How to rescue a house

spendaholic

Okay, I'll start with an apology in case this is the wrong area of the forum, and I'll continue with another apology in case there's a duplicate somewhere. I did do a quick search of the titles and just got something about rescuing a dog, so I do apologise if it's already here somewhere ...

We live in a terrace of 8 houses and the one in the middle has been empty for about 23 - 24 years. We did a land registry search 2 years ago and had our money sent back because no-one was registered as the owner. As far as we know, the owner died leaving just one descendant who happened to be in an institute or hospital for the mentally ill, but we don't know where or if he's still there (we think it's a he).

The house is starting to show signs of decay and dereliction. The front windows are breaking, there's a big hole in the front door instead of a letterbox, the postal workers seem to be unaware that they are delivering junk mail to an obviously empty house and the post is piling up, you can get a hand through the "letterbox", the boundary fence at the back is non-existent, there's a 1970s extension which may or may not have an asbestos roof, there may be holes in the roof, the electrics are out of date, people are using the coal bunkers to dump garden waste, and so on and so forth.

We got onto land registry because we were going to try and buy it, do it up, and sell it. But as it's a house with no owner, we can't do that.

The council say they can't do anything until the house is actually vandalised. Public health say they can't do anything unless there are vermin or there's unnecessary waste being dumped on the property. Basically we have to wait until someone is hurt or the house starts to fall down pulling those on either side with it.

Does anyone have any more ideas of what we can do?

I feel like moving in and claiming ownership! Bet they'd find the owner then.

CouponWoman

All local authoritis now have an empty property officer. This officer is required to bring as many empty properties back into use, either by forcing the owner to repair it or I think even buying the property.

Phone the council and ask to speak to this person and see if they can help.

Good luck

spendaholic

CouponWoman wrote: »

All local authoritis now have an empty property officer. This officer is required to bring as many empty properties back into use, either by forcing the owner to repair it or I think even buying the property.

Phone the council and ask to speak to this person and see if they can help.

Good luck

Thank you.

The council bounced me from pillar to post. Finally I found someone sympathetic as well as interested and who saw my point from a safety point of view. She's going to speak to someone in the morning. She's pretty sure they don't have a department/officer for this, but the man she wants to speak to in the morning is the man who can, apparently. I'll ask about an empty property officer as well - wasn't sure of the correct terminoligy.

spendaholic

Our local council had no idea about any empty property officer, but they are aware that they should do something about it. They've located the last owner's next of kin, a nephew with learning difficulties. So they're still looking into it and will hopefully make some progress.

Shame really, I had a waiting list of potential squatters ...

keystone

spendaholic wrote: »

The council say they can't do anything until the house is actually vandalised.

So vandalise it.

Public health say they can't do anything unless there are vermin or there's unnecessary waste being dumped on the property.

So dump some waste on the property.

Does anyone have any more ideas of what we can do?

See above.

Cheers

spendaholic

keystone wrote: »

So vandalise it.

Ha ha ha - I thought of throwing a brick through the window but with my luck I'd get caught and prosecuted.

We'll see what they come up with, I think ... someone is already dumping garden waste in their coal bunkers, but my cats are keeping the vermin down.

wallbash

a nephew with learning difficulties

Thats going to complicate matters. If there was no one to inherit , the problem has certain legal precedents.
But now the welfare of the nephew has to be safe guarded.I will now think that nothing is going to happen quickly.

spendaholic

wallbash wrote: »

Thats going to complicate matters. If there was no one to inherit , the problem has certain legal precedents.
But now the welfare of the nephew has to be safe guarded.I will now think that nothing is going to happen quickly.

We suspected that this was the case, but the house has been empty for 23 - 24 years and no-one is registered at land registry. I think the council may see about buying the property from the nephew, and now they have an "owner" it may actually be quicker than if they didn't.

We shall see ...