Empty Neighbouring Property - what to do?

CitizenX

Hi All,
Apologies for long post - looking for some friendly advice about a neighbouring property that has been empty for nearing 30 years. 
It's quite as saga and I've had ongoing issues with this property the entire time I have lived in my house ( 23 years) and  mainly from the neglect of the very large garden ( but that is a story for another time )

Anyway, I finally reported the property as empty in January 2022 and by June 2022 there was activity at the property but no serious attempt to renovate ( The owner replaced 3 windows as they were dangerous, patched up a chimney and sanded down the front door. He also put a tarpaulin over the kitchen extension roof, which has miraculously not blown off over the past 18 months!). He has also, in an attempt to make the house look lived in, put rubbish bags out every week. The recycle bags come from his girlfriend's house ( I've seen her bringing them up) and the black bin bags are full of leaves and rubbish from the back garden ( there are currently around 80 black bin bags stacked in the back garden waiting to go out - as we can only put 2 bags out every 3 weeks, this will take some time!).

Quite simply, the owner is just doing the bare minimum in terms of repairs and making it look like the house is lived in by putting bins out. It still looks like a wreck. 
 
The house is large Victorian terrace and during the cold winters (2009/10?) pipes burst and damaged a neighbouring property and , from what I was told, water and electric were disconnected. I assume that he had the electricity reconnected recently as I saw his girlfriend using an electric sander on the front door. However, for the last 4 weeks, a light fighting at the back on the kitchen extension has been exposed to the elements ( and it has rained a lot!) . It is literally a lightbulb hanging off a pendant fitting ! 

I don't know anything about wiring - but I would guess that the wiring in his house pre dates 1990.
I also don't know what councils do in regard to empty homes and whether I should go back to them.
The owner claims that a mystery woman who never goes out lives in the house ! 

The situation is so ridiculous I sometimes think I am unreasonable in wanting the house renovated and lived in.

I would love opinions on this situation- what do you think? What would you do?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

subjecttocontract

If you see something unsafe report it to environmental health dept of your local council. Keep reporting everything. Contact your local councillor, get them involved. Become a total PITA, then write to your MP. Call the police if you see anything naughty. If you make enough fuss others will make an effort to help.

Section62

subjecttocontract said:

If you see something unsafe report it to environmental health dept of your local council. Keep reporting everything. Contact your local councillor, get them involved. Become a total PITA, then write to your MP. Call the police if you see anything naughty. If you make enough fuss others will make an effort to help.

Doing that can get you added to the 'vexatious complainant' list, rather than getting the desired outcome.

CitizenX said:

Apologies for long post - looking for some friendly advice about a neighbouring property that has been empty for nearing 30 years. 

Is that "neighbouring" as in next door, or close by?

CitizenX

The house is next-door but one but the garden is directly next to mine (typical odd alignment of Victorian gardens.) The house in between us has been converted into 3 flats.

MultiFuelBurner

Ultimately you cannot make the property but one owners do things that you want and at a pace you want as it's theirs and not yours.

What would you like to happen and is it realistic?

lincroft1710

Inform the council it is actually empty and has been so for at least 23 years, despite what the owner may try to claim. The council can charge up to 4 times the normal amount of Council Tax for a property that has been empty for more than 10 years and can backdate this to when the legislation came into force.

CitizenX

Well, the house is very run down. It has been unlived in since mid 1990s. In 2011 we were unable to sell because of the knotweed in his garden ( another story in itself).

I would like to see it renovated and lived in. My primary concern is that it is a fire risk now - next door but one is close enough if the roof catches fire.

CitizenX

lincroft1710 said:

Inform the council it is actually empty and has been so for at least 23 years, despite what the owner may try to claim. The council can charge up to 4 times the normal amount of Council Tax for a property that has been empty for more than 10 years and can backdate this to when the legislation came into force.

When I complained to the council about the knotweed in 2011 I was told that he had always paid full council tax. I assume he has continued to do so.

propertyrental

Not sure why an un-lived-in property is a higher fire risk. If anythng it could be lower.

But most councils have a an 'empty property dept/office/registerr' often with powers to repossess or forcibly let to tenants where properties era left empty for excessively long periods.

eg
https://www.hull.gov.uk/housing/housing-regeneration-and-development/empty-properties-private-sector


or re council tax:
https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/empty-property-review

lincroft1710

CitizenX said:

lincroft1710 said:

Inform the council it is actually empty and has been so for at least 23 years, despite what the owner may try to claim. The council can charge up to 4 times the normal amount of Council Tax for a property that has been empty for more than 10 years and can backdate this to when the legislation came into force.

When I complained to the council about the knotweed in 2011 I was told that he had always paid full council tax. I assume he has continued to do so.

Rules on CT empty property have changed since 2011, even if it has been empty for over 2 years, councils can charge double CT

user1977

propertyrental said:

Not sure why an un-lived-in property is a higher fire risk.

They are at risk of being broken into by the sort of people who like setting fire to things.

Otherwise, no, I can't see why it would be a fire risk. I would expect the electrics to be at least switched off, if not cut off, and in any event I don't think wiring has a habit of spontaneously catching fire when it's not being used for anything.