Empty house.

[01clarkei]

hi. we live in a masonette and our next door neighbour has abandoned his place. the garden is over grown and has become a dumping ground. the front door is only held closed with some cardboard. there is post just in side the door with what looks like bit marks (we think mice), it has been like this for over 5 years. what rights do we have? the son of the bloke that owns it came back over a year ago to tidy it up, he bagged up all the weeds and cut the trees down, but left all the bags on the property. the bags have all ripped and the weeds are back. my biggest concern is what happens if kids set light through the letterbox, we would never know till its too late. also will the building insurance pay out with the place being abandoned with the door open. im very frustrated and worried, council seem usless. thanks for any help u can give me. Ian

[01clarkei]

hi thanks moore890 we have tried this 3 times, how many more times should we call so they will come out and take a look.

[Mr Veritas]

You need to speak to the "Empty Property/Houses Officer" at the Council.
Their department is required to investigate such properties,and get the owner to repair them,and get them put up for sale,or rented.
I am sorry to say that it IS a matter of becoming a nuisance to the Council,before something may get done.
Also(if you have any) try and get your neighbours involved!
The Council tends to listen if a few people are complaining,don't be a voice in the wilderness.

[bushbaby_de]

Environmental Health may get involved if there is a risk of anyone getting into the property or if there are vermin. If the property looks seriously unsightly the planning enforcement team in the planning department might be able to serve an amenity notice (s215 notice) to make the owner tidy the site. Lastly, as already suggested, the Empty Homes Officer can try to get the property back into use. You may want to contact your local councillors to make some noise on your behalf too.

[mandimoo]

good luck with the empty property officer. i reported the house next to me as having been empty for 5 years (its so far gone that it will have to be partially demolished and rebuilt). i did this 6 months ago, and when i chased it up recently it came out in coversation that he has had empty properties on his book for 4 years and they are still not able to take the bull by the horns and sort it out. i just cannot understand why the owner would not just sell it and be rid of it. (i dont know who the owner is, but someone comes round once a year to chop back the weeds when i am out at work so i cant catch them). grrrr.

[AlBags]

Take over it yourself, then, and tidy it up a bit. If no dispute within the legal time period ... it's yours ; )

[buildersmate]

Nice idea. Almost certainly impractical. Would have to run it for over 12 years, assuming it is a freehold maisonette (not leasehold) and unregistered at the LR (unlikely).
What about trying the council tax angle? - how he is NOT managing to pay 50% of the Council Tax assessment on the place (empty unfurbished dwellings are not exempted from paying CT - they pay 50% mostly)? Get in touch with council on that angle - the thought of having to fork out money might jolt the owner into action.