An abandoned home in West Hull has been seized by the local authority after standing empty for over ten years.
Hull City Council has secured the enforced sale of an abandoned nuisance property in West Hull, following complaints by neighbouring residents, and action brought by the private housing environmental health team and legal services.
The problematic privately-owned vacant property on Perth Street West had blighted the lives of neighbours and local residents for some time. There were numerous complaints to the council and local ward members in relation to its poor condition including; fly-tipping, nuisance, anti-social behaviour and the deteriorating state of the overgrown garden having a detrimental effect on neighbouring properties and to the street.
Despite repeated attempts, the owner failed to engage with the council, resulting in the service of statutory notices and the council having to pay for works the owner failed to cover. Using the property act 1925, action brought, resulted in a successful enforced sale procedure and a legal request to pay the outstanding debt on the property to the council for costs.
The property was in a state of disrepair
Councillor John Black, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “This is a really positive outcome to bring a long term private property back into use which was having a negative impact on the neighbourhood. The legislation means that we will also recover all costs.
“This has been a first and we are now considering this legislative tool to deal with a number of other problematic privately owned empty properties where the owner owes monies to the council and the property is having a detrimental effect on the neighbourhood.”
The local authority will recover up to £12,000 for works to the property the owner failed to fulfil as well as outstanding council tax payments and legal costs.
