Selling property, issues with neighbour

Jst1990

Hopefully this is right place to post this but was hoping for some advice regarding issues with a Neighbour.

I live a semi-detached property currently, which adjoins to the neighbour in question. When I bought the property I noticed the garden was quite overgrown and questioned the agent who informed me that it was a relatively old individual who couldn't look after it much.

Anyway, fast forward 4-5 years and I am looking to move house. The garden, and the property itself, has fallen into further disrepair with the garden becoming completely overgrown with some trees growing over 10m high and the rest of the garden consumed with brambles and bushes. I have also noticed boxes, sheets, and cardboard piled up against the windows of the property. I barely even see the gentleman living there, and on the rare occasion I have gone around to knock on the door I haven't had an answer.

Having looked the property up on the land registry, I can actually see it's owned by a city council, however it's not owned by the council responsible for this location. It's owned by the neighbouring council.

I have called both councils repeatedly but have been passed around between departments without any resolution. Around 9-12 months ago, a skip was delivered to the front garden of the property and this still remains today, empty. It is now becoming consumed by the overgrown front garden. The council did once inform me that they had delivered the skip with a view to tidying up the property but clearly this has never happened.

My question is: Is there anything I can do about this? I previously marketed my property and received several instances of feedback from potential buyers who were put off by the adjoining property or who submitted a lower offer because of it. It feels wrong that I should suffer financially because of this, especially if it is a property owned by the council? I'm surprised that the local authorities would let one of their properties fall into such a state. I have no idea what it is like inside however I never see the individual take our their bins, and the windows suggest no cleaning takes place.

I have also reported my concerns to adult social care as I'm not sure the individual is safe living like this, especially alone in a 3 bedroom house with a substantial garden that he is clearly finding it too difficult to maintain. I haven't seen ay response as a result of this though.

motherofstudents

Have you contacted your local councillor ? They can sometimes help to push things along. Especially now just before the local elections. It sounds like your neighbour does need help.

Jst1990

Thank you for your response.

Recently I wrote to my local councillor and the local MP. I received a letter back from the MP (quite promptly actually as I suppose he would also be concerned for welfare). He had written to the CEO of the council owning the property and the director of adult social care in the local council. I haven't seen any tangible action from this though. I wonder if it's "fallen between the cracks" historically due to the discrepancy between the council owning the property and the council responsible for the local area.

I'm hoping they do take some action but I'm not sure what else I can do to move things along.

pmlindyloo

A council does have powers in these circumstances.

Read this:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11491/319798.pdf

However, the council does not have to go down this route.

It is possible that the council has tried to do something but the occupant has ignored it.

You seem to have tried to do all you can officially.

Since you are unable to speak to the occupant could you write a friendly note offering to clear the garden/remove any rubbish? (Would be a lot cheaper than what you are likely to have to knock off the price of your property?)

Does the occupant ever have any visitors/family/friends who you could speak to?

Have you spoken to the neighbours to see if they know any more about the occupant and their circumstances?

Very difficult because without the occupants permission to enter the garden you are personally 'stuffed'.

I can only suggest that you keep contacting the council and asking them to send someone to clear the garden. perhaps some neighbours could add their 'voice' and signature to the request.

I suspect that you have been telephoning the council. You may get a better response if you are more formal and write a letter.

Sirrah67

To be honest, my first thought would be whether something has happened to the occupant. When was he last seen? Does anybody ever go into the house?

Jst1990

Thanks all.

I can hear some radio/tv noise so the occupant is still moving around. I have in the past seen someone go into the house but not for a long time. When I spoke to the council on the telephone a number of weeks ago they did say they had historically sent someone to check on him but not for a "number of months". I'm not aware of him having any family/friends.

I could go and check with neighbours the other side of him further down the road. A number of the fence panels between his garden and theirs have fallen down over the years so I'm surprised they haven't taken more action.

Thank you for the link to council powers. That document specifically references these powers being used to tackle overgrown gardens and run down property, so there is precedent for this I suppose it's up to the council if they wish to enforce. I would think that, as they own the property, they would have an interest in ensuring it doesn't fall into a complete state of disrepair. The case studies in the appendix are useful. It's worth noting however that the state of the garden is significantly worse than anything in those images though.

In those instances it seems the local authority issued the notice to a private landowner. In this case, the council would effectively be issuing the notice to itself? I wonder if it's worth me referencing these powers in my next conversation with the local authority? It seems to suggest in that document that it shouldn't take an unreasonable amount of time from the point of identification of an issue to the point of land clearance. It's been around a year since the skip was delivered to the front garden so that seems excessive. The council could recoup costs from a private landowner however I suspect may have to pay costs themselves in this case. I wonder if that has contributed to the delay / lack of appetite.

It doesn't sound like there is any legal right I have for this to be remedied even if I can demonstrate it is causing me financial loss?

I should say that I don't want this to sound heartless as I am also concerned for the wellbeing of the occupant. This was the primary issue I highlighted in my letters to the council, councillor, MP, and the adult social care team at the local authority.

Kidder81

Sounds like you’re doing the right things, you just need to be more pushy & forceful.

The advice above to write a letter is good. Send copies to your council and to the council who owns the property, preferably addresssd to the council leaders. Make it clear you’re complaining about the situation and inaction.

hb2

With regard to the neighbour's wellbeing, the buzzwords are 'vulnerable adult' (yes, it is supposition but sounds likely) and 'duty of care'. Point out how long you have been asking for help for this person and the lack of action from the responsible services (adult care).

Davesnave

A further buzz word is 'safeguarding.' Send letters to the leaders of the councils, the heads of social care and the head of the housing dept that own the property.

I had cause to fire off letters like this last year and they definitely hit home, causing some liaison to happen where 'phone calls had previously been politely forgotten about.

You can't expect miracles, but no council wants a case on its hands where something unfortunate happens and there's a paper trail of prior warnings.

chunkytfg

Assuming you could manage to make contact with the owner could you maybe offer to tidy up the garden yourself? A weekend of clearing/burning might do enough to not put off your potential buyers?

HampshireH

The stacks of cardboard, inaccessible garden etc all lead to a potenial fire risk. Utilise this in your key points.

Raise the concern for the vulnerable reclusive adult

Raise concerns for your property due to the state of disrepair & neglect by the council to maintain their asset attached.

Highlight the potential fire risk & tell them you will be asking the local community-based fire safety officer to get involved as well as the local MP

Demand swift action. Give them 10 days to provide a written response with some form of action plan.

Be concise and don't ramble.