Neighbour issue - But not the usual sort!

swingaloo

I live next door to an elderly gentleman (mid to late 80s). His wife died about 12 years ago. Even when she was still alive they were a very private couple, very nice but 'Good morning' was about as good as it got. The wife would speak occasionally if you caught her alone and from the few bits of conversation we had I found out that they have no living relatives at all. They never went out and kept themselves to themselves very much. They never seemed to have friends visit and I never knew them to take a holiday. 
He used to tinker with cars in his garden but towards the end of his wife's life he stopped doing that but still had 5 cars, all in various states of repair, some on blocks and a couple with no wheels on his property.

Since his wife died he has become even more reclusive, he has a padlock on his front gate and has a box on the ground for the postman to put his mail in. I see him most days checking the box and he still looks quite sprightly. I've seen him in his back garden a few times and I have told him that if he ever needs any shopping or any other help that I am available. All I get back is 'I don't need help from anyone'. 

I know he goes to the shop occasionally as I see him walking up the road with a shopping bag. He doesn't look as if he is not eating or as if he is unwell in anyway so thats good. 

But, the thing is that over the last 15 years or so he has accumulated a lot of what I can only describe as junk in his garden. It is a wrap around garden so quite large and the front and side is hidden from passers by by tall hedges. Besides the cars there are what look like large plastic containers, 4 of them (the size of a car)which look as if they once had oil in them but look empty now, there are a couple of fridges, mixed furniture items and rusty tools. There are boxes which have disintegrated in thee rain over time and the contents look like they range from household items to car parts. There are piles of garden cuttings where trees have been chopped down. The whole garden on all 3 sides of his house are like junk yards.
I can see all this from my upstairs windows and when I am leaving my house. 

What is really worrying me now though is that I can see into his front porch and into his front windows as I'm going into my house (it cant be seen from the street by anyone else but from my path its very visible) and it looks as if the inside of his house is now in the same state as his garden.  There are piles of boxes, papers and pieces of wood filling his porch to the point that he can no longer get out of the front door. His front room windows are now almost completely blocked by piled up books. 

I have no issue with him at all, we are detached and his lifestyle doesn't affect me. I'm just concerned that it is a fire hazard and I'm also worried when I don't see him for a couple of days.  A weeks or so ago he didn't appear for 3 days and I was worried that he may be on the floor or perhaps unwell. I went to his back door by taking out a fence panel between out gardens and knocked. He came to the door and crossly told me that 'He was entitled to his peace and quiet and if he needed help he would bloody well ask for it!' Followed by 'Its nice of you to enquire but please don't do it again'. He is a pleasant man who just wants to be left alone

I'm also wondering what will happen if the worst should happen and he passes away. What happens in a case like this? Who will have to take on the job of clearing his property? I know he has no relatives and it must be several years since anyone has visited. Its sad but he doesn't seem to be bothered by it so its not my business, he seems to enjoy his solitary life. I still see him pottering around in his back garden and during the summer he was often sitting in the garden on an old bench with a cuppa and a book so it's not as if he is in any distress.

I just wonder what to do going forward, he has made it clear he doesn't want any interference but I cant help but worry.

subjecttocontract

He has made it very clear he doesn't want to see you so learn to mind your own business. When he passes everything will get cleared.

tacpot12

If they don't leave a Will, their estate will pass to the Crown. This is called ‘bona vacantia’. A solicitor from the Government Legal Department will wind up the estate, and pay for the site to be cleared (including clearing any contaminated land) using the proceeds from the sale of the house. What is left after this will go to the Crown.

The only other thing to say is that if they live in a detatched house, then the risk to you from fire is relatively low. However, the state of the garden might be conducive to rats, and the local council's environmental department can serve an enforcement notice on the owner to clear the garden, but that seems harsh unless you are actually being affect by rats. 

swingaloo

subjecttocontract said:

He has made it very clear he doesn't want to see you so learn to mind your own business. When he passes everything will get cleared.

Thanks for the comment but that's exactly what is wrong with society these days.  I'm not butting into his business, I'm concerned that he may be taken poorly and no one will know or that he may need help at some point.

You read about elderly people being found in their homes after being dead for weeks and no-one cared enough to miss them.
Perhaps you are that sort of neighbour, I prefer to be more thoughtful.

swingaloo

tacpot12 said:

If they don't leave a Will, their estate will pass to the Crown. This is called ‘bona vacantia’. A solicitor from the Government Legal Department will wind up the estate, and pay for the site to be cleared (including clearing any contaminated land) using the proceeds from the sale of the house. What is left after this will go to the Crown.

The only other thing to say is that if they live in a detatched house, then the risk to you from fire is relatively low. However, the state of the garden might be conducive to rats, and the local council's environmental department can serve an enforcement notice on the owner to clear the garden, but that seems harsh unless you are actually being affect by rats. 

Thanks for the reply. I really dont have a problem with the state of the place, iv e seen no rats and being detached Im not worried about fire for myself. Im more concerned for his wellbeing, especially over the winter months and because of his age. I wouldn't involve the council, that would be the last thing he would want.

twopenny

There is a lady across the road from me who, although very neat property, wants no contact with her neighbours.
I watch the house briefly morning and night to ensure the curtains close/open. In winter lights go on.

If there was a time that this didn't happen there could be a problem.

My last place lovely neighbour on her own I would do the same. Time came when in fact it was the milkman who noticed before me. It was her wish to stay in her own home although alone and she got her wish.

Sounds like he's chosen the life he wants and is still enjoying it in his way.

Myci85

Your concern is clearly coming from a good place, and I know I'd feel the same in your shoes, however I think you have to respect his (very clear) wishes and just leave him be. Maybe keep an eye from a distance as you have been doing, and I guess if you don't see anything of him for over a week, if that is unusual, you could share your worries with your local police team. 

As awful as it may sound, if he lost his wife a long time ago, and has no family or friends to speak of, maybe if he was taken ill he genuinely wouldn't want to be helped back to health. 

subjecttocontract

swingaloo said:

subjecttocontract said:

He has made it very clear he doesn't want to see you so learn to mind your own business. When he passes everything will get cleared.

Thanks for the comment but that's exactly what is wrong with society these days.  I'm not butting into his business, I'm concerned that he may be taken poorly and no one will know or that he may need help at some point.

You read about elderly people being found in their homes after being dead for weeks and no-one cared enough to miss them.
Perhaps you are that sort of neighbour, I prefer to be more thoughtful.

......and there is the problem. He has made it absolutely clear he doesn't want you to get involved and wants to be left alone. This may be totally alien to what you want or think is right and you can't leave him alone to get on with his life as he chooses. You cannot impose your wishes or values on someone that doesn't want them. Go find something else to worry yourself about.

I'm surrounded by OAPs where I live and help out whenever I can but, that's because they want my help/assistance. Your neighbour doesn't want that so learn to live with it.

KxMx

I think every person living alone thinks through a variety of "what if" ... scenarios. 

From what you've said he is content with his solitary life and living as he does.

You clearly care about him, but he doesn't want contact with people or help from anyone.

MikeJXE

I live alone and If I died depending on the day it could be a week before I’m found 

Thats just the way it is 

All you can do is keep a looks out for changes/patterns 

kimwp

He has asked you to leave him alone. Your worries, though it's nice that you are looking out for others, are your problem - don't make them his. He may even be becoming more reclusive because he feels that you are watching every movement he makes.