Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026

At Knotweed Doctor, we take privacy seriously. Whether you contact us for advice, arrange a survey, request a management plan, or use our website, we only collect the information we need to respond properly and deliver our services professionally.

This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, how long we keep it, and the choices available to you.

What Information We Collect

We may collect personal and property-related information when you contact us, complete a form, instruct us to carry out work, or browse our website.

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information so that we can run the business properly, respond helpfully, and deliver the services you have asked us to provide, including documentation used for property sales, mortgage lenders, and guarantees.

Why We Are Allowed to Use It

Data protection law requires us to have a valid reason for using your information. Depending on the situation, we may rely on one or more of the following:

• Contract — where we need your information to provide a survey, treatment programme, management plan, report, or related service
• Legitimate interests — where we need it to operate our business effectively and fairly
• Legal obligation — where we must keep certain records or comply with legal requirements
• Consent — where you have agreed, such as for certain cookies or optional marketing activity

Who We May Share Information With

We do not sell your data. We only share information where it is genuinely needed for the work, administration, or legal operation of the business.

• Surveyors, contractors, or specialists involved in your instruction
• Insurers or guarantee-related providers where relevant
• Professional advisers such as accountants, solicitors, or compliance advisers
• Technology providers that help us run the website, email, document systems, or business operations
• Authorities or third parties where we are legally required to do so

Where third parties process information on our behalf, we expect them to handle it securely and appropriately.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep information only for as long as it is reasonably needed. In practice, this can vary depending on the type of enquiry, service, or property record involved.

Because Japanese knotweed cases can involve treatment histories, monitoring periods, completion documentation, guarantees, lender enquiries, property sales, and later follow-up questions, some records may be retained for a number of years where there is a legitimate business or legal reason to do so.

Where appropriate, records may be kept for periods that align with management plans, monitoring requirements, guarantee documentation, insurance expectations, and normal legal or accounting requirements.

Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to help the site function properly, understand general usage, and improve performance.

Some cookies are essential. Others, such as analytics cookies, help us understand how visitors use the site so we can improve the information and user experience over time.

You can usually control cookies through your browser settings and, where applicable, through any cookie banner shown on the website.

Keeping Your Information Secure

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, or disclosure. No website or system can ever be guaranteed completely secure, but we handle personal information responsibly and take appropriate steps to keep it secure.

Your Rights

You may have the right to ask us to:

• confirm whether we hold your personal data
• provide access to it
• correct inaccurate information
• delete information where there is no valid reason for us to keep it
• restrict or object to certain types of processing
• provide information in a portable format where applicable

If you would like to make a request, please contact us using the details above and we will respond as required.

Complaints

We hope to resolve any privacy concerns directly and fairly. If you have a concern about how your information has been handled, please contact us first.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been used improperly.

Visit the ICO website

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the website, our services, or legal requirements. Any updates will be published on this page with the latest revision date shown at the top.