Council staff are set to clean up an “eyesore” Bath home that has been left empty and neglected for more than a decade.
The property on Leighton Road | Photo © Bath Echo
Neighbours have a long list of complaints about the state of 76 Leighton Road in Upper Weston – culminating last year with sightings of rats – but the absentee owner has done little to address their concerns.
Now Bath and North East Somerset Council is set to carry out enforcement action, and councillors hope more interventions will follow on other problem properties.
Enforcement boss Richard Stott told planning committee members on 15th January 15: “I don’t know why the owner has left this property in disrepair – the property he lives in in Bath is substantial and very well maintained.
“This has got to a point where it’s become too much for him to handle.
“It’s on the radar of our empty property team to get it back into use. It’s been empty for well in excess of 10 to 15 years.
“The owner doesn’t want to engage with us and I don’t know why. He is an old gentleman.
“We’ve notified him these works are going to happen.”
Mr Stott said this will be the first use of a fighting fund the council has secured from Government, but resources are limited.
The work is expected to cost around £1,500 and will be carried out by the authority’s parks department.
The costs will be recovered from the owner.
Officers have taken enforcement action once before, against a property in Frome Road in Radstock in 2015.
Substantial work was needed after asbestos was found but the costs were successfully recouped from the owner.
Councillor Manda Rigby said: “I’m very keen on enforcement, on everyone knowing what the rules are and sticking to them.
“I’m pleased we’re doing this and hope it’s not low hanging fruit that’s easier to enforce against than other things.
“I hope we have a robust discussion about future enforcement.”
Cllr Eleanor Jackson said: “This costs the council money. There’s a budget and they can only do so much. There are seven or eight properties in the officers’ sights but they haven’t got the cash to do it.”
The first complaints about 76 Leighton Road date back to 2008. The council investigated and the owner agreed to maintain the site.
Officers threatened action after more complaints in 2012, and the following year the owner removed two mature trees.
Fresh complaints came in in 2018 but council letters went unanswered.
Neighbours reported rats in or around the house in April 2019.
The following month the council issued a formal notice requiring the removal of all vegetation, reseeding of the front lawn, regular maintenance and repairs to the garage door.
In November officers said the site remained an eyesore – and the garage door had started to rot – so got a quote for work they needed to be signed off by councillors.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
