Body plans knotweed risk guidance

The invasive Japanese knotweed plant, feared for its potentially devastating effects on homes and gardens, is not necessarily a "life sentence" for a property, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has said.

The professional body is proposing risk assessment guidelines on how the weed's presence can be taken into account when assessing the value of a house, which could limit the number of sales falling through.