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Property Deceased owner – A mess.

mrbg07546
mrbg07546 Posts: 290 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi, A few doors down there is a property where the owner passed away in 1992. The property is not maintained and lived in, hence it is a mess(has broken windows, moss growing and even Rats).
The concern is it is also ruining the street and potentially affecting our property value.
We have informed the council – What are the measures they would take here? Clean it up and send a bill?
Also I myself would want to buy the property if council decide to sell it off(as its deceased?) any rules on this?
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Comments

  • kwmlondon
    kwmlondon Posts: 1,734 Forumite
    Is the owner still in there?
  • bebewoo
    bebewoo Posts: 622 Forumite
    kwmlondon wrote: »
    Is the owner still in there?

    Dead since 1992 and still there? Yuk!
  • pimento
    pimento Posts: 6,243 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    mrbg07546 wrote: »
    Hi, A few doors down there is a property where the owner passed away in 1992. The property is not maintained and lived in, hence it is a mess(has broken windows, moss growing and even Rats).
    The concern is it is also ruining the street and potentially affecting our property value.
    We have informed the council – What are the measures they would take here? Clean it up and send a bill?
    Also I myself would want to buy the property if council decide to sell it off(as its deceased?) any rules on this?


    It's none of your business what the house looks like or how it's kept.
    "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair
  • highguyuk
    highguyuk Posts: 2,763 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    mrbg07546 wrote: »
    Also I myself would want to buy the property if council decide to sell it off(as its deceased?) any rules on this?

    Why would the council be selling off the property, they do not own it?
  • kwmlondon
    kwmlondon Posts: 1,734 Forumite
    pimento wrote: »
    It's none of your business what the house looks like or how it's kept.

    Yes, it is - it's a public hazard, apart from anything else.
  • pimento
    pimento Posts: 6,243 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 24 April 2013 at 1:28PM
    kwmlondon wrote: »
    Yes, it is - it's a public hazard, apart from anything else.


    No, it really isn't. The OP says the council have been informed. This is where he should wind his neck back in.
    "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair
  • Raksha
    Raksha Posts: 4,569 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If it's part of an estate that's ended up intestate (look up Bonna Vacantia if you know the late owners name) then you can flag it up to a 'heir hunting' firm who will try and trace the family of the deceased.
    Please forgive me if my comments seem abrupt or my questions have obvious answers, I have a mental health condition which affects my ability to see things as others might.
  • martinsurrey
    martinsurrey Posts: 3,368 Forumite
    http://www.lgo.org.uk/publications/fact-sheets/complaints-about-derelict-properties/

    if a property is derelict the council has many tools to force it back into use.

    Including a forced purchase order.

    You and every neighbour should complain to the council and they will start an investigation, keep complaining every month if nothing happens.

    Read the above link to see what happens if they do nothing.
  • pimento
    pimento Posts: 6,243 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    They won't act on the basis that is affecting the neighbours house value.
    "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair
  • martinsurrey
    martinsurrey Posts: 3,368 Forumite
    mrbg07546 wrote: »
    ... and even Rats).
    pimento wrote: »
    They won't act on the basis that is affecting the neighbours house value.

    They will act if the property is a health hazard, and rats are a health hazard, and moss growth in the joints and mortar will make it structurally unsafe and therefore a safety risk.
This discussion has been closed.
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