Makeover plans for eyesore as council enforces auction
‘LAST RESORT’ AFTER REQUESTS TO CLEAN UP PROPERTY WERE IGNORED FOR YEARS
AN EYESORE home is being transformed after a “last resort” move by a council.
The cottage, 11 School Lane, in Newton Burgoland had lain empty for about 14 years, falling further into ruin each year.
The semi-detached house attracted complaints from neighbours concerned about vermin at the property and its tendency to flood.
Despite repeated notices being issued to the property’s owner over the years by North West Leicestershire District Council, calling on them to tidy up the building, it continued to deteriorate – until the authority stepped in.
In the first enforced sale of its kind in the district, the cottage was sold at auction in April and the deal completed last month. It is now owned by a builder and will be given a makeover.
The cottage’s overgrown exterior has been trimmed and cleared.
There are 476 privately-owned homes in North West Leicestershire that have been empty for more than six months.
Normal practice sees the council’s empty homes officer work with owners of properties that have been empty for more than half a year to bring them back to use.
This can include the owner selling the home privately, looking at renovation, letting the property or the council offering support with managing a deceased person’s estate.
Councillor Andrew Woodman, the district council’s portfolio holder for community services, said: “Longterm empty homes such as this are not only a blight on the landscape, but also prevent other residents and families from moving into a home.
“Enforcing the sale of any property is a last resort as we always work closely with owners to support them in bringing homes back into use or selling them.
“While we know there are hundreds of homes left empty, it’s sometimes difficult for us to find out exactly where the owner is, and to encourage them to work with us, so this can mean the process of bringing them back into use takes longer than we would like.
“It’s great news that we’ll soon be able to see this extremely rundown and empty home transformed.”
Money from the sale of the cottage will cover the council’s selling and clear-up costs.
The sale will also help clear any debts on the property, while anything remaining will go to the seller.