant species and our provision of Insurance Backed Guarantees (including IBGs as standard for all residential projects) it is clear to see that the best choice in the invasive species industry is a PCCB-approved INNSA Member with a proven track record of successfully delivering complete eradication for over a decade.

That’s why JKSL continues to grow and expand its workforce and to deliver ever more successful remediation projects, standing tall like a proud oak tree while inexperienced and ineffective competitors spring up around us like weeds.

If you want a company to carry out a five year spray program – even though they’ve only been trading for six months; if you want a “£5 million Collateral Warranty” that will never pay out (ever – because it might as well be written on a napkin for all it’s worth); if you want someone to take your money and disappoint you at every turn (if they ever bother to come back), then there are plenty of places to find them.

If you want a company that is verified by the PCCB, INNSA, BASIS, Amenity Assured, CHAS, SMAS, SafeContractor, ConstructionLine, CDM UK and licensed by the Environment Agency, then our number’s at the top of this page, and we’ll always be willing to help – even if it’s picking up the pieces after you went with the wrong company in the first place.

Chris Oliver, Operations Manager, Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd

Now, for those of you with long-standing relationships with Japanese Knotweed Solutions; for those of you who are familiar with INNSA or for those of you who dabble in English, this probably seems a redundant question, but I am constantly surprised by the confusion that this issue causes.

The simple answer is that an Insurance-Backed Guarantee (or IBG) is a guarantee, which is backed by insurance. The term “insurance-backed warranty” is also used.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Japanese Knotweed Solutions’ invasive plant remediation programs, here’s a quick summary of the terminology that we use:

• Warranty – a period of time where JKSL will regularly come to your property, inspect the site and carry out treatment (normally herbicide application) as required.
• Guarantee – a period of time where JKSL will not regularly inspect the site, but will attend site if there is re-growth – and carry out treatment, as above.

Japanese Knotweed Solutions have offered insurance backing for both our Warranties and Guarantees for over ten years.

Now here is the first significant question: What does the insurance cover?

Put simply, this kind of insurance is in place to cover the eventuality that a company goes into administration, bankruptcy or ceases trading and is unable to fulfil its obligations to its clients. So if you get unexpected re-growth, you call your provider and you find that they don’t exist anymore, then you can claim on your insurance, and pay another company to complete the works.

I am unaware of any policy that will pay you if you get re-growth, or if there is damage to your property due to Japanese knotweed (unless it is caused by the contractor’s incompetence). You’re better off buying a lottery ticket,

Insurance backing must be issued by an external insurer to be reliable, and under UK law, this company must be registered with the FCA (the Financial Conduct Authority). While I am aware of contractors in any number of trades who moonlight as Japanese knotweed “specialists”, I am unaware of any invasive weeds contractor who doubles up as an FCA-approved insurer.

So what you need, in order to have a meaningful IBG, is some form of certification from an external company (who will be registered here).

I have seen more than one company offering “£5 Million Insurance-Backed Guarantees”. The giveaway here is the preposterous sum quoted. When you ask questions of this type of “cover”, you will almost invariably find that the company is telling you that their Professional Indemnity insurance will pay out if you have a problem. If they’re insured, this is the case whether they give you a guarantee or not.

This is only the case where the company has been negligent – and there are many problems with this: firstly, you have to sue the company, and prove in court that the re-growth was due to the contractor’s negligence, which will be a lengthy, expensive and difficult process. Secondly, it is unlikely that the PI policy will cover you for consequential losses – such as loss of value on a property. Thirdly, this cover offers absolutely no recourse whatsoever if the company goes bust, because once the company stops paying the premiums, the insurance ceases to be valid.

Let’s be clear – no matter how many seals, or frills, or gold brocade the certificate has, or how many millions of pounds the “guarantee” claims to be worth, the fact is this: unless it’s backed by an external insurer, it’s worth nothing, and it will not protect you.

Once a company goes bump, there is no more money in the pot to continue the works on your property, or to carry out treatment of any re-growth which occurs after the treatment is complete. Only an external insurer can provide protection against this.

This is why mortgage lenders ask for insurance-backed guarantees. This is why all INNSA members issue IBGs as standard for all residential herbicide treatment projects. This is why JKSL have been issuing these types of products for over ten years (and were the first in our industry to do so).

Japanese Knotweed Solutions herbicide treatment plans have over 99% success rate, based on almost 15 years of data, and a sample size running into the thousands of client sites – so you can be confident that you won’t need to claim on your guarantee – but nevertheless, we offer peace of mind and insurance backing as standard for all residential herbicide treatment projects, and we can offer the same as part of our works package for commercial clients too.

So don’t be misled or confused about what you need – come to us, and we will offer it as standard.

Chris Oliver, Operations Manager, Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd