AWOL neighbour

neilc75

My neighbour is a single male in his 50s , he used to work from home as an accountant so paperwork would be dropped off and collected, he didn't actually have a place of work, about 4 years ago an elderly relative of his passed away and left him a house elsewhere . I've got no reason to think this isn't the case. We live in a terraced house and his garden is now so overgrown that it's blocking our light and we have to have our lights on all the time , also the pointing on his side of the chimney is falling out and I'm just worried that one day there will be a storm and it will come through the roof . I haven't got any contact details for him and haven't seen him for 4 years , I appreciate getting the chimney fixed would be a stretch ,however is there anyway environmental services can get involved in the overgrown garden , it's literally pushing my fence over and there's a tree that's approx 9 ft just blocking the sun out 

Ms_Chocaholic

Eeeeeks, have you thought about reporting this to the Police, did you see him moving any possessions out when he left.

neilc75

I'm actually a police officer , as the property is secure it's not something we can deal with , also there needs to be a policing purpose to track him down and there isn't !

20122013

Have you thought about sending your neighbour a letter you to the address (one send via regular post and one send on a different date via recorded delivery) and let them know what you had mentioned above and your intention if you do not hear back by xxx date.  (by xx date) do the same process again but this time say you will send them  3 quotes and if not hear back by xx date you will send them the bill. 

You can get it done and if he does not respond then you can take him to small claim courts but there is a risk you may not get the bill pay if you do not know his new address. 

MysteryMe

Have you tried posting via Royal Mail a letter asking he sort his garden out, especially as your fence is being damaged, he mail have redirection although 4 years is a very long time to have it.

I assume you have done all the usual social media/google searches. Is he still advertising himself as an accountant. Is he a director of any companies so you can search the CH website. Ask other neighbours if they know anything? 

If vermin are an issue, Environmental Health would be the local authority  to department to contact. 

Do you have legal cover on your house insurance?

kimwp

I think you can report empty properties to the council, I'm not sure exactly how.

Myci85

Have you tried reporting it to your local council? Many councils are trying to bring empty properties back into use to help with housing issues, so they may be able to help you. 

Report a derelict or abandoned building - GOV.UK https://share.google/EDmxfFRs6oWBihtUo

twopenny

Presumably he's paying council tax, standing charge on energy, might be on the electoral roll.

What about public safety? Is there a front garden, fence or tree that could cause a danger to the public? Always a quick reaction by councils if there's chance of litigation.

Need to think laterally when reason and common sense don't work.

elsien

20122013 said:

Have you thought about sending your neighbour a letter you to the address (one send via regular post and one send on a different date via recorded delivery) and let them know what you had mentioned above and your intention if you do not hear back by xxx date.  (by xx date) do the same process again but this time say you will send them  3 quotes and if not hear back by xx date you will send them the bill. 

You can get it done and if he does not respond then you can take him to small claim courts but there is a risk you may not get the bill pay if you do not know his new address. 

Fairly sure you can’t unilaterally appoint yourself to trespass on someone’s land to have work done without their consent and then bill them for the privilege. This is a nuisance, not an emergency. 

Eldi_Dos

@neilc75

Single male in his mid fifties, more than one property and not been seen for four year's, I think that would ring alarm bell's. Have you thought of looking up the Bona Vacantia List?
Long shot I know and I believe they have tightened up their procedures recently but might be worth a try.

Failing that as another poster has mentioned some councils with a shortage of housing stock are targeting properties like the one you describe with the aim of getting them brought up to standard and occupied, got to be worth a phone call.

TELLIT01

Overgrown properties can be reported to the council.  I believe it's then a case of them instructing the owner to take action and then the council doing it if nothing happens.  That will all take time.  They wouldn't be involved in getting a chimney repointed.  

It's certainly worth trying to speak to the council.  As mentioned by others, the property is potentially still liable for council tax and they may have a current address for him.